Secluded stars: Celebs celebrate Supreme Court's employment LGBTQ ruling
The U.S. Supreme Court's landmark ruling that LGBTQ Americans are federally protected against employment discrimination prompted some stars with suburban ties to rejoice.
"Wooooooo!!! Some good news finally!!! Big big big win!!!" was the Twitter reaction of Justin Tranter, a Lake Zurich native and a hit songwriter for pop stars such as Britney Spears, Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber.
Singer/songwriter Ezra Furman, an Evanston Township High School alum, tweeted: "I really needed something to celebrate. Thank you, 2/3 of the Supreme Court. Thank you, trans and queer people over generations who have fought and fought and fought for goals like this."
Comedian and Oak Park native Kathy Griffin tweeted out a message starting with "I'm so happy for my #LGBTQ friends!" She also included an image of Marsha P. Johnson, the late black transgender activist who helped spark the 1969 Stonewall Riots. "It's about THE PEOPLE, like Marsha P. Johnson! Today is about people like HER!"
Sondheim veneration
Die-hard theater fans suffering withdrawal can take some solace with the online offerings of Chicago's Porchlight Music Theater. For several weeks, artistic director Michael Weber has been remotely gathering actors and directors on Vimeo to discuss the musicals of composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim in honor of his 90th birthday. "Hearty Boy" celebrity chef and Porchlight board member Steve McDonagh creates cocktails to tie to each musical.
Suburban theater-to-Broadway veterans such as Evanston native and actress Jessie Mueller, director David Cromer and actor Sean Allan Krill appeared in a recent episode on the fairy tale musical "Into the Woods."
"You can't help but think, 'Wow, we are facing a giant,'" said Krill, suggesting a coronavirus metaphor. "Whether we're the 'good people' or the 'bad people,' we're all getting affected by it."
Ask Jeff Garlin
Fans of "The Goldbergs" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm" should follow actor-producer Jeff Garlin on Instagram. The Morton Grove native (despite allergy attacks) often answers questions from fans around the world via Instagram Live.
This past Sunday, Garlin revealed his favorite "Goldbergs" guest star: his dog Sage, who plays Lucky.