Boston Gay Men’s Chorus
Photo: BGMC
BOSTON, Mass. — Boston Gay Men’s Chorus proudly presents Can’t Stop the Beat, the biggest production in its 32-year history, on June 12, 13, and 15 at New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall. The concerts feature Alex Newell, who stars as the show-stopping transgender teen Wade “Unique” Adams on FOX’s hit series Glee.
Newell will also share the stage with the Chorus June 7 in his hometown of Lynn for a special Outreach Concert at Lynn Auditorium, part of the Chorus’s mission of community engagement. Proceeds from the concert will be donated to 13 LGBT-related and North Shore nonprofits (AIDS Action Committee, Children’s Law Center of MA, Boys and Girls Club of Lynn, Cerebral Palsy of Eastern MA, Family & Children’s Services, Girls, Inc., YMCA of Metro North, Gregg Neighborhood House, Straight Ahead Ministries, Mass. Coalition for the Homeless, RAW Artworks, Catholic Charities North, and Camp Fire of the North Shore.) [pullquote]Proceeds from the concert will be donated to 13 LGBT-related and North Shore nonprofits (AIDS Action Committee, Children’s Law Center of MA, Boys and Girls Club of Lynn, Cerebral Palsy of Eastern MA, Family & Children’s Services, Girls, Inc., YMCA of Metro North, Gregg Neighborhood House, Straight Ahead Ministries, Mass. Coalition for the Homeless, RAW Artworks, Catholic Charities North, and Camp Fire of the North Shore.) [/pullquote]
Featuring selections from the Tony-winning musical Hairspray and the music of Whitney Houston and Dionne Warwick, Can’t Stop the Beat coincides with Boston Pride Week, the city’s annual celebration of the LGBT community.
“We are absolutely gleeful that Alex Newell will be joining us for Can’t Stop the Beat,” said Reuben M. Reynolds, III, the Chorus’s music director. “He’s an electrifying performer with a gorgeous voice that can move you to tears or make you leap out of your seat in an explosion of joy. This concert is going to rattle the rafters in Jordan Hall.” In addition to songs and dance routines, video will be incorporated throughout the show, projected on a 60-foot screen.
The 22-year-old Newell, who is gay, was born in Salem and grew up in Lynn. His father died of cancer when Newell was just six-years-old; as he grew up, Newell found solace in the performing arts. By the time he was in high school, Newell had decided to pursue music as his career. In 2011 he auditioned for The Glee Project, a singing competition on the Oxygen Network. His second-place prize was a guest role on an episode of Glee, which featured Newell in the role of TV’s first transgender teen character, Wade “Unique” Adams. The character was an instant hit with fans of the show, known as “Gleeks,” and Newell has since joined Glee as a regular cast member. Last year, he appeared in the feature film Geography Club, based on a young adult novel about a group of gay students that secretly form a club to support each other. He is currently working on his first album with Atlantic Records. [pullquote]The 22-year-old Newell, who is gay, was born in Salem and grew up in Lynn. His father died of cancer when Newell was just six-years-old; as he grew up, Newell found solace in the performing arts. … “Whether playing a transgender teen on TV or simply living his life openly and proudly, Alex Newell is an inspiring example not just of the transformative power of art, but of the power that comes from just simply being who you are,” said Craig Coogan, executive director of the Chorus. [/pullquote]
“Whether playing a transgender teen on TV or simply living his life openly and proudly, Alex Newell is an inspiring example not just of the transformative power of art, but of the power that comes from just simply being who you are,” said Craig Coogan, executive director of the Chorus. “Boston Pride’s 2014 theme is ‘Be Yourself, Change the World’, and that is the heart of Can’t Stop the Beat.”
Tickets are available at www.bgmc.org or 617-542-SING (7464).
Boston Gay Men’s Chorus creates musical experiences to inspire change, build community and celebrate difference. The BGMC is one of New England’s largest and most successful community-based choruses. Founded in 1982, the 175-voice ensemble is celebrated for its outstanding musicianship, creative programming, and groundbreaking community outreach. Under the dynamic leadership of Music Director Reuben M. Reynolds III, the BGMC sings a wide spectrum of classical and popular music and creates social change by providing a positive, affirming image of the gay and lesbian community. The Chorus is heard live by more than 10,000 people each season and thousands more through recording, television and internet broadcasts. In November 2013 CBS-WBZ named The Boston Gay Men’s Chorus one of the top 5 choirs in the city of Boston.
[From a News Release]
