thePULSE
By Regina Allen
Are you a Gleek? C’mon, admit it, you are ~ and if you’re like me, you can’t wait to see, aka Mercury recording artist Matthew Morrison, stepping off the small screen and [back]onto the stage to perform songs from his album Singing in the Rain as well as a bunch of “Glee” favorites.
Morrison, now best known to millions as the eternally optimistic (and some would say dreamy!) Will Schuester on the FOX TV’s runaway hit “Glee,” which has single-handedly brought the performing arts into the mainstream spotlight, shared the 2009 SAG (Screen Actors Guild) Award for Best Performance by an Ensemble in a Television Series ~ Comedy or Musical for that role, but he’s also been nominated for Tony, Emmy and Golden Globe awards. Morrison studied musical theatre, vocal performance and dance at New York University’s renowned Tisch School of the Arts. His first big Broadway break came as heartthrob Link Larkin in the hit “Hairspray.” He was later nominated for a Tony Award for his role in “The Light in the Piazza.” He received a Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Musical for “10 Million Miles” and starred in the Tony Award-winning revival of “South Pacific” at New York’s Lincoln Center Theater.
For a taste of Morrison’s new album, which features duets with Sir Elton John and frequent “Glee” guest star Gwyneth Paltrow, check out behind-the-scenes footage of the making of the debut single “Summer Rain” at www.vevo.com/watch/matthew-morrison/summer-rain-tour-rehearsal-behind-the-scenes/USUV71100285. The track is available on iTunes and all digital partners and was co-written by Matthew with Claude Kelly (who has worked with Bruno Mars, Britney Spears, and Christina Aguilera, to name just a few) and the Norwegian duo known as Espionage (best known for their work with Train on this year’s Grammy Award-winning “Hey, Soul Sister”), who produced the track.
Morrison, who is still very humble about his newfound popularity (and still very evasive when it comes to discussing his social life!), has also teamed up with Funny or Die to create original content for the Summer Rain tour. The videos will premiere exclusively on Funny or Die, which is also producing original content that will be incorporated into Matthew’s show.
So, fellow Gleeks, hope to see you on Wednesday, June 29 at the Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre, where Matthew Morrison will be proving in person that a guy who can sing, dance, and make us laugh really is hotter than hot!
Photos by and courtesy of Pamela Littky
This Just In! Although this news shouldn’t affect the June 29 show, in what was described as an opportunity “too big to miss,” Matthew Morrison has announced that he will join the NKOTBBS Tour as a special guest, performing in arenas across the U.S. “This was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” said Morrison. “I am so appreciative of my fans and I’m planning to give them a great show.”
For information regarding the postponed dates for Matthew’s tour, please go to www.matthewmorrison.com, and hit up www.nkotbsb.com for more details as well.
