An Evening With Billy Porter at Guild Hall

Guild Hall has completed its theater renovations and to celebrate the reopening, will host “An Evening With Billy Porter,” a benefit concert on Friday, July 12, at 8 p.m. The renewed theater was an essential part of Guild Hall’s facility-wide capital improvements project and campaign, which was first announced in 2021 and ushered in a period of 21st-century revitalization for the multi-arts center.

Billy Porter is a Grammy, Emmy and two-time Tony Award-winning actor and singer widely known for his tour-de-force performance in Broadway’s “Kinky Boots” and his portrayal of Pray Tell in the FX series, “Pose.”

Porter began his music career in 1997 with the release of his self-titled (aka “Untitled”) debut album which spawned the Top 10 “Bubbling Under” single, “Show Me” and the monster ballad, “Love Is on the Way,” which also appeared at the pivotal moment in the film “First Wives Club.” He went on to release “At the Corner of Broadway + Soul” (2005), “Billy’s Back on Broadway” (2014), and “The Soul of Richard Rodgers” (2017) featuring Pentatonix, India Arie, Leslie Odom Jr. and Cynthia Erivo, among others. Porter scored his first #1 with “Love Yourself” in 2019 on the U.S. Dance Club Songs Chart. He followed that up with his 2020 reimagining of the legendary Buffalo Springfield anthem, “For What It’s Worth,” and a fierce collaboration with The Shapeshifters on “Finally Ready.”

The year 2021 saw Porter covering Juliet Roberts club classic “Caught in the Middle” for Red Hot + Free, which supports underserved communities afflicted with HIV/AIDS. He was also enlisted by multiplatinum international superstar Jessie J for “I Want Love.” And he delivered a magical turn on Earth, Wind, and Fire’s iconic “Shining Star” as Fab G, the Fairy Godmuva, in the 2021 remake of “Cinderella.” Porter is a veteran of the theater (“Miss Saigon,” “Angels in America,” “Grease”), and a two-time Tony winner, including “Best Leading Actor in a Musical” for “Kinky Boots” in 2013 and “Best Musical” as a producer for “A Strange Loop” in 2022. He also received a Grammy for the “Kinky Boots” original Broadway cast recording in the category of “Best Musical Theater Album” in 2014. Porter took home the Emmy Award for “Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series” in 2019 for his work as Pray Tell on “Pose,” making history as being the first openly gay man to do so. TIME Magazine named him one of the “100 Most Influential People” of 2020. Porter released his highly anticipated memoir, “Unprotected,” in October 2021. His directorial film debut, “Anything’s Possible,” dropped in Summer 2022 to much acclaim. Now, Porter kicks off his next chapter in music, his first love, with new album “The Black Mona Lisa” out now.

Guild Hall guests are encouraged to dress in creative attire, walk the red carpet and celebrate the reopening of the newly renovated theater. Tickets start at $150 for nonbenefit tickets, and $1,000 for benefit tickets at guildhall.org. All benefit ticket buyers will enjoy a cocktail reception in the garden following the concert where Porter will be in attendance.

Guild Hall is located at 158 Main Street in East Hampton.