Living Out Loud with Darian

If you're not into musical theater or don't have a subscription to LOGO then you're probably not familiar with Coleman Domingo. This talented brother can be seen currently on Broadway in the new rock musical Passing Strange at the Belasco Theater or on The Big Gay Sketch Show on LOGO. The latter is where I first recognized the extraordinary talent and comedic timing of this well rounded actor.

Coleman recently sat down with NY's Next Magazine to chat about his life, being openly gay and choosing to play gay characters against the stereotype.

“I’m a neutral kind of guy, I’m just an average dude,” he says demurely. “But I can glam up and queen out when [I’m] with a certain group of friends. I’m just similar to every other straight guy, but I have wit and charm.”

As far as queening out goes, he tries to do it with heart. “There’s a responsibility as a gay actor to create people that are fun that the audience will recognize, but that you’re not making fun of them, you’re embracing them,” he says.

As much as he likes to give the audience something they’ll know, Domingo loves to go beyond the stereotypes in gay roles. “I play this closeted choir director(in Passing Strange) who is fabulous,” Domingo explains. “I set him up one way, where the audience thinks he’s going to be funny and campy and I turn it so they get to the heart and soul of what’s behind the mask. That’s what I love to do, show them people who aren’t familiar.”

Below is one of my favorite scenes with Coleman from The Big Gay Sketch Show where he spoofs Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King's much hyped road trip. This is the sketch that made me a Coleman Domingo fan.