Ohhhh, What a NIGHT!!!!!!!! Vicky from Tony Geary.net and I met in Manhattan to do this special evening together. This had to be one of the most fabulous nights ever.
First, let me start with the Broadway Cares event at the Town House Theater. The theater was sold out with a very excited group of people. The songs and dances were mostly wonderful, but the highlight of the night was our man, Mr. Tony Geary.
Tony chose the song "Timeless to Me" from the show "Hairspray." For those of you who don't know this show, there is a character in it who plays the mother of the female teenaged girl. That role was originated by Harry Feirstein...a man in drag!!! So, out comes our Tony dressed as an oversized watermelon-chested woman!!!!
Honestly, I didn't recognize him. I also think most of the audience didn't either. It is a comedic song, and he did just fine with it. In fact, I saw the original on Broadway, and he was just as good as Harry! I truly hope that Sue is able to get the pictures that I took up on this site as soon as possible because you will NOT believe Tony!!!!!! I turned to Vicky and I said, "That can't be Tony." She said the program says it is. I was dumbfounded. After watching this man for nearly 27 years, I didn't think that anything he could do would surprise me. But I am telling you...looking straight at him...I could not recognize him. What a chameleon!
Here's what they did. They took him to the backstage where they run "Hairspray." They dressed him in the fat suit costume and did his make-up. Then to keep the surprise, they put a scarf over his head to smuggle him into the Town House Theater just before the performance. It was a complete shock to everyone as almost all the other songs were done with minimal sets and costuming. I personally think it was a great choice for Tony. Many of these soap stars really do not have the chops to be performing in a large Broadway house. Tony chose to go another route...humor. He was hilarious.
After the show we quickly went over to the Marriott Hotel where they had planned a reception. They served some hors d'oeuvres, and we all waited for the stars to arrive. It was now about 11:30 PM, it was snowing, and there was a crowd of about 400 people waiting with cameras. They put the stars in a room next to the reception hall so that they would have a chance to eat and meet the press for pictures. And then, one by one, they filtered out to meet the fans.
I got myself into a very good position, and when the doors to that room opened, I could see Tony socializing.
After about 40 minutes, he came out to where I was standing. He stayed there...right next to me...until 2 AM!!!!!!!! He signed every single autograph, took a picture with every single person. He was warm, charming and engaging to everyone. Vicky and I were astounded. We never expected him to stay so long or be so friendly. It was hard to hear everything with all the commotion, and most of the conversations with fans were really just small talk. When I got my chance to speak to him, I asked him if Genie was coming back. His pat answer to everyone who asked that was, "That is between Genie and ABC." So, I have no good info on that.
I told him that I thought he would win his 6th Emmy this year. His response was, "Really? Do you think so?" He just doesn't get how special his performances are...that he is Tony Geary, for heaven's sake. He is a truly humble man. Let me tell you that he is also a quiet man, perhaps a little shy too. He is NOT Luke Spencer. The light bulbs were flashing...literally hundreds of them...blinding lightflashes. He handled it with such grace.
Can you imagine being subjected to something like that for 2 1/2 hours? All that after a performance that had to leave him a little washed out. In fact, at one point I said to him, "Tony, aren't you tired?" He answered, "Do I look tired?" I said, "NO! You look like you are pumped up!" And he was. This was a tremendous thrill for him, and he wanted to soak up the fan appreciation he was receiving for his performance. Vicky had lots of questions for him, but I think you should visit her site to get her own opinions of the evening. There was some talk of a possible Genie return for May, but that could all be speculation.
I watched Jacob Young come over to Tony.
Tony and he adore each other. He was adjusting Jacob's tie affectionately like a Dad as the two of them whispered to each other and embraced. Tony was signing autographs when Catherine Hickland came over. I heard her say to someone, "I just want to get a picture of me with Tony." Then she added, "I don't want to disturb him, though, or take him away from his fans."
I thought that she was a class act for holding back that way. I asked him about Sebastian Roche. He said he is a wonderful actor. I asked him about working again with Kin. He said he loved it. The buzz was that they are trying very hard to keep Roche and that Scott will be around for quite a while. I reminded him about who I was and when we had met before, and he did remember. How he could think under those conditions of bedlam is beyond me.
Gradually, as it got later, the crowd thinned out, and I was able to see and hear more. He is off to Europe after this event for 2 weeks. He loves Julie Berman. I told him how great his performance was that night and that I couldn't believe it was he! I asked him if that was what Shirley McLaine meant about channeling a character! Scottt Clifton was there. Jason Thompson and Kim McCullough were there as well. Jason was another one who walked right into the crowd...fearless and charming.
I found myself taking pictures of fans with Tony...me the one who is so technologically -challenged. I hope those people actually got the pictures they wanted. So, I had a bird's eye view of him for hours. What a privilege. Some actors are worthy of their fans devotion, and some are not. He is one who is!!!!!!
Ginger
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