Interludes

VIEWPOINTS – The evolution of the leading man: John Cullum and Michael Longoria salute Broadway in their heartfelt cabaret acts, virtually and in-person

• By drediman
• April 13, 2021
• No Comments

Many of us have been itching to get back into a Broadway theater to experience the thrill of musical theater in all its glory. That day will soon come, but in the meantime, recent cabaret shows from the likes of the legendary John Cullum and ex-Frankie Valli Michael Longoria – two leading men who represent different eras of musical theater – have temporarily quenched my appetite with their Broadway-focused acts.

JOHN CULLUM: AN ACCIDENTAL STAR
Irish Repertory Theatre / Goodspeed Musicals / Vineyard Theatre
On-demand through April 22

Before the pandemic hit, John Cullum – who last month turned 91 years old! – was working on John Cullum: An Accidental Star (RECOMMENDED), a cabaret act he co-conceived with Jeff Berger to chronicle his impressive arc from a naive newcomer from Tennessee to a two-time Tony winner (for Shenandoah in 1975 and On the Twentieth Century in 1978). Suffice to say, he was never able to perform the show – until now in a virtual presentation via the Irish Repertory Theatre, Goodspeed Musicals, and the Vineyard Theatre. In the intimate cabaret act, Mr. Cullum makes a case for himself as an unlikely or “accidental” star, despite his notable successes onstage. Through a treasure trove of vignettes (lovingly collated by David Thompson) – in which he recounts his experiences in such shows as Camelot, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, as well as the aforementioned ones – Mr. Cullum humbly attributes his star status to sheer perseverance and good old luck. Additionally, these stories provide a precious glimpse of the Great White Way and New York of yore. I also found his anecdote about his frustrated first encounter with the Urinetown script especially endearing, highlighting how Broadway musicals have evolved from the days of Camelot. In his twilight years, Mr. Cullum still exudes a southern “awe-shucks” charm and a warm twinkle in his eye. During appropriate interludes, the Broadway star smoothly transitions into song (sensitively accompanied by pianist Julie McBride) – his baritone still sounding robust and his delivery showing genuine affection for the material. The virtual production has been directed by Lonny Price and Matt Cowart with simplicity and grace, as befits this unassuming leading man.

MICHAEL LONGORIA: BROADWAY HEARTBEAT
Green Room 42
In-person on April 10

A much different kind of leading man and an evolution from the classic mold of John Cullum is the flamboyantly talented Michael Longoria, who last weekend for one night only blazed through a Broadway-focused set live and in-person at the Green Room 42 (perhaps the only venue in the city regularly hosting cabaret acts), thrilling a limited capacity audience. Mr. Longoria is perhaps best known for having headlined the Broadway production of Jersey Boys as Frankie Valli, as well as one of the members of the Jersey Boys-inspired outfit The Midtown Men. For his Broadway love letter of an act – fittingly entitled Broadway Heartbeat (RECOMMENDED) – Mr. Longoria unsurprisingly hones in on show tunes, particularly those that inspired him as an adolescent. Especially compelling is his recollection of the solace he found in musical theater songs as a young gay man coming to terms with his sexuality. It’s refreshing to watch a Broadway leading man unabashedly sing his heart out in songs written specifically for women without having to awkwardly modify pronouns. This unedited, open-hearted declaration of same-sex love and desire was a joy to watch and a notable marker of how far both Broadway and society have come. Mr. Longoria possesses an astonishingly rangy instrument, which he wields with the powerhouse confidence of a seasoned pop star. His emotive, full-throttle renditions of anthemic showstoppers such as “The Wizard and I” (Wicked), “On My Own” (Les Miz), “Nobody’s Side” (Chess), and “Unruly Heart” (The Prom) (each sentimental favorites of mine) were real treats, especially when combined with his wholesome but tangy banter. All in all Mr. Longoria’s Broadway Heartbeat was a celebratory entertaining night out, and an especially satisfying one for fans of musical theater from the 1980s onwards.