Charms & Cheers: GMCLA’s Cool Yule & Cheyenne Jackson

Our very first rehearsal after the election we sang this song to one another… to remind us,
we’ve been down tough times before, we’re strong as can be. We’re a very powerful and
loving community and we’re going to be okay, whatever the dark clouds on the horizon.
So this is our gift to you. God bless ye merry souls, let nothing dismay you. We bring
you great tidings of comfort & joy. Happy Holidays, whatever way you celebrate!
— John J. Duran, GMCLA Board Chair

In honor of the 2016 holiday season and nearly four decades of making the world a better place through music, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles thrilled audiences with “Cool Yule.” This latest incarnation of the chorus’ annual Holiday Spectacular at The Alex Theatre was so popular that extra performances had to be added.

The extra enthusiasm for the holiday staple was surely due to the announcement of special guest performer Cheyenne Jackson (Glee, American Horror Story). The gorgeous and gracious Jackson charmed the audience with renditions of “Feeling Good,” “Auld Lang Syne,” “Song For You” and “Christmas Time Is Here.”

The old-time radio show theme added a warm and nostalgic feel to performance’s images of a new and inclusive normal. The 250+ member chorus is known for taking classic songs/traditions and giving them a progressive and loving twist, thanks to Artistic Director & Conductor Joseph Nadeau. Among the crowd favorites were “Christmas Can Can,” “Recycle The Fruitcake,” “Hot Hannukah,” “The Lumberjack Song” and “Father Christmas Is My Boyfriend Now.”

Another highlight of the show was the announcement of Jonathan Weedman (former SVP, Wells Fargo Foundation) as the new executive director. For more information on the upcoming GMCLA season, visit www.gmcla.org.

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