GUILD HALL’S TICKETS FOR BILLY PORTER, SELLING FAST

By Linda Lee —

Imagine how much energy it takes to BE Billy Porter.

Now imagine how little energy — and money — it takes to buy a ticket to Friday night’s grand reopening of the  theater at Guild Hall. Bottom line, because we just checked, some orchestra seats are left at $225, $250 dollars.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve spent that much at Walmart and walked out with a shower curtain, a set of matching canisters, a cordless drill I don’t know how to use, some storage cabinet that won’t fit in my closet, ugly shorts that will bind in my crotch, and lots of produce that will die in the bottom of the refrigerator, in what I call the rotter.

This is for Friday night. yes, July 12, 2024 at 8 pm. As Brendan Gill once said, you know what happens if you stay home. Nothing. You never know what happens if you go out. Going to see Billy Porter means plenty happens.

There aren’t enough hyphens to describe Billy Porter: singer, dancer, playwright, producer, fashion influencer, AIDS activist, winner of Grammy/Emmy/Tony awards, friend of the famous, vocal coach, advocate for the needy.

His vocal ability is well acknowledged. What people fail to remark on is his physical prowess, his ability to morph into character, to blend into different sexes, people. Only a lazy eye will give him away and a well practiced moue. With a big-enough group of stylists and makeup artists even those disappear.

Courtesy Billy Porter Instagram

He’s probably best known for the sassy way he appears on late night shows, his quick wittedness, or  the flamboyant costumes he has worn to the Oscars, business on top, party below:

A structured tuxedo jacket and a ballgown, accompanied by Adam Porter-Smith, his husband (Courtesy Facebook)

What he has worn the Met Gala, where he went for pure fantasy, in gold, or when he butched it up in Tom Ford:

Both courtesy of his Facebook feed

And when he had his breakout role, as Lola in the 2013 Broadway hit “Kinky Boots”:

He credits it with helping him get in touch with his feminine side. Well, yes!

This man,  who grew up in Pittsburgh and graduated from Carnegie Mellon with a degree in playwrighting, has more energy at age 54 than a team of race horses. He has been in films, on television, recorded hit records, done Broadway. Next, apparently, is a biopic of James Baldwin. Better would be a biopic of Little Jimmy Scott. Or another lost legend of jazz history.

He would not tell us what he plans to do Friday night other than that is bringing along a trio from Pittsburgh. Of course he’s going to sing. Will he change costumes? Does this man care about fashion?

Look at how he can entertain a crowd:

But the new Hilarie and Mitchell Morgan Theater, a renewed candy box from Peter Pennoyer Architects, will offer a much cozier setting. With great air conditioning, you.

Speaking of which, a ticket to “Cabaret” on Broadway averages $213 per person. Add in parking, the drive, annoyance. And you’ve got yourself $250 a ticket. Plus, you have already seen the KitKat Club.

Now imagine a real cabaret, right in your home town. In your newly renovated home-town theater.  With the outrageous, eager-to-entertain Billy Porter.

In addition, if you go for one of those front row $1,000 seats still left, with all the goodies involved (cocktails plus) you will be doing a good deed.

It’s almost too much of a good thing. There will be many more things in this theater over the summer. But there will only be one evening with Billy Porter.

Note: guests should be challenged by the Billy Porter spirit when they dress for the event. So get your groove on. Be inspired.