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WATCH: Bill T. Jones for HRC's New Yorkers for Marriage Equality

The iconic Tony Award-winning choreographer Bill T. Jones becomes the latest high-profile New Yorker to speak out for marriage equality for the Human Rights Campaign.

The 30-second spot debuted online Tuesday. "We all agree that marriage is a fundamental right, and in our county, in our society, there are no second-class citizens," says Jones, who was saluted by the 2010 Kennedy Center Awards last December.

In related news: A survey reported on Monday by NY1 found 36 senators in the Republican-controlled Senate—including four Democrats and all 32 Republicans—opposed to a marriage bill. The vote failed spectacularly when the Senate took it up for the first time in December 2009. The vote was 38-24, with 8 Democrats joining the entire GOP caucus to oppose the bill. Marriage equality has passed the Democrat-dominated New York State Assembly at least three times, most recently by an 89-52 vote in May 2009.

Watch Jones' video message AFTER THE JUMP ...

 

WATCH: Bill T. Jones Honored at Kennedy Center Awards

Two of the country's foremost gay cultural figures—iconic dancer-choreographer Bill T. Jones and legendary Broadway composer-lyricist Jerry Herman—and gay-friendly media sensation Oprah Winfrey were among the artists saluted Tuesday evening at the 33rd annual Kennedy Center Honors. Each artist was fêted and received a tribute by fellow A-listers as they watched from a balcony alongside the President and First Lady.

The iconic choreographer is the co-creator, director and choreographer of the musical based on the life of Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, known for creating pioneering Afrobeat rhythms. In June, Bill T. Jones won his second Tony Award for Fela!, \which was nominated fin 11 categories and won for Best Choreography, Costume Design and Sound Design. Fela! is now in production in Lagos and London.

The internationally renown auteur was also photographed by Francois Rousseau to cover the OUT 100 in December 2007.

Watch Bill T. Jones' profile by CBS News, as well as his introduction at the Kennedy Center Awards and an appearance at the White House AFTER THE JUMP ...

WATCH: Jennifer Hudson's Tribute to Oprah at the Kennedy Center

Two of the country's foremost gay cultural figures—iconic dancer-choreographer Bill T. Jones and legendary Broadway composer-lyricist Jerry Herman—and gay-friendly media sensation Oprah Winfrey were among the artists saluted last night at the 33rd annual Kennedy Center Honors. Each artist was fêted and received a tribute by fellow A-listers as they watched from a balcony alongside the President and First Lady.

One of the highlights: Grammy and Academy Awards-winning R20 fave Jennifer Hudson soared with her rendition of "I'm Here" from The Color Purple to honor of Oprah Winfrey, who produced the Broadway production of the show. It was a stellar arrangement and Hudson was joined by the Tennessee State University Choir, representing Winfrey's alma mater.

Jennifer Hudson looked like a million dollars, too. Watch AFTER THE JUMP ...

Oprah and Bill T. Jones Among 2010 Kennedy Center Honors

Two of the country's foremost gay cultural figures—dancer-choreographer Bill T. Jones and Broadway composer and lyricist Jerry Herman—and gay-friendly media sensation Oprah Winfrey will be among the artists saluted at the 33rd annual Kennedy Center Honors in December, reports The Advocate. 

The other honorees are musician-songwriters Paul McCartney and Merle Haggard.

Jones founded the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company with his late partner in 1982. Jones has created more than 100 works for his company and also choreographed for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Boston Ballet and Berlin Opera Ballet, among many others. In June, Jones won his second Tony for his choreography in Fela!, the musical based on the life of Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, known as the main creator of Afrobeat rhythms. 

The 79-year-old Jerry Herman wrote the music and lyrics for such brilliant musicals such as Mame, Hello Dolly! and La Cage aux Folles, which is now a hit on Broadway for the third time. Hello Dolly! won 10 Tonys in 1964, an unmatched record at the time.

Oprah Winfrey's selection for the prestigious honors was described as "startling, but not without precedent," by the Washington Post. Already some are saying she does not "deserve" the honor.  The LA Times asks, "Is Oprah Worthy of receiving Kennedy Center Honors?" and excerpts some of the criticism

Oprah's vitae as an actress is limited, although it does include an Oscar and Golden Globe nomination for "The Color Purple." Naysayers in our message boards assert that she's regarded chiefly as a TV talk show host, but a previous gabfest emcee earned this same honor (Johnny Carson) and Oprah often ballyhoos the performing arts on her TV show. Her detractors may also not be giving her sufficient credit for producing movies like "Beloved" and telefilms like "Tuesdays with Morrie" and "The Women of Brewster Place."

Says one commenter:

I admire Winfrey greatly, have no problem with lots of honors she might receive. She has been an amazing, vital voice for many years. I question this though. It is known for people who are involved in the creative arts and are known as performers and/or creators. But Carson also was a writer/performer/comedian/actor on his show -- Winfrey is an interviewer only. Her other creative endeavors as an actor and producer are laudible, but not remotely Kennedy Center honor worthy, or on the level of Carson's creative/performing work. I think this award for her is dubious.

Given Oprah Winfrey's enormous  impact on the media, television, and the performing arts, it seems like a no-brainer that the pop and cultura icon would be selected for the Kennedy Center honors. Maybe there's something else going on here ....

The honorees will be saluted during a December 5gala and sold-out performance at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. It will be broadcast December 28 on CBS. And speaking of theater and the performing arts ...

Diva Alert! Patti LaBelle to Join Cast of "Fela" in September

Bill T. Jones' Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Fela! is closing in January but going out with a bang. Patti LaBelle will join the cast on September 14 as the title character's mother, Funmilayo Anikulapo-Kuti.

"After seeing the show, I was struck by the choreography and work of Bill T. Jones, and the passion and joy that overflows from the stage," Ms. LaBelle tells Playbill. "Fela’s mother, Funmilayo, was a strong, truly inspiring woman, and I am so privileged to be able to pay tribute to her on the Broadway stage."

In June, Bill T. Jones won his second Tony for Fela! The iconic choreographer is the co-creator, director and choreographer of the musical based on the life of Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, known for creating pioneering Afrobeat rhythms. Fela! was nominated for 11 Tonys and won for Best Choreography, Costume Design and Sound Design. This fall, Fela! is scheduled to be produced in Lagos  and London.

Get your tickets now. The children will turn out for Ms. Patti.  Watch some of the music and Jones discuss Fela! WHEN YOU JUMP ....

WATCH: Bill T Jones on "Fela"

At last night's Tony Awards, Bill T. Jones won his second Tony for his choreography in Fela! The iconic choreographer is the co-creator, director and choreographer of the musical based on the life of Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, known as the main creator of Afrobeat rhythms. Fela! was nominated for 11 Tony Awards and won for Best Choreography, Costume Design and Sound Design.

In related news: Playbill reports Jones is working on four new musicals including productions based on Black Orpheus, the career of Motown producer Berry Gordy and the blaxploitation film Superfly. Fela! is also scheduled to be produced in Lagos, Nigeria, this fall, as part of the nation's 50th anniversary, three weeks before its London debut.

Watch some of the music and Jones discuss Fela! WHEN YOU JUMP ....

Bill T. Jones Debuts New "Chapter", Discusses Race and Discrimination

Internationally renown choreographer and auteur Bill T. Jones begins a new chapter in his life—literally and figuratively. The iconic choreographer, recently photographed by Francois Rousseau to cover the OUT 100, will present his newest work, "Chapel/Chapter", at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. The artist discusses the impact of being black, gay and HIV-positive in dance with the Windy City Times.

Jones, who describes himself as "a child of people who were basically field workers, and who taught that the American Dream was an almost Ebony magazine notion of what a Black person should be", says dance is more welcoming of black male dancers than choreographers.

Let's put it this way ... A young Black male [ who is ] halfway well-trained and disciplined can write [ his ] own ticket. The dance world is hungry for males, first of all, but also young Black ones; they are much in demand.

Having said that, I know that there are all sorts of prejudice against our intellectual capabilities. It's one thing to be a young stud on stage, dancing and sweating in somebody else's work. It's something else altogether to get the world to take your ideas—your intellectual engagement—seriously. That's the biggest gap I've found there.

You have to realize that, in general, dance is not a valued commodity in the culture, no matter what they say about [ the TV shows ] Dancing with the Stars or So You Think You Can Dance? Anyone who goes into the dance world is going to realize that it's going to be a very difficult career, there will be few rewards and one has to fight to make a middle-class living, never mind establish a highly individualistic and idiosyncratic way of creating art.

In addition to being named to the OUT 100 and celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Bill T. Jones/Arne Zane Dance Company in 2007, Jones also received his first Tony award.

Bill T Jones Starts A New "Chapter [WCT]

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Bill T. Jones on the "OUT 100"

Internationally renown choreographer and auteur Bill T. Jones is recognized for "Lifetime Achievement" in the December OUT 100. In addition to celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Bill T. Jones/Arne Zane Dance Company in 2007, Jones also received his first Tony award.

The iconic choreographer is one of four OUT 100 recipients seen on the cover. "Jones has fearlessly combined raw artistic beauty with strong social commentary," reads the profile that accompanies another stunning image by Francois Rousseau. "Though the MacArthur 'genius grant' recipient once wrote that 'My eroticism, my sensuality, is often coupled with a wild anger and belligerence,' he was nothing but jubilant last June when he leaped onto stage to accept his Tony for choreographing Spring Awakening."

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