The Broadway Beauty Pageant crowned Michael Cusumano (Mr. Chicago) the winner last evening, Monday, March 21st, 2011 at 8:00 PM, at the benefit for The Ali Forney Center, NYC's primary housing resource for homeless LGBT youth. Michael received standing ovations for his brilliant interpretation of his Russian prima ballerina version of the film "BLACK SWAN" dancing on pointe. A capacity crowd enjoyed the annual show again at the Peter Norton Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway (at 95th Street). The award-winning Tovah Feldshuh hosted the not-to-be-missed event The other multi-talented contestants were: Matt Anctil, La Cage aux Folles; Raymond J. Lee, Anything Goes; Brandon Rubendall, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark; and James Tabeek, Mary Poppins. Lee Roy Reams opened the show with a long boa singing and dancing with the contestants in a special number "Beautiful Boys" created by Gerard Alessandrini.. Conceived byJeffery Self and directed by Ryan J Davis, musical direction byChristopher Denny, choreography by Erin Porvaznika; lighting design by Brian Tovar. The evening was produced by Wil Fisher,Ryan J. Davis, Jeffery Self and Matthew Oberstein.
Michael Cusumano began dancing at 6 and at the age of 14 won the bronze medal at the Varna International Ballet Competition (the youngest male dancer to medal in that competition history). In 1994 he won the special Jury Prize at the Prix de Paris. He joined American Ballet Theatre at 15 (youngest male dance in the history of the company). His acclaimed classical dance career continued for some years. Michael was on Broadway in "All Shook Up" and is currently in "Chicago."
The trio of outstanding and hilarious judges for the 5th Smash Year of The Broadway Beauty Pageant were: Bruce Vilanch, the six-time Emmy Award winner comedy writer and actor who is one of the most sought after jokesmiths in the entertainment industry; Rachel Dratch, best known for her years as a cast member of Saturday Night Live, and who is an award winning comic actress from Second City; and Carson Kressley, who was the fashion expert on Queer Eye, the host of the TV show How To Look Good Naked, and now hosts Carson-Nation on the Oprah WinfreyNetwork.The previous winners have been: Charlie Williams (Mr. Memphis 2010), Anthony Hollock (Mr. Hair 2009), Marty Thomas (Mr. Xanadu 2008), and Frankie James Grande (Mr. Mamma Mia 2007).
The Ali Forney Center (AFC) was started in June 2002 in response to the lack of safe shelter for LGBT youth in New York City. They have grown quickly to become the nation's largest and most comprehensive organization dedicated to homeless LGBT youth. They are committed to providing LGBT youth with safe, dignified, nurturing environments where their needs can be met and where they can begin to put their lives back together. The center provides short and long term housing, plus free medical care, HIV testing, mental health services, showers, food, computer access and job training and placement at its drop-in centers in Chelsea and Brooklyn. The Ali Forney Center is at 224 West 35th St., Suite 1102 New York, NY 10001 (212) 222-3427 and the fax is (212) 222-5861. www.aliforneycenter.org
Raymond J Lee
Bruce Vilanch and Carson Kressley
Bruce Vilanch, Rachel Dratch and Carson Kressley
Frankie James Grande and Anthony Hollock
Leroy Reams
James Tabeek teaching Rachel Dratch
Raymond J Lee
Raymond J Lee
Raymond J Lee
Michael Cusumano, Matt Anctil, Raymond J Lee, James Tabeek and Brandon Rubendall
Brandon Rubendall, James Tabeek, Raymond J Lee, Matt Anctil and Michael Cusumano
And The WINNER IS: Michael Cusumano
Bruce Vilanch, Rachel Dratch, Carson Kressley and Mr. Broadway 2011: Michael Cusumano
Leroy Reams, Tovah Feldshuh, Bruce Vilanch, Michael Cusumano, Rachel Dratch and Carson Kressley
Brandon Rubendall, James Tabeek, Raymond J Lee and Matt Anctil
Wil Fisher, Martin Berusch, Mike Ruiz, Ryan Nickulas and Rodiney Santiago
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