Living Out Loud with Darian

I love musical theater. I was singing and dancing from the time I could walk, unfortunately for my family and friends my voice wasn't as polished as my dancing, but that still didn't stop me from screaming songs from Dreamgirls, RENT, Big River, Chicago, and countless other musicals at the top of my lungs.

I even majored in musical theater in college and took the time to perfect my craft for a career in performance, so I understand the discipline and hard work it takes to be a successful artist.

The Tony Awards are a monumental event in the lives of broadway performers, they all dream about hearing their name called and rushing the stage to receive the theater equivalent of an Academy Award. For years the telecast has suffered from poor ratings and after watching last night's show I can understand why millions of Americans have ignored the Tonys.

Experiencing live theater is one of the most exhilarating experiences I've ever know, so why in the hell was last night's show so boring? I almost find it impossible to believe that the hundreds of creative gay men and women who were responsible for this show would torture their audience with the crap they presented last night. I must have taken at least three naps during the show and each time I woke up it was still on and it was still boring !

And don't even get me started on the lack of diversity in the nominations and performances by people of color. I was thrilled to see choreographer Bill T. Jones win his first Tony Award for best choreography for Spring Awakening . As usual four time Tony award winnerAudra McDonald represented the epitome of Black theater royalty with her beauty, talent and grace.

The one person who woke me up and saved the show for me was the one and only Fantasia. She sang "I'm Here" from The Color Purple in honor of the Alliance Theater in Atlanta, Georgia, recipient of the Tony regional theater award. I swear this girl is the TRUTH! She sings from some place deep inside that can't be taught in any vocal master class, she's amazing!

With all of the celebrities Broadway is pulling in to attract more people to the theater and in many cases to save shows that are in danger of closing, you would think they would use the talents of people like Usher, Ben Vereen, Taye Diggs, and Idina Menzel to liven things up. I guess I can only hope that they will get it right next year.