The breakout star of the Netflix series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Tituss Burgess will headline for Seattle Men’s Chorus and their annual holiday show, Home for the Holidays on November 28 and 29 at Benaroya Hall. The Chorus will then perform 5 more shows in Seattle and one each in Everett and Tacoma in the month of December.
Burgess won fans, acclaim, rave reviews and an Emmy nomination for his role as the flamboyant roommate to the main character, Kimmy Schmidt played by Ellie Kemper. The show, originally produced for NBC by show creators Tina Fey and Robert Carlock was dumped by that network after 13 episodes were produced but never aired and picked up by Netflix. The huge success of the show means it will return in spring of 2016 with 13 new episodes.
Tituss Burgess became a national star after the debut of “Kimmy Schmidt” but frequent visitors to NYC and Broadway theaters were well aware of the performer and his talent. Eagle eyed viewers might even remember a YouTube clip of Burgess performing the Jennifer Holliday role in Dreamgirls and knocking the pants off the audience for a Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS “Broadway Backwards” benefit by singing the iconic “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going“.
AND, here’s the press release from SMC with ALL the info about this year’s show. DO remember that Tituss Burgess will ONLY be performing during the opening weekend of shows, November 28 and 29!!! Grab those tickets NOW before they sell out!
Seattle Men’s Chorus (SMC) is thrilled to announce the addition of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’s Tituss Burgess to this season’s first two holiday concerts. For Home for the Holidays, artistic director Dennis Coleman is pulling out all his ‘naughty and nice’ song favorites and preparing for his final holiday season conducting the Chorus. Featured songs include SMC’s beloved “Ave Maria” and “Silent Night,” as well as new tunes such as “Text Me Merry Christmas.” The addition of Tituss Burgess to the first two Seattle concerts, on November 28th and 29th, will add an extra dash of fairy dust to this treasured yuletide tradition.
Tituss Burgess made his Broadway debut a decade ago. Since then he has performed in Good Vibrations, Jersey Boys, The Little Mermaid (Sebastian the Crab) and Guys and Dolls (Nicely Nicely Johnson). His shift to television started in Tina Fey’s Emmy-winning, NBC series, 30 Rock, in the role of ‘D’Fwan,’ Sherri Shepherd’s character’s hairdresser and cohort. He became a fan-favorite and re-teamed with Fey for her follow-up comedy series, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. This wildly popular Netflix series was recently nominated for an Emmy as “Best Comedy Series.” Burgess stars as Kimmy’s scene-stealing roommate Titus Andromedon; for this role he was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Emmy, received the Best Actor award at the 2015 Webby Awards, and was nominated for a 2015 Critics’ Choice TV Award in the Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series category. Burgess’ other television credits include A Gifted Man, Blue Bloods and Royal Pains. Burgess released a solo album titled Comfortable in 2012, and has toured to performance venues across the globe.
For a quick video recap of Titus Andromedon’s quick-witted responses and fantabulously flashy banter in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, click here.https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=Ul2TeMUk4UY&feature= youtu.be For 36 seasons SMC has presented their unique blend of song, dance and campy comedy to the Northwest. They have solidified their role as Seattle’s most welcoming celebration of the season; and this year’s concert comes with a new level of nostalgia as artistic director Dennis Coleman, after 35 years with Seattle Men’s Chorus, prepares for retirement in the summer of 2016.
As in years past, SMC will hold an Everett and Tacoma area concert. Details for those two concerts are online at www.seattlemenschorus.org. For the fourth consecutive year, SMC is proud to partner with Lifelong for a Holiday Food Drive during the Seattle concerts at Benaroya Hall. All non-perishable goods will be accepted and will be used in Lifelong’s food program supporting people living with chronic illnesses, such as HIV/AIDS.
Tickets to Seattle performances are $25-$78. Tickets to the Everett performance are $25-45. Both Seattle and Everett concert tickets are available at SeattleMensChorus.org or over the phone at (206) 388-1400. The Seattle area box office is open Monday through Friday 11am-6pm. Tacoma concert tickets are $19-$69 and available at BroadwayCenter.org.
SEATTLE – Benaroya Hall: Saturday, November 28, 8:00pm, with special guest Tituss Burgess
Sunday, November 29, 2:00pm, with special guest Tituss Burgess
Friday, December 4, 8:00pm
Sunday, December 6, 7:30pm
Sunday, December 13, 7:30pm
Sunday, December 20, 7:30pm
Monday, December 21, 7:30pm
EVERETT – Civic Auditorium Saturday, December 19, 8:00pm
TACOMA – Pantages Theatre:* Thursday, December 3, 8:00pm
* Tickets are $19-$69 and available at: BroadwayCenter.org
About the Seattle Men’s Chorus/Seattle Women’s Chorus
The internationally renowned Seattle Men’s Chorus (founded 1979) and Seattle Women’s Chorus (founded 2002) comprise the largest community chorus organization in North America. Both choruses stand out as the largest LGBT-identified men’s and women’s choruses in the world. Flying House Productions, the home of SWC and SMC, is among the Pacific Northwest’s largest, most vibrant and successful music organizations, with an annual audience of more than 30,000 patrons in Seattle’s most prestigious venues.