Jonathan Groff and Gavin Creel: Broadway's New Gay Power Couple?

If you believe what you read in Page Six:

"Jonathan Groff, who was nominated for a Tony for his work in 'Spring Awakening,' has been dating 'Hair' star Gavin Creel, a source tells Page Six. Incidentally, Creel, who plays Claude in the musical, took over the role from Groff, who initially starred in the revival when it opened last year. Groff will also soon appear in a guest run on Fox's 'Glee.' Reps for the actors didn't get back to us."

Groff also appeared in Hair (above) in Central Park before it made its way to Broadway. Here's our interview with Creel at the National Equality March, if you missed it.

News: Mormons, Liz Taylor, Football, Jane Lynch, Nero, Frat Boys

Where Did 'We' Go? Thomas Friedman pens a frightening op-ed about assassination and the current political climate in the U.S. "The American political system was, as the saying goes, 'designed by geniuses so it could be run by idiots.' But a cocktail of political and technological trends have converged in the last decade that are making it possible for the idiots of all political stripes to overwhelm and paralyze the genius of our system."

NYT on Hair's decision to go dark and perform at the National Equality March: "That unusual — and expensive — decision to skip a popular weekend performance at the beginning of the theater season originated with the show’s star, Gavin Creel. 'I said, ‘My God, we have to go, we have to go,’' Mr. Creel recalled when he first heard about the rally late last spring."

For Elizabeth Taylor, too much Kathy Ireland is never enough.

NFL players Brendon Ayanbadejo and Scott Fujita speak out for gay rights. Ayanbadejo: "I think we will look back in 10, 20, 30 years and be amazed that gays and lesbians did not have the same rights as every one else. How did this ever happen in the land of the free and the home of the brave? Are we really free?"

VIDEO: Adam Lambert thanks fans for raising $229,000 for public school art programs.

University of Alaska allows "ex-gay" speaker Edward Delgado: "Jim Minnery, president of the Alaska Family Council, said Chancellor Brian Rogers refused to bar Delgado from the campus, adding he wants a 'welcoming and inclusive university.'"

First look: T.R. Knight in Parade.

A sneak peek at Kylie Minogue's tour.

Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City installs sign to prevent future instances of man-on-man kissing on LDS property.

New Barney Frank bio ignores his personal life: "Those of you seeking an in-depth study of a fascinating and very, very funny political creature midcareer should buy it. Cokie Roberts and Nancy Pelosi blurbed it nicely. Anyone looking for full insights into the private man might want to wait."

Archaeologists uncover Roman Emperor Nero's rotating dining room. "The mechanism was a feat of Roman engineering, and moved thanks to the spheres beneath the wooden floor of the room, kept in constant movement by water being forced against them. Quite how this worked is still being researched."

AfterElton interviews Jane Lynch, Glee's Sue Sylvester.

Brazilian beauties decorate Junior.

Eddie Cibrian gives fans what they want on CSI.

Gay man's attacker gets 4 1/2 years in the UK: "Andrew Harris, aged 21, launched the violent attack upon a gay man after agreeing to go home with him following a night out drinking in Northampton town centre. Despite flirting with his victim and going into his bedroom, Harris suddenly turned violent, shouting 'I'm not gay'."

Friday Night Lights returning with some fresh meat.

English cricketer Kevin Pietersen signs on as Brylcreem Boy.

Frat brothers at George Washington University are trying to take the homophobia out of Greek life: "GW’s fraternity brothers are the nation’s future congressmen, investment bankers, and CEOs. They won’t reach those positions if their Google profiles turn up associations with homophobic and misogynistic fraternities. So GW’s frat boys—and don’t call them that!—are straining to undo the legacy of 'aggressive heterosexuality' and gay-bashing forged by their predecessors. It’s an effort that involves a good deal of re-education, some new alliances, and a compensatory vice or two."

In the Black: Broadway's HAIR Recoups Investment in Four Months

While many Broadway shows have shuttered due to the economy, HAIR is a success story: "Public Theater artistic director Oskar Eustis says the Tony-winning revival of the 'Age of Aquarius' musical has recouped its $5.76 million productions costs in four months. The show opened March 31 to favorable reviews, and has been doing strong business at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre."

It can't hurt that the show's cast and crew has been proactive in its support of gay causes, rallying for marriage equality in Times Square and announcing they'll be going dark in October for the National March on Washington.

The cast's performance on Letterman in April, AFTER THE JUMP...

Broadway's Hair to Go Dark in October for National Equality March

The cast of HAIR will be attending the National Equality March on October 11 and the show's Broadway theatre will go dark that evening, according to a press release:

"The announcement was made [Monday] evening by the cast of HAIR at a spirited rally in Los Angeles (the entire company of HAIR has traveled from New York to California to appear on tonight's broadcast of The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, AFTER THE JUMP...). The cast was joined at the rally by National Equality March organizer and historic LGBT activist Cleve Jones, Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black (Milk) and a handful of other prominent equality advocates. In a statement, Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director of The Public Theater and producer of HAIR, said 'The Public Theater has always aspired to make theater that matters, that speaks to the great social issues of our time. HAIR has never been just a show; its message of change and hope and inclusion is one we try to live, not just preach. This is the moment when we need to recognize the right of all citizens, gay and straight, to have their love and their unions acknowledged by the state. We are proud to join with Cleve Jones and the National Equality March in support of gay marriage.  Peace now! Equality now! Justice forever!'"

If you haven't seen HAIR, I recommend it.

Watch the cast of HAIR perform on Conan, AFTER THE JUMP...

Major Rallies For and Against Marriage Equality Ring Out in New York

 

Thousands of people attended a rally on Avenue of the Americas near Times Square yesterday sponsored by Broadway Impact in support of marriage equality in New York. A short time before that, state Senator Ruben Diaz Sr. bussed in approximately 10,000 evangelical bigots for an anti-gay rally of his own on Third Avenue in front of the Governor's office.

Attending the marriage equality rally were  Paterson, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Assemblyman Daniel O'Donnell, Empire State Pride Agenda executive director Alan van Capelle, statee Senator Tom Duane, and entertainers Cynthia Nixon (who announced her engagement to fiancee Christine Marinoni), Cheyenne Jackson, Audra McDonald, and Gavin Creel and the cast of Hair.

Joe.My.God has posted some great photos of the event. World of Wonder has an excellent gallery as well.

NYT: "Mr. Paterson, who appeared along with Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg (right: image NYDN) and other state and city leaders at a rally of gay rights activists near Rockefeller Center on Sunday afternoon, did not initially plan to attend. His last-minute appearance, which came just a few hours after thousands of same-sex marriage opponents held a much larger demonstration outside the governor’s Midtown Manhattan office, underscored the high stakes at issue in the Senate vote. 'We’re in a race right now in New York,' the governor told a crowd of several hundred people who gathered along Avenue of the Americas. 'The time for justice, the time for equality, the time for equal rights can never be any more urgent than right now.'"

The state legislature adjourns in six weeks. Sen. Tom Duane pleaded to the crowd: "There are 18 days left in the Senate session. I need your help."

Video blocks, AFTER THE JUMP... A compilation of speakers at the event - Governor David Paterson, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Cynthia Nixon, Audra McDonald, the cast of Hair performs "Let the Sunshine In", and Cheyenne Jackson sings "If I Can Dream", AFTER THE JUMP...

Broadway Stars to Rally for Marriage Equality in NYC on Sunday

Broadway Impact, the Empire State Pride Agenda, and Marriage Equality New York are putting on a major rally in NYC's Times Square on Sunday from 5-7 pm at Sixth Avenue and 44th street.

According to Broadway Impact, "Audra McDonald, four-time Tony winner and star of ABC’s Private Practice, Cheyenne Jackson, star of Broadway's All Shook Up and Xanadu, and television’s Ugly Betty, will be singing and speaking out on the issue. Speakers in attendance will consist of Senator Tom Duane, who is sponsoring the marriage equality bill in the State Senate and New York State Assemblyman Daniel O’Donnell, brother of Broadway veteran Rosie O’Donnell. 

Hair's Tony-nominee Gavin Creel is hosting the event and will lead his fellow cast members in a performance from the show. Said Creel: “I am thrilled that we are able to come together as a community to urge people to take direct action by calling their State Senators. This peaceful rally is going to be about love – and the right to marry whoever it is that you love.”

More info here.