Bill Porter to play Sunday concert at Heinz Hall
Grammy, Emmy, and two-time Tony winner Billy Porter brings passion and joy to Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh with his first-ever career-spanning pop music concert tour on Sunday, May 28.
鈥淭he Black Mona Lisa Tour: Volume 1鈥� includes a full band, backed by a video installation, fronted by Porter telling his life story through song. The 90-minute show will feature his chart-topping hits 鈥淟ove Is on the Way鈥� and 鈥淟ove Yourself,鈥� a tinge of Broadway, a nod to Pose, and stunning performances of future pop classics from his forthcoming new album, 鈥淏lack Mona Lisa.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 really the first time that I鈥檝e been able to fully express myself and who I am through my music,鈥� said Porter. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like my magnum opus. It鈥檚 everything to me. You鈥檒l really get a glimpse into who I am even deeper with this music.鈥�
Porter is a singer, songwriter, actor, author, director and producer whose music career began in 1997 with the release of his self-titled debut album which generated the Top 10 single 鈥淪how Me.鈥� Another song, 鈥淟ove Is on the Way鈥� was featured in the movie 鈥淔irst Wives Club.鈥� In 2019, Porter scored his first #1 on the Billboard U.S. Dance Club chart with 鈥淟ove Yourself.鈥�
Porter is a veteran of the theater and has multiple credits including performances in 鈥淢iss Saigon,鈥� 鈥淎ngels in America,鈥� and 鈥淕rease.鈥� In 2013, he was awarded his first Tony for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Lola in the Broadway production 鈥淜inky Boots.鈥� That role also won him the Drama Desk award and the Outer Critics Circle award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical. 鈥淜inky Boots鈥� also brought him a Best Musical Theater Album Grammy for the Official Soundtrack.
Porter also starred in all three seasons of the FX drama series 鈥淧ose,鈥� for which he was nominated for three Golden Globe Awards and in 2019 won an Emmy award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series. He became the first openly gay man to be nominated and win in any lead acting category at the Primetime Emmys. His other television credits include 鈥淟aw and Order,鈥� 鈥淎merican Horror Story: Apocalypse,鈥� 鈥淪aturday Night Live,鈥� 鈥淭he Simpsons,鈥� and 鈥淭he Twilight Zone.鈥�
While the show is not with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, tickets for the 7:30 p.m. performance can be purchased through pittsburghsymphony.org/.