So, what did you do on a Sunday evening that happened to be a holiday weekend? A lot of people had cookouts and family gatherings planned. My big plans were to see the Black Mona Lisa Tour. Black Mona Lisa is the name of Porter’s soon-to-be-released album. I’ve been to a lot of concerts/ performances in my life, and the Black Mona Lisa Tour will be included in my top five. Speaking of top five, when you get a chance, watch the movie “Top Five,” featuring Chris Rock. I digress. I have been a Billy Porter fan for quite some time. In 2004, I went to see him at the City Theatre in a play called “Top Dog Underdog.” This play was a contemporary Cain and Abel story about two brothers named Lincoln and Booth. I interviewed Porter after the play. I also interviewed him when he came to Pittsburgh, and he was featured during an evening at CAPA. In 2015, I was in the audience when CLO did Kinky Boots.
Reportedly, Porter made arrangements to be in the Pittsburgh run of that show; that is something that is rare; normally, Broadway performers do not go on the road. But he did this for his hometown. There was an interesting crowd on Sunday, May 28. I went alone, and the lady sitting next to me was white and 80 years of age. The crowd was quite white and over fifty. You could tell they were all Porter fans. He did six costume changes; the show was part documentary and part performance of songs from his many albums, and yes, he was “political,” and I loved every minute of it. I even got to go on stage and “walk” during the audience participation portion of the show. I wanted to remind him of our previous meetings, but it was not the time or place. I just want to say thank you, Billy Porter, for being you.
Email the columnist at debbienorrell@aol.com
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