In the skies over America tonight, we will celebrate our independence from good Indian food and universal healthcare by exploding fireworks o'er our ramparts. All well and good, but nothing really competes with the old fashioned razzle dazzle of jazz hands. Fortunately, George Takei has got you covered.
In the current print edition of New Times, we ran a wide-ranging interview with Takei, but there was so much he had to say that we are running more excerpts from that conversation all week. This time around, Takei is dishing exclusive news about his musical Allegiance, which is due to open on Broadway this Spring. And if it's not enough to have him get your toes-a-tappin', Takei's going to get your boots-a-knockin' when he shares the secrets of his lasting love with his husband Brad.
George Takei on Broadway? It's what the Founding Fathers fought for. Give us a libretto or give us death.
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Our earlier story described how Allegiance was borne of Takei's childhood imprisonment in the Japanese-American internment camps of World War II. Before setting course for Broadway, it had previously played in San Diego.
"We had our world premiere at the respected Old Globe theater there," Takei said. "Well, we call it 'world premiere' but New York people call it 'out-of-town tryouts.' We were received by unanimous raves by San Diego critics and packed houses nearly every night, so we extended it for a week. We wound up breaking their 77-year records for box office and attendance."
The show would go on to win the award for Best New Musical of 2012 by the San Diego Critics Circle, but for a perfectionist like Takei, he was not convinced the show was ready for Broadway.
"We dropped a whole production number and replaced it with 'Baseball (Gotta Get in the Game)', a really fantastic number. It's really up and exciting. Great choreography."
Takei expects the show to be roughly on the same scale in size but said that "it's certainly going to be better. There's a scene that bookends the beginning and the ending and we changed that as well. People in San Diego who have seen the show will find new things to enjoy and we're encouraging people to visit New York in the Spring to see the city and see the show. It's a wonderful time."
Is there anything more romantic than New York in the Spring? Well, New York in Autumn and probably Winter, but Spring is definitely one of the top three most romantic seasons to be in New York. George Takei has prepared the perfect romantic getaway for you and your latest lover. But how can you guarantee a love that crawled out of the sogginess of Miami hurricane season will survive the rest of the year? Takei to the rescue.
"Pouty kisses."
Come again?
"Pouty kisses."
Let's ease into that. Want your relationship to throb with the same passion as in George and Brad Takei's multi-decade romance? One option is some very specific bedroom roleplaying with your partner (just don't pick "Oh myyy..." as your safe word). Or you could lean closer and listen to George Takei's one crazy trick for making love stay.
"The secret is compromise and tolerance," he told us. "To be together this long, Brad and I have had to recognize that we are very fallible people. We have our strengths and our weaknesses, but they seem to complement each other. He's very organized and orderly. A neat freak."
And George?
"I'm the complement of that," he said and then dispensed a ration of that laugh that thousands will imitate but none will replicate.
"We could have our disagreements during the day. But we have a policy that we definitely kiss each other before we go to sleep, whether we're pouting or not. Some of our kisses are pouty," he said, and it sounded more awesome than you can imagine. "Pouty kisses."
Pouty kisses.
"We love each aother and we need each other," Takei said. "So there's that."
But that's not all there is! Join us again tomorrow for the conclusion of George Takei Week when things take a turn for the philosophical. Takei talks more about dark corners of American history and about using his internet clout for good. There will also be a really charming photo of Takei smiling at YOU. Oh myyy...
George Takei will appear at the Florida Supercon held at the Miami Airport Convention Center from July 4 through 7. For tickets and schedules, visit FloridaSupercon.com.
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