By Wayman Wong
01 Jun 2005

ARE THEY NOT MEN? THEY ARE DIVO
When this column kicked off in January 2003, the very first "Leading Man" we profiled was the dynamic David Miller from Baz Luhrmann’s La Boheme, and he set the tenor of our interviews ever since. Back then, the 6-foot-3 American was singing in Italian, surrounded by an international cast. Nowadays, he’s still singing in Italian (and Spanish and English, too), surrounded by an international cast — but he belongs to the virtuosic vocal quartet of Il Divo. Created by "American Idol"’s Simon Cowell, this phenomenal foursome has sold three million copies worldwide of their self-titled CD, which features rich, romantic renditions of "Unbreak My Heart" and "Unchained Melody." Il Divo also consists of Sebastien Izambard (France), Urs Buehler (Switzerland) and Carlos Marin (Spain).

Though opera might be their aria of expertise, these mostly classically trained singers don’t sing it here; they go for pop. Miller says, "We wanted to bring back classic lyric singing. We’ve been called ‘pop opera,’ but it’s more correct to call it ‘operatic pop.’ We’re like the Operatic Rat Pack. Giorgio Armani supplies our suits, and when we walk down the street, we feel like the pop Mafia. It’s very funny."

"Il Divo is a democracy," Miller adds, so there’s no lead singer and they work in amazing harmony. "We’re pretty stereotypically from our countries. If Carlos weren’t a singer, he’d be a bullfighter. Sebastien is sensitive and loves fine food and fine wine. Urs is like a Swiss watch; he always likes to be on time. And I’m American, so I talk a lot. But we’re all funny and we’re like frat boys. This is the first time I’ve ever had best friends who are guy friends. In high school, growing up in a conservative state like Colorado, singing was not cool. But it’s cool being in Il Divo."

Hundreds of singers in 17 countries auditioned for Il Divo, but Miller, 32, says he didn’t even know Cowell was involved until he got the job. "I was told: ‘Simon wants to meet you.’ ‘Simon who?’ ‘Simon Cowell.’ I said, ‘Oh, crap.’ This is gonna be a lot more higher-profile than I thought." And even since its London debut last fall, it’s been a whirlwind. "Initially, they thought our fan base would be just housewives, but it runs from 13 to 85 on our website, and we have a lot of male fans, too." Meantime, Il Divo will record a second album this summer and tour early next year.

So does Miller, who’s also a techno fan, miss singing opera? "Yes, definitely. It’s where my roots are. I still sing at home. I’ll crack open a score and sing through one of my shows." He hopes return to opera someday, and though La Boheme "seems like three lifetimes ago," he’d welcome Broadway again, too.

Currently, Miller is dating an opera singer who "understands the business and what it’s like to be on the road. Our phone bills are enormous. We got web cameras so we can talk to each other online. I’ve been so busy that I didn’t even get to see the new ‘Star Wars’ movie. Dang! I’m a big fan and my girlfriend calls it my religion."

For more information, visit www.ildivo.com.

IT’S RAINING MEN, HALLELUJAH!
Thanks to everyone who came to The Leading Men concert on May 30 at Joe’s Pub. Directed by Alan Muraoka and choreographed by Jamie Harris, this Broadway Cares benefit was a soldout success. John Tartaglia was a hilarious host, joined by Mark Hartman and the Johnettes: Jennifer Barnhart, Kelley McKinnon, Telly Leung and Lucas Steele.

Bravo to "The Leading Men," and here’s what they performed:
John Tartaglia and the Johnettes: "YMCA"
Tom Andersen: "Downtown"
Tom D’Angora: "Somewhere That’s Pink"
Max von Essen: "Proud Lady"
Wayman Wong: "I Took My Heart and Gave It to My Love"
Brian & Ted Farley: "What Is This Feeling"
Scott Coulter: "It Goes Like It Goes"
Ben Strothmann: "It’s Oh So Quiet"
Barrett Foa: "Movin’ Too Fast"
Chad Kimball: "Giants in the Sky"
Tim Di Pasqua, Tom Andersen & Scott Coulter: "What Do I Know?"
Matthew Morrison: "One Day More"
Cheyenne Jackson: "Mr. Potato Head"
Seth Rudetsky: "Deconstructing ‘Annie’ and Bea Arthur"
Christopher Sieber: "Agony"
Christopher Sieber and John Tartaglia: "I Will Never Leave You"
Jai Rodriguez: "I’ll Be Here"
John Tartaglia and the Johnettes: "It’s Raining Men"

It was such a hit that Broadway Cares wants to talk about turning it into an annual event. Meantime, NY1 News will feature footage and interviews from "The Leading Men" concert on "On Stage," its weekly theatre program, June 4 at 9:30 AM and 7:30 PM; June 5 at 9:30 AM, and June 6 at 9:30 PM and 12:30 AM.

WHERE THE GUYS ARE
There’s so much to see in New York: Thos Shipley, a five-time MAC Award winner for outstanding jazz vocalist, sings some of "My Favorite Things" — and ours — on June 6 and 13 at 9:30 PM and June 12 at 7 PM at The Encore, 266 W. 47th St. (212-221-3960). . . . If you love the mellow song stylings of Johnny Mathis, chances are you’ll get all "Misty" over Marcus Simeone’s "Wonderful, Wonderful" salute to him on June 9, 16 and 23 at 7 PM at Helen’s, 169 Eighth Ave. (212-206-0609). . . . If you haven’t been at liberty to catch John Tartaglia’s brilliant Bistro-winning cabaret act, "AD-LIBerty," he’s playing again on June 13 and 20 and July 4 at 7 PM at Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette St. (212-239-6200). By the way, Lucas Steele, one of Tartaglia’s talented backup boys, makes his solo debut, singing his own pop-rock songs, on June 6 at 9 PM at Opia, 130 E. 57th St. (212-688-3939). . . .

With his Irish eyes a smiling, Jack Donahue (and the Andy Ezrin Trio) will be jazzing things up June 14-25 at the Algonquin, 59 W. 44th St. (212-419-9331). . . . Steven Ray Watkins is "Hopelessly Devoted" to Olivia Newton-John in his new show, "Guilty Pleasures," playing June 15, 22 and 29 at 7 PM and June 17 and 24 at 9:30 PM at The Encore. . . . "Star Search" winner Sam Harris will be out and about, celebrating Gay Pride, on June 27 at 7 and 9:30 PM at Joe’s Pub. . . . Finally, Tony Award winners Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, the fine, fine minds behind Avenue Q, will host "Avenue Q Swings!" on June 27 at 7:30 PM at the Lucille Lortel, 121 Christopher St. (212-239-6200). Proceeds will benefit the Greenwich House Music School’s Piano Fund.

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.