2012

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Chu and Blossom

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Chu and Blossom was brought to me by my old chum Ryan O'Nan, with whom I acted in The Seagull at the Classic Stage Company in 2008.

He wrote it with Charles Chu, and Charles directed it with Gavin Kelly. The film stars Ryan, Charles, Mercedes Ruehl, Melanie Lynskey and many more.  Here I am with my onscreen sister Annie Potts. We play Ryan's character Blossom's gay uncle and aunt. Can you tell by our costumes?

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The Good Wife: Season 4

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Season Four of the show is better than ever. Eli is back on the campaign trail with Peter Florrick (Chris Noth) running for Governor of Illinois, still as manipulative and unwavering as ever, but this year facing some pretty stiff opposition in the shape of an FBI investigation into his personal activities concerning campaign financing as well as some pretty devious opponents.

The line-up of guest stars on Season four has been amazing: Kristin Chenoweth, Christina Ricci, Nathan Lane, Brian Dennehy, Stockard Channing, Maura Tireney, Matthew Perry, TR Knight, Audra Macdonald, Miriam Shor, Amanda Peet, Hamish Linklater as well as returning favorites like Carrie Preston made it truly exciting to get each episode's script.

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Macbeth

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I played all the parts in the National Theatre of Scotland's production of Macbeth.

The show also starred Myra McFadyen and Ali Craig and was directed by John Tiffany and Andy Goldberg. We opened at the Tramway in Glasgow and then played the Lincoln Center Festival in New York City.

See these videos to hear me talking about this incredible challenge and utterly overwhelming experience.

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Urban Secrets

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I hosted a series of travel documentaries for Sky Atlantic, where I walked around various cities in the UK and Ireland, finding out their urban secrets.

Each show took the form of a walk, during which I would come across a motley collection of celebrities, locals and experts who showed me hidden gems in London (2 shows), Brighton, Bristol, Liverpool, Newcastle, Dublin and Glasgow

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In Concert

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I did quite a few cabaret concerts in 2012.  I went to Kansas City to perform at the gala for the opening of Like Me Lighthouse, a new LGBT center. Then I did a concert at the Alice Tully Hall for the Lincoln Center, another at XL Lounge which was a benefit for the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) and several appearances at galas including the Public Theatre's at Joe's Pub and the Lunchbox Fund.

Later that summer I performed with Liza Minnelli at the Ice Palace in Cherry Grove on Fire Island. Daniel Nardicio had asked me to  do a show as part of his Legends season of concerts at the Ice Palace, and then later he called me up and asked if I would mind a) having a guest star perform with me and b) if it was Liza!

I love Liza. We met in 1998 when she came to see me inCabaret on Broadway. Afterwards, in my dressing room, the first words she ever spoke to me were 'Alan, I want to be your friend forever.'

We worked together shortly thereafter when we performed in a Kander and Ebb tribute at the Kennedy Center Honors. A few years later we recorded a duet, Baby It's Cold Outside for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and the 9/11 Fund.  We have remained friends and now have a new bond through having done this amazing night together. It was the hottest, sweatiest evening of the summer but we both had a blast and something really special happened. I think people saw how much we love each other and what fun we were having, and it was infectious.