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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 21, 2007)
DECEMBER 21. 2007 lUStlOUt eatingiout eating ¡out eatingiout eating |out eatingiout eating tout He Is What He Is BELGIAN BEER, BELGIAN FOOD, PORTLAND ADDRESS No Passport Required! A frank talk with tunesmith Jerry Herman hink Broadway musical and you’ll proba bly think of Jerry Herman. Every night, showstoppers from hts trio of megahits, Mame, Hello, Dolly! and La Cage aux Folles, are sung around the world, including—ironically, since he’s an openly gay liberal Democrat—at the notoriously nasty 1992 Republican National Convention. His string of awards and honors include multiple Tonys and Grammys; now, the 76-year-old is being honored with a candid, heartfelt documentary that airs New Year’s Day on OPB. I recently spoke with Herman by phone. Floyd Sklaver: I read that you consider yourself a musical playwright. What do you mean by that? Jerry Herman: 1 could not sit down right now and write a gtxxl song, just because you said write me a new song.... But if you gave me a hook to read or a play and there was a wonderful character who had a goal in his or her life...I could write a song for that character. FS: Which of your songs best reflects your life philosophy? JH: “I’ll Be Here Tomorrow" [from The Grand Tour]. And that’s because I’ve been HIV-positive since 1983, and I’m so grateful that 1 was here at rhe right time to get a cocktail of medication that 1 take every morning and has kept me alive and really feeling great. ----------------------- Portland's Premier Belgian Brasserie is Now Open! 938 N C ook S treet ^ Out Going FS: What motivated you to go public about your illness? JH: I want anyone out there who is diagnosed to know that it is possible, and of course it depends on 503-51 BY FLOYD SKLAVER thebelgianembassy@yahoo.com the strain you have and on many things, hut here 1 am—how many years is that—25 years later just feel ing great and getting reports...with the word “un detectable” stamped on the report. That’s become my favorite word. [Singing to the tune of Nat King Cole’s “Unforgettable"] “Undetectable, that’s how I am.” FS: You came of age before Stonewall. What was gay New York like in the late ’50s and ’60s? JH: I lived in Greenwich Village, so 1 was surrounded by a gay-themed neighborhood and friends that I’d stop and chat with on the street. It was all very comfortable because I was in New York.... 1 had a lot of wonderful romances, and then 1 had this very serious relationship that 1 talk about in the film. When Marty [Finkelstein] died, I thought that part of my life was over, and then 1 met a man nine years ago from San Diego who was in Palm Springs and we instantly joined forces. We’ve had the most wonderful time. He’s 61. FS: What creative ideas are knocking at your subconscious today? JH: To resurrect Dear World, which I think is more pertinent today than it was when written. It’s really an extension of the Gore documentary. [Singing] “Something has wounded you, dear world.” 1 have a new book...and I’m on a crusade to get that show done. FS: When did you find out you were HIV positive? JH: My partner at that time came home, he was diagnosed.... What year was that? I think it was ’83 or '84.... And, of, course it was devastating. I real ly considered it a death sentence, and I made all my plans; you think about who to leave this to and all these terrible things. The first cocktail I was put on wore out its welcome. It made me sick, and I was sliding.... By 1990 I was not doing well and I start ed to look drawn and I really thought that was it. Make a reservation for our Special Tasting Menu ^Belgian FS: If you could remake the movies of Dolly and Mame, whom would you cast? JH: The original ladies. I would have used Carol Channing because she made if her own, and God knows Angela Lanshury should have been Marne. I did everything except stand on my head in Macy’s window naked to make that happen. Jerry Herman would like to resurrect Dear World and is working on a new book. .1 FS: Finally, where does your optimism come from? JH: 1 think it comes genetically from my moth er, who is the most optimistic woman 1 ever knew, and 1 think it’s something you’re born with. I didn’t make a decision at one time in my life that my glass was half full instead of half empty. It’s just always been that way, and I’m very lucky. wine bar & retail . wines from everywhere open seven days a week happy hour 3-6 mon-sat, all day Sunday 3955 n. mississippi ave—portland 503.287.lupa Design YOUR OWN Pizza! Salads, Calzones, lasagna, Appetizers & Sandwiches ace whet® StSiiÄÄ" .. wk« we wy FAW we YOv! WE DELIVER 11PM-10PM If you're in our neighborhood ...we're at your door! Family Tuning Ta£&-out Pf^P 5262 North Lombard www.portsmoulhpizzapiib.coin FS: And how lucky I am, Jerry Herman, to have spoken with someone so charmingly open and Out Going. OPB presents W ords and M usic by J erry H erman 9.-30p.m. Jan. 1, 2008. F loyd S klaver wants to know about your event. E-mail him at floydsldaver@comcast.net. 503 2S9 4644 Thu/SM i/ve AfqS/e ftU SÉR.VICÊ BAK. * Pool. TABUS AU I0TTÉK.Y ÜAMÉS * FR£6 Wi-Fi o- ‘ ■ '• r .' ■ <■ ' I 37
