Blogging Broadway: What's the great news about the closing of "Hairspray"?

This is an excellent point. Although Hairspray has almost no explicitly gay content, the show’s gay sensibility is off the charts, not least because the Fierstein role of Edna Turnblad is intended to be played by a man in drag. And whereas many high schools and amateur theaters might balk at presenting a show such as Spring Awakening or Avenue Q, in which the gay element is much edgier (and the language way rougher), it’s hard to imagine that there would be much objection to the hilarious, big-hearted Hairspray in even the most strait-laced community.

Set in the early ’60s, this joyful show is all about the inclusion of “Negroes,” overweight people, and (implicitly) gays in the mainstream of American society. But it makes its points with great good humor and irresistibly catchy songs, rather than resorting to preaching. For this reason, it’s a natural for amateur production ... and just imagine how like gangbusters it will go over in the age of Barack Obama! Look for Hairspray soon at your local community center or high school auditorium, and when it does appear, make sure you attend to offer your love and support to "the fag and the fat girl."

Vanessa Lemonides and Wade McCollum in Irma la Douce

MUSICALS, NOTHING BUT MUSICALS

You may perhaps be aware of the stereotype that gays love musicals. As is the case with all stereotypes, there are many exceptions to this one; some gay men HATE musicals, and lots of straight people adore them, especially crowd-pleasers like Wicked, Hairspray, The Producers, and (gasp!) Mamma Mia! But it’s certainly true that, for whatever reason, friends of Dorothy seem to make up a disproportionate percentage of the musical theater audience. And it’s crystal clear that, for whatever reason, the more obscure shows in the canon — including some major flops — are especially revered by a large “cult” (if you will) of homosexual males of a certain age.

Anyone who places himself in that category should be eternally grateful for Musicals Tonight! Now in its 11th year, this invaluable organization run by Mel Miller has offered staged concert presentations of such chestnuts as By the Beautiful Sea, Ernest in Love, Fifty Million Frenchmen, Goldilocks, and Roberta in various Manhattan venues. Now in residence at the McGinn-Cazale Theater on Broadway at 76th Street, the company is currently presenting Tovarich. This 1963 curiosity, which originally starred Vivien Leigh in her Broadway musical debut (and swan song), is all about exiled Russian nobles who flee to Paris and assume the personae of humble domestics.

It goes without saying that some near-forgotten shows deserve to be forgotten, while others turn out to be buried treasure. Though Musicals Tonight! gave Tovarich a fine, well-cast production, the piece itself came across as dull and pedestrian. Not so the company’s recent mounting of another ’60s musical set in Paris: Irma la Douce, a delicious parfait of a show about a woman of easy virtue and the many men (and one in particular) who adore her.

Bravo to Vanessa Lemonides (Irma), Wade McCollum (Nestor), John Alban Coughlan (Bob), and the entire company, which included one of the most gorgeous and vocally resplendent male ensembles imaginable: Selby Brown, Eric Imhoff, Jeffrey Nauman, Justin Sayre, and Kevin Sims. It's awe-inspiring that this company could enlist such talent with such limited financial resouces. To Musicals Tonight! I say, formidable!

TODD MURRAY – STARDUST AND SWING

Todd Murray offers one of the smoothest, most romantic cabaret/nightclub shows imaginable, not least because his voice — a true bass/baritone — is practically unique in this arena.

In his recent show at the Metropolitan Room, the openly gay Mr. Murray lent his gorgeous voice and warm, sexy stage presence to such standards as "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams," "Stardust," and "It Might as Well Be Spring." To his credit, in that last-named song, he performed the difficult-to-deliver line "But I feel so gay in a melancholy way" with so much sincerity that there was nary a titter in the audience.

All of the songs noted above are featured on Todd's new CD, which also includes "Dream a Little Dream of Me," "Moonlight Becomes You," "I Wanna Be Around," "I Fall in Love Too Easily," "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams," and two fabulous duets: "Teach Me Tonight" (with the one and only Marilyn Maye) and "If I Ruled the World" from Pickwick (with Todd's life partner, Broadway star Douglas Sills). If you're in the mood for some ear candy, here you go!

Todd made OUT magazine's 2003 Hot List as "Hottest Cabaret Singer," and his talent has been praised by such great women of song as Margaret Whiting and Marilyn Maye. For more info on this multi-talented performer, visit his website.