Gayety

Tag: George Clooney

  • Cynthia Erivo, Cole Escola and Rainbow-Studded Chorus Boys: The Queerest Moments from The 2025 Tony Awards

    Cynthia Erivo, Cole Escola and Rainbow-Studded Chorus Boys: The Queerest Moments from The 2025 Tony Awards

    At this point, asking whether the Tony Awards are queer is like asking if Broadway has ever met a jazz square. The answer is a resounding yes, darling. But even by its own rhinestone-encrusted standards, the 78th Annual Tony Awards delivered a sparkling showcase of LGBTQ+ excellence, drama, and cheeky acceptance speeches that had us cheering louder than a stage mom on opening night.

    From historic wins and glittering gowns to impromptu dating app shoutouts and numbers choreographed “for the gaze” (not the gaze, the gays), this year’s Tonys offered a masterclass in fabulousness. Let’s pull back the curtain on the most iconic queer moments that had us tossing roses at our screens.

    Cynthia Erivo Hosted, and Her Wardrobe Deserved Its Own Tony

    Let’s get one thing straight, Cynthia Erivo is not. But also, she’s not just a host. She’s a moment. Fresh off a WorldPride concert, an album drop, and promoting Wicked: For Good, Erivo moonwalked into Radio City Music Hall and somehow made ten outfit changes look easy.

    No opening monologue, no faux comedy routine, just pure star power, powerhouse vocals, and couture worthy of a museum. One look in particular, a glimmering red gown with white satin trim, gave heavy Annie-meets-Elphaba energy. It was co-designed by Zac Posen and Jason Bolden, but the real magic was Erivo’s calm, commanding presence.

    Someone give her dresser a Lifetime Achievement Award. Stat.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IP8YtvXHxAw

    Jonathan Groff Straddles Keanu, Remains Dry

    Groff may not have taken home a trophy this year (Darren Criss beat him for Maybe Happy Ending), but he still delivered a high-octane tribute to Bobby Darin in Just in Time. Known for sweat-soaked performances that require a splash zone warning, Groff miraculously stayed dry while serenading, then straddling, Keanu Reeves.

    Waterproof Groff is still gay rights.

    Cole Escola Makes Tony History, Thanks Grindr

    Cole Escola, comedian, playwright, wig enthusiast, stole the show and the Tony for Best Leading Actor in a Play for Oh, Mary!, becoming the first non-binary actor to do so. Dressed in a custom silver Wiederhoeft gown with enough sparkle to blind George Clooney (who was also nominated), Escola offered the queerest acceptance speech of the night.

    “Hi Mom. I love you. I’ll call when I can. Oh, and thank you to T-Bone from Grindr,” Escola quipped, casually cementing their legacy and their contact list in Tony history.

    Oh, Mary! also snagged Best Direction for Sam Pinkleton and delivered a delightfully deranged take on Mary Todd Lincoln’s inner turmoil. It’s queer. It’s weird. It’s wonderful.

    Hue Park Winsand Announces He’s Single

    Maybe Happy Ending swept the Tonys with six wins, including Best Musical and Best Score, thanks to the writing duo of Will Aronson and Hue Park. During one of many acceptance speeches, Park charmingly let the world know he’s single. That tidbit echoed through the evening, with presenters and winners giving it playful shoutouts.

    Cue the DM flood.

    Jinkx Monsoon Pirates the Stage

    Drag legend and two-time Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon took to the stage as a pirate wench in Pirates! A Penzance Musical alongside David Hyde Pierce. Was the show snubbed? Sadly, yes. Was Jinkx playing a washboard in full swashbuckler drag a peak moment of the night? Absolutely.

    Death Becomes Her Gives a Dazzling Queer-Encapsulated Performance and Paul Tazewell is on a Roll!

    While we didn’t get BOOP! The Musical (justice for Betty!), we were gifted the gloriously camp spectacle of Death Becomes Her’s number “For the Gaze.” Picture Liza Minnelli doing a costume-change challenge with backup dancers in rainbow sequins and you’re still only halfway there.

    Madeline Ashton, multiple wigs, and a final tableau that probably left several straight viewers emotionally unprepared, Broadway’s never been more in on the joke. Choreographer Christopher Gattelli really said, “Subtlety? Never met her.”

    Costume designer Paul Tazewell earned a Tony for his breathtaking work on the show, adding to a trophy shelf that already includes a BAFTA and an Oscar for Wicked. Tazewell made history as the first Black man to win an Academy Award for Costume Design and remains a trailblazer in every sense.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_S_JjZh76s

    Harvey Fierstein Finally Gets His Flowers

    Harvey Fierstein already had four Tonys, but the Special Lifetime Achievement Award was long overdue. Though his award wasn’t televised (rude!), the moment was still monumental. Fierstein’s decades of blazing trails, be it with Torch Song Trilogy, La Cage aux Folles, or simply existing unapologetically, paved the yellow brick road for this new queer wave of thespians and theater connoisseurs.

    Tears were shed were definitely shed in this poignant moment.

    Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and Francis Jue Round Out the Rainbow

    Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ Purpose won Best Play, adding to his Pulitzer Prize haul. Meanwhile, veteran actor Francis Jue won hearts (and critical acclaim) for his role in Yellow Face, reminding us all that queer Asian excellence has always been part of Broadway’s DNA.

    Curtain Call

    From Cynthia’s 10 looks to Cole’s historic win and Jinkx’s pirate couture, the 2025 Tony Awards proved once again that queerness isn’t just part of Broadway, it is Broadway. And as long as we have chorus boys in sequins and monologues that end with “I’d like to thank Grindr,” the theater will be in fabulous hands.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBtzq3C-Wlc

    Full List of Winner Below

    Best Musical

    • Maybe Happy Ending

    Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

    • Nicole Scherzinger, Sunset Blvd.

    Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

    • Darren Criss, Maybe Happy Ending

    Best Revival of a Musical

    • Sunset Blvd.

    Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

    • Cole Escola, Oh, Mary!

    Best Direction of a Musical

    • Michael Arden, Maybe Happy Ending

    Best Direction of a Play

    • Sam Pinkleton, Oh, Mary!

    Best Revival of a Play

    • Eureka Day, Jonathan Spector

    Best Play

    • Purpose

    Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical

    • Natalie Venetia Belcon, Buena Vista Social Club

    Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

    • Kara Young, Purpose

    Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical

    • Jak Malone, Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical

    Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play

    • Francis Jue, Yellow Face

    Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

    • Sarah Snook, The Picture of Dorian Gray

    Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

    • Maybe Happy Ending, Will Aronson (music and lyrics) and Hue Park (lyrics)

    Best Costume Design of a Musical

    • Paul Tazewell, Death Becomes Her

    Best Costume Design of a Play

    • Marg Horwell, The Picture of Dorian Gray

    Best Scenic Design of a Musical

    • Dane Laffrey and George Reeve, Maybe Happy Ending

    Best Scenic Design of a Play

    • Miriam Buether and 59, Stranger Things: The First Shadow

    Best Lighting Design of a Musical

    • Jack Knowles, Sunset Blvd.

    Best Lighting Design of a Play

    • Jon Clark, Stranger Things: The First Shadow

    Best Choreography

    • Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck, Buena Vista Social Club

    Best Orchestrations

    • Marco Paguia, Buena Vista Social Club

    Best Sound Design of a Musical

    • Jonathan Deans, Buena Vista Social Club

    Best Book of a Musical

    • Maybe Happy Ending, Will Aronson and Hue Park

    Best Sound Design of a Play

    • Paul Arditti, Stranger Things: The First Shadow
  • Netflix Unveils Star-Studded 2025 Film Slate with Blockbusters, Documentaries, and Highly Anticipated Sequels

    Netflix Unveils Star-Studded 2025 Film Slate with Blockbusters, Documentaries, and Highly Anticipated Sequels

    Netflix has just announced its much-anticipated 2025 film slate, promising an exciting year of content that spans across multiple genres, star-studded performances, and high-profile directorial projects. In its latest “Next on Netflix” presentation, which included appearances from Tina Fey, Ben Affleck, John Mulaney, and the Duffer Brothers, the streaming giant unveiled a robust lineup of films that will hit the platform in 2025. From heartwarming comedies to gripping documentaries and thrilling sequels, Netflix is preparing to captivate global audiences throughout the year.

    Following a strong 2024, which saw critical successes such as “Emilia Pérez”—which nabbed 13 Academy Award nominations—Netflix is gearing up to deliver a year of diverse and compelling films. According to film chief Dan Lin, the pressure is on to continue the momentum with a mix of high-profile original films and returning fan-favorite franchises.

    Major Films, TV Series, and Star-Studded Releases

    One of the most buzzed-about titles in Netflix’s 2025 slate is Guillermo del Toro’s highly anticipated “Frankenstein,” slated for a November release. This gothic retelling will star Oscar Isaac as the mad scientist Victor Frankenstein, while Jacob Elordi will portray the iconic monster. The film promises to be a visually stunning and emotionally charged reimagining of Mary Shelley’s classic, with Mia Goth and Christoph Waltz rounding out the impressive cast.

    The series “You” starring Penn Badgley has also dropped its trailer for the highly anticipated season 5.

    Also generating a lot of attention is “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery,” a continuation of Rian Johnson’s wildly popular “Knives Out” franchise. Daniel Craig returns as the brilliant detective Benoit Blanc in the third installment of the series, which will feature an ensemble cast including Josh O’Connor, Glenn Close, and Jeremy Renner. Fans of the first two films can expect another thrilling whodunit with plenty of twists and turns.

    George Clooney fans will also get their fix with “Jay Kelly,” a comedy from Noah Baumbach, which stars Clooney in a leading role. The film will also feature an all-star cast including Adam Sandler, Laura Dern, and Greta Gerwig, ensuring a starry lineup for this intriguing comedy.

    Notable Documentaries

    In addition to its blockbuster films, Netflix is also set to release a slate of compelling documentaries. Among the most anticipated is a film about legendary comedian Eddie Murphy, offering an in-depth look at his career and influence on comedy and pop culture. Other documentaries include a deep dive into the Manson murders, a chronicle of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and a gripping account of Osama Bin Laden’s capture.

    Additionally, viewers will get an inside look at the Air Force’s elite Thunderbirds squadron and a documentary about the Long Island serial killer. Netflix will also explore environmental issues with a film about endangered pangolins and a chilling examination of the Titan submersible disaster.

    Highlights of Netflix’s 2025 Film Schedule

    Winter 2025:

    • “Kinda Pregnant” (Feb. 5): Amy Schumer stars in this romantic comedy about a woman who wears a fake pregnancy belly and ends up meeting the man of her dreams. The film also features Jillian Bell and Damon Wayans Jr.

    • “The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep” (Feb. 11): This animated fantasy series expands Netflix’s “The Witcher” universe. Geralt of Rivia faces a new threat as he’s pulled into a conflict between humans and merpeople, setting the stage for an epic battle to avoid war.
    • “La Dolce Villa” (Feb. 13): Scott Foley stars in this romantic comedy about a businessman who travels to Italy to stop his daughter from restoring a crumbling villa—only to discover romance and magic in the process.

    Spring 2025:

    • “Plankton: The Movie” (March 7): The latest installment in the “SpongeBob SquarePants” universe, focusing on Plankton’s thwarted plans for world domination.
    • “The Electric State” (March 14): A sci-fi thriller starring Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt, set in an alternate 1990s following a robot uprising. The film follows a teenager and her robot companion as they embark on a journey to find her brother.

    • “The Life List” (March 28): A heartwarming romance starring Sofia Carson and Connie Britton, following a woman’s journey to complete her childhood bucket list, discovering romance and family secrets along the way.

    Summer 2025:

    • “The Old Guard 2” (July 2): Fans of the first movie will be thrilled to see Charlize Theron return as Andy, the immortal mercenary, facing a new enemy in this highly anticipated sequel.
    • “Fear Street: Prom Queen” (Summer 2025): The latest installment in the “Fear Street” franchise, set during prom season at Shadyside High. A mysterious series of disappearances turns a prom night into a deadly nightmare.

    Fall 2025:

    • “Frankenstein” (November 2025): Guillermo del Toro’s take on the iconic monster story, starring Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi.
    • “RIP” (Fall 2025): Ben Affleck and Matt Damon team up in this intense thriller about Miami cops discovering millions of dollars in a drug stash house, leading to fractured trust and a web of corruption.

    • Matt Damon and Ben Affleck for "Rip"
      Matt Damon and Ben Affleck for “Rip”
    • “The Woman in Cabin 10” (Fall 2025): Keira Knightley stars in this adaptation of Ruth Ware’s thriller, where a journalist witnesses a murder at sea but no one believes her, sparking a dangerous investigation.

    Animated Features and Special Projects

    In addition to the live-action films, Netflix is also launching several highly anticipated animated features in 2025. Highlights include “K-Pop: Demon Hunters,” which follows a K-pop girl group leading double lives as demon hunters, and “In Your Dreams,” a whimsical adventure about two siblings navigating their dream world. Animated rom-coms like “Lost in Starlight” and “Pookoo” will also appeal to audiences seeking unique storytelling in the animated space.