INTERVIEW: Alan Cumming celebrates immigration in new show
Photo: Alan Cumming stars in Legal Immigrant, his new one-man musical show. Photo courtesy of the State Theatre / Provided with permission.
The Tony-winning actor Alan Cumming, known for his memorable turns in Broadway’s Cabaret and TV’s The Good Wife and Masterpiece Mystery, has lived quite the life, both personally and professionally. From his success on stage and screen, to his story of becoming an American citizen, the actor has a lot of material for a one-man show, and that’s exactly what he’s going to stage Saturday, Sept. 29 at the State Theatre in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
The show, titled Legal Immigrant, is a music-filled production that has Cumming offering thoughts and songs on aging, his last 10 years as a U.S. citizen and the current situation with immigration in the country. The setlist that will guide him for the night includes an eclectic mix of songs, both new and old. There’s “The Singer” by Walter Mark, “Old Friends” by Stephen Sondheim and other selections by the Proclaimers, Pink, Edith Piaf and Adele. Throw in some Marlene Dietrich, and the audience will have a unique celebration from an accomplished performer.
“It’s an old-fashioned cabaret,” Cumming said in a recent phone interview. “It’s a smorgasbord of songs and genres and emotions. It’s a show about me having been a citizen for 10 years.”
In describing the evening, the actor used the word “celebration.” In particular, he sees Legal Immigrant, which has been performed in other locations, as a “celebration of immigration,” a powerful and poignant thesis in 2018 when the divisive topic of immigration grabs many headlines.
“I have been thinking about this before this administration,” Cumming said of his initial motivations. “We are a nation of immigrants.”
Cumming, who was born in Scotland, went through quite a laborious process to become an American citizen, but it was a process he endured because he wanted to vote. Plus, he recognizes that his pathway to citizenship was smoother than many others because he is a well-known white man.
In the end, “it was pretty painless,” he said.
To remember those experiences of becoming a citizen and honor the entire issue of immigration, Cumming has selected a host of songs that he wanted to sing for the audience. The tunes are authentic and personal, and he hopes the crowd will hear them in a different way than their original renditions. There’s even a sing-a-long of an American anthem that Cumming puts his trademark spin on.
There will also be a mashup of songs in which he juxtaposes two selections, letting them sit side by side. This new interpretation, he hopes, will highlight connections among the composers’ works.
Singing in concerts is a relatively new career turn for Cumming. He, of course, played the Emcee in Cabaret, winning a Tony Award and also returning the role for a successful revival a few years ago. However, going solo and singing on a stage is a new adventure.
“I did the standup comedy thing in drama school,” he said. “Now I’ve grown more confident about it.”
That confidence began when he premiered Legal Immigrant in May in Seattle, and will continue for the foreseeable future because he has shows booked through April 2019.
When he looks back at his original intentions for the show and what he has been able to accomplish, he feels that he has successfully addressed the issues he set out to discuss and celebrate. He only hopes that certain people in the United States follow suit and celebrate immigration once again.
“When you see someone actively trying to change the very nature of a country’s heritage … I wonder what will happen,” he said. “I’m brokenhearted by immigration. … [That’s why] I call it a celebration of immigration.”
He added, “It’s a very uplifting evening.”
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Alan Cumming will present Legal Immigrant Saturday, Sept. 29 at the State Theatre in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Click here for more information and tickets.
