Breaking Barriers And Belting High Notes: A Storyteller’s Session With Idina Menzel And Billy Porter – Tribeca Festival
16.06.2023 - 17:15
/ deadline.com
In the buzzing atmosphere of Tribeca’s Storyteller’s Panel, a great conversation between two long-standing peers, Billy Porter and Idina Menzel took place. Their friendship, born out of shared experiences in musical theater, spans several decades, revealing a mutual respect between them.
Billy Porter, a pioneering actor, singer, and director, has made an indelible mark on both Broadway and Hollywood. From his remarkable performances on Broadway, most notably in Kinky Boots which earned him a Tony award for Best Actor in a Musical, to making history in Hollywood as the first openly gay Black man to win an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his role in Pose, Porter has consistently challenged norms and transformed the entertainment landscape. His influence extends beyond his roles, with Porter continually using his platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and visibility.
Equally influential, Idina Menzel, a renowned actress and singer, has breathed life into Broadway with her electrifying performances. From portraying characters like Maureen in Rent and Elphaba in Wicked, for which she received a Tony Award, to lending her voice to Elsa in Disney’s Frozen and belting out the iconic, Oscar-winning song “Let It Go,” Menzel has left an indelible mark on the industry.
Amidst an industry that runs on conformity, Porter and Menzel have carved out their own paths, acknowledging their unique journeys during the discussion as they talk about the differences between film and theater, as well as Porter’s latest film that premiered at the Tribeca Festival, The Son, which also stars Luke Evans.
Probing Porter, Menzel asks, “What about this idea of people always asking me about the transition from stage to screen to