THE KING OF BROADWAY
Harvey Fierstein is a legend of entertainment and gay rights activism. His first acting job was in Andy Warhol’s only play Pork, and he wrote and starred in Torch Song Trilogy, the first Broadway play to make money, before then starring in the film adaptation alongside Matthew Broderick. He wrote the book for La Cage aux Folles and created the role of Edna Turnblad in Hairspray The Musical. He is one of only three actors to have received Tony awards in four different categories, played the first openly gay character on Broadway, and has appeared in multiple films including Mrs Doubtfire, Independence Day and Bullets Over Broadway. This month he premieres the iconic musical, Kinky Boots, along with his play Casa Valentina in London. “It’s always exciting to get your work done,” says the famously gravelly-voiced Fierstein, talking to me on the phone from his Connecticut home. Fierstein is talkative but also combative, repeatedly resisting my attempts to make connections between his works. His career has regularly been about pushing the theatrical envelope, but he clearly refuses to be put into one.
Michael childers/corbis
What do you feel about having your work done back to back in London, and in particular seeing Casa Valentina done again in England?
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About Attitude
This month’s Attitude cover star is One Direction’s Liam Payne, who gives the band’s first ever solo interview, and first gay press exclusive. Shot and interviewed by Attitude, he speaks out about his relationship with the gay community, and the band’s future.
We also have an interview with music’s most profound gay voice, John Grant, the King of Broadway Harvey Fierstein, alternative pop star Peaches, and young adult author James Dawson. We have a feature looking at what really happened at the Stonewall riots, and look back at Emile Griffith, the tragic gay boxing star from the 1960s.
This issue also introduces a few new pages to the magazine, including a Books page, the new Readers Question spread, and the debut of columnist Jemal Polson.