THE LEADING MEN: Making his Mark
By Wayman Wong
02 Nov 2004
HIS ‘LOVE’ SONGS ARE MUSIC TO OUR EARS
Tim Di Pasqua has found his "Purpose" in life, and it’s putting out "Purpose of Love," his incredible compilation album of pop and theatre songs. Stephen Schwartz has called him "one of the freshest and most melodic" songwriters around, and this CD proves it with "a sexy and wildly talented lineup" that includes Baby Jane Dexter, Brian Lane Green and Karen Saunders. Among our favorites: "It Shouldn’t Have Happened," a heartbreaking ballad performed to perfection by Jessica Hendy (Aida); "You Make Me Nuts," a wonderfully loony country tune crooned by Tom Andersen; and "Big Hairy Man," a haunting story song set in a gay bar, exquisitely sung by Scott Coulter.
And then there’s "My Favorite Note," a comic tour de force that Di Pasqua wrote for Alix Korey; it features about ten high E-flats, and requires more belting than a radial tire: "Alix once said her favorite note is a high E-flat, so I sat down one day and the words just came out. She’s so wonderful. I’d love to write a whole show for her."
To quote Jonathan Frank’s record review at Talkin’ Broadway: "With all those styles and performers, this is one of those albums that has something for everyone." The CD was inspired by a benefit concert Di Pasqua did in 2000 called "Purpose of Love," directed by Michael Levesque, his multitalented and longtime soulmate. "I wanted to utilize my gifts, and those of my friends, as a purpose of love: to raise money and awareness for Broadway Cares." For their work, they received 2001 Bistro Awards. Di Pasqua hopes to celebrate the release of this album with an upcoming concert, and he plans to put out a second "Purpose of Love" album next year, featuring David Gurland, Capathia Jenkins, Phillip Officer, Stephen Schwartz and KT Sullivan.
The openly gay songwriter from San Francisco, who’s also played Carnegie Hall, says, "Every song I write is an out song," whether he’s writing about men or women, gay or straight. But what his heartfelt songs have in common is his uncommon insight into "personal relationships and how people react to each other." And that’s true for his solo CD, "Monster Under These Conditions," too. It includes two of the prettiest pop songs you’ll ever hear — "The Best That I Can Do" and "Since Love’s Come Around" — sung in his sweet, mellow and mellifluous tenor. Meantime, the 5-foot-10 tunesmith is working on his next solo CD, "Tokyo," which is about "being on my own."
Asked whom he loves to listen to, Di Pasqua, 43, lists Alanis Morrisette, Dave Matthews, Joni Mitchell, Sting, Prince, U-2, Led Zeppelin, Madonna, Jason Robert Brown and John Bucchino. "They’re not making music because they think it’s what their audience will like. And it may not be the thing that’s most marketable or P.C. But they’re making the music that their heart has to make, and that’s what I have to do, too."
For more information, visit www.timdipasqua.com.
WHERE THE GUYS ARE
There’s so much to see in New York: Tom D’Angora, the 2004 Bistro Award winner for musical comedy, brings back an updated version of his hit show, Divas I’ve Done (now titled Divas Re-Done), on Nov. 7 at 8 PM at Don’t Tell Mama, 343 W. 46th St. (212-757-0788). Then he’s off to open Divas on Nov. 17 at the Room 5 Lounge in L.A. . . . Eric Jordan Young has razzle-dazzled as Billy Flynn in Broadway’s Chicago, and now he’s saluting Sammy Davis Jr. in his new show, "Sammy and Me," on Nov. 7 and 14 at 9 PM at Opia, 130 E. 57th St. (212-688-3939). Earlier this year, Young received raves for singing Davis’ songs in Mr. Bojangles in Chicago. . . . Whether he’s a king of pop in Taboo or a Roman emperor in Caligula, Euan Morton rules. He will headline Nov. 10-13 at 8 PM and Nov. 14 at 7 PM at the Zipper Theatre, 336 W. 37th St. (212-352-3101). Plus, Morton will star in Rockin’ at the Zipper on Nov. 9 at 8 PM and Nov. 13 at 11 PM, with his ol’ Taboo crew: Jeffrey Carlson, Brooke Elliott, Cary Shields and Denise Summerford.
Christopher Sieber is a Prince of a guy who’ll woo and pursue Sarah Uriarte Berry in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella from Nov. 12-21 at New York City Opera (212-307-4100). . . . Adam Pascal (Rent) celebrates the rockin’ release of his new Sh-K-Room CD, "Civilian," on Nov. 13 at 7 PM and Nov. 27 at 7 PM at Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette St. (212-239-6200). . . . Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, the Tony-winning team behind Avenue Q, will present scores of their wittiest ditties on Nov. 29 at 7 PM at Birdland, 315 W. 44th St. (212-580 3080). . . . "Everything has a reason, everything has a rhyme," so a star studded concert of Stephen Schwartz’s Pippin will mark World AIDS Day on Nov. 29 at 7 PM at The Manhattan Center, 311 W. 34th St. (212-868-4444). It’ll boast Michael Arden, Laura Benanti, Charles Busch, Darius de Haas, Terrence Mann, Cameron Mathison, Billy Porter and Kate Shindle.
Finally, congrats to Cheyenne Jackson, who replaces Jarrod Emick and takes over as the hunky hunka "Burning Love" in the Elvis Presley musical All Shook Up, opening March 24 at The Palace. Jackson says, "Omigod! My agent called me last Thursday and asked: ‘How would you like to originate your first role on Broadway?’ I handled it like a man: I crumpled against a building and started weeping. But it’s bittersweet. This means I can’t do Altar Boyz [rumored to open Off-Broadway in spring]. I love that show and all the Altar Boyz. But Elvis is a huge part of my upbringing, and starring in All Shook Up is a dream come true!"
Got comments or questions? E-mail me at waymanwong@hotmail.com.
Until next month, let’s hear it for the "boys"!
Wayman Wong edits entertainment for The New York Daily News. He has been a movie and theater critic for The San Francisco Examiner, a writer for The Sondheim Review and a Drama-Logue Award-winning playwright.
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Tim Di Pasqua (left) and Gary Beach with a rose-y prop from La Cage aux Folles
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| photo by Jillian Nelson and Ben Strothmann |
