'Wicked' & Wonder Woman Defy Inequality!

Feb. 28, 2009 - PRLog -- New York City’s Gershwin Theatre which of course  is home to the Broadway hit ‘Wicked’ was absolutely mobbed on February 23rd, but not by ‘Wicked’ the musical.  
Instead, the historic Broadway house played host to The Defying Inequality Broadway Concert and featured a cast of nearly 500 people.  Sporting some of the biggest names in Entertainment including Elton John, Cyndi Lauper, Stephen Schwartz, Jane Fonda, Lynda Carter, Nathan Lane, Rue McClanahan, Bebe Nuwirth, Harvey Fierstein, David Hyde Pierce, Sally Struthers, even the original cast members of Sesame Street were on hand  all playing to a sellout, standing room only crowd of nearly 2000 people.
The Defying Inequality events in conjunction with Broadway Impact.com have become monumental Grass Roots movements in The United States.  They were born as a result of the increasingly unpopular Proposition 8, and are designed to not only raise awareness for marriage equality, but to also shed some much needed light on just how underhanded the Far Right has become in their attempts to further their agenda.

Despite the astronomical success that ‘Wicked’ has had over the last 5 years, lyricist & composer Stephen Schwartz has remained surprisingly accessible.  He was in no way shy about explaining what inspired him, and The Defying Inequality Movement saying, "It's my belief that the people who voted for Proposition 8, and other laws denying equal rights for gay and lesbian people are not inherently evil people.  I think they're misinformed and have been fed a lot of fear and misinformation."

Few were as outspoken as Lynda Carter.  When asked by actor turned filmmaker Michael Stever if we as Americans had been in a kind of ‘haze of complacency’ for the last eight years, Carter commented “We were hijacked by the Far Right, and by people who want to put their own beliefs onto me. They demonize anyone who differs at all, and I find it insulting because they don't ask me what I believe.”  Truly thrilling was the mind boggling way the press photographers went crazy for Carter.  “She is as beautiful a human being on the inside as she is out,” said Stever, “And what’s more, she could still fit into her Wonder Woman costume if she had to!  It’s not surprising that a feature film adaptation of Wonder Woman has been virtually impossible to do.  Lynda Carter should still play her, and would no doubt do it better than anyone else.”

Watch full interviews with attendees by following the below links:

DEFYING INEQUALITY: THE BROADWAY CONCERT TEASER:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11WwQFh399M&feature=channe...



MICHAEL STEVER INTERVIEWS LYNDA CARTER:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Hrej4BabEU&feature=channe...

MICHAEL STEVER INTERVIEWS STEPHEN SCHWARTZ:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MU2iPK-dCaQ&feature=channe...

MICHAEL STEVER INTERVIEWS TAMARA TUNIE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8P4kGLzRhy0

MICHAEL STEVER INTERVIEWS JONATHAN GROFF:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0GKnwdXHws&feature=channel_page

MICHAEL STEVER INTERVIEWS SCHELE WILLIAMS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2X5ZTyE8xo&feature=channel_page

MICHAEL STEVER INTERVIEWS CHRISTOPHER SIEBER:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XF3RKVuhg8Y&feature=channel_page

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Michael Stever is a full time freelance camera man, film maker and writer shooting and editing mini-DV projects all over NYC. Having worked for nearly 3 years as UPM on the critically acclaimed documentary Broadway: The Golden Age and its two sequels, he's merged the 'Perfect Union' of industry smarts, & technical savvy. Recent clients include Broadway vets Mary Bond Davis as well as Judy McLane at West Bank Cafe's Laurie Beechman Theatre, musical virtuoso Janice Martin, the Screen Actors Guild's BookPals group, Barnes & Noble, & PlayBill magazine columnist Ellis Nassour. Having added the title of 'Producer' to his resume, Michael recently wrapped filming on a 2-part instructional DVD series for Actors Connection; New York City's premiere Instructional 'hub' for those seeking careers in Entertainment. Last year, he bacame signatory with The Screen Actors' Guild for what will be his first indie feature, 'Ghosts Of Zion.' For more info, visit www.MichaelStever.net