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David Burtka: From ''Baby'' talk to the ''Gypsy'' in his soul

Posted by:	WaymanWong 11:50 pm EST 11/13/14

At today's ''Seth's Broadway Chatterbox'' at Don't Tell Mama, David Burtka was beaming and looking like a million dollars. He recalled working with Sutton Foster as a teen (she give him his first kiss) and Marian Seldes (she gave him old shirts from Garson Kanin). Plus, he told about romping in the nude in Edward Albee's ''The Play About the Baby.'' Burtka also shared memories from the 2003 revival of ''Gypsy,'' in which he played Tulsa, opposite the ''incredible'' Bernadette Peters. He revealed that Arthur Laurents and director Sam Mendes butt heads: ''Sam had a really dark and dirty vision for 'Gypsy,' like his 'Cabaret.' Gritty. And Arthur came in and said, 'You can't do that or that or that.' At the end of the show, Sam wanted Bernadette with her mascara running, ugly and mean and raw, and it wasn't allowed.'' Working with Sam was ''amazing,'' Burtka added, [but] ''Arthur was a tricky guy.'' He closed the ''Chatterbox'' by offering a lovely preview from his Nov. 25-26 cabaret act at 54 Below (it's soldout, but Burtka says he's been offered more dates). Accompanied by Seth, who's his musical director, the proud dad and husband of Neil Patrick Harris dedicated Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen's ''Out of This World'' to their twins. ''Naysayers criticize same-sex parents, and all I'll say is: 'Eat it!' I love my kids so much.'' Burtka added, jokingly, ''Sometimes, I want to sell them to the circus, but then [Gideon and Harper] do something so cute.''
Link	54 Below: David Burtka (Nov. 25-26)

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