Boston Gay Men’s Chorus returns with special Pride concerts featuring Disney classics – WCVB Boston

June 22, 2022 News Editor

The Boston Gay Men’s Chorus will be performing this weekend after a two-year, COVID-19-related hiatus, just in time for Pride Month. The shows will also mark a major milestone as Disney allows the Chorus to revisit family classics. “I have been trying for 30 years to get this to happen,” said Reuben Reynolds, music director for the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus. “They made it clear in the beginning that they wouldn’t even talk to us.”But times have changed. Disney is now allowing the group to adapt familiar tunes from movies and parks, including “It’s a Small World.”“I think what people forget is ‘It’s a Small World’ has an incredible message and it gets lost in the ‘la la la la la’ version of the song,” said assistant music director Chad Weirick. The Boston Gay Men’s Chorus is really focusing on the messages in the songs and some favorites may come with a twist, like one from “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”“Disney gave us permission to rewrite the ending of it so that it says: ‘We are not outcasts, for we have found our home,’” Reynolds said. “Many of the people in Disney movies and shows are downtrodden and belittled and have to pull themselves up, and they have a journey that they have to take — and many gay and lesbian people think exactly the same thing.”Project CommUNITY contentOne such journey is that of Laurence Dale Diao, who recently joined the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus. Diao moved to the U.S. from the Philippines and learned English by watching Disney movies. He joined the chorus to build a chosen family, which led to many life changes. “I actually just came out to my dad last night,” Diao said. “I was like, ‘I need to start promoting the show and it feels like I’m really not living my full authentic life.’”There are two chances to hear the beautiful sounds of the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus during its “Disney Pride in Concert” shows on Saturday, June 25 and Sunday, June 26 at Boston Symphony Hall. Click here for more information about the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus.

BOSTON —

The Boston Gay Men’s Chorus will be performing this weekend after a two-year, COVID-19-related hiatus, just in time for Pride Month.

The shows will also mark a major milestone as Disney allows the Chorus to revisit family classics.

“I have been trying for 30 years to get this to happen,” said Reuben Reynolds, music director for the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus. “They made it clear in the beginning that they wouldn’t even talk to us.”

But times have changed. Disney is now allowing the group to adapt familiar tunes from movies and parks, including “It’s a Small World.”

“I think what people forget is ‘It’s a Small World’ has an incredible message and it gets lost in the ‘la la la la la’ version of the song,” said assistant music director Chad Weirick.

The Boston Gay Men’s Chorus is really focusing on the messages in the songs and some favorites may come with a twist, like one from “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”

“Disney gave us permission to rewrite the ending of it so that it says: ‘We are not outcasts, for we have found our home,’” Reynolds said. “Many of the people in Disney movies and shows are downtrodden and belittled and have to pull themselves up, and they have a journey that they have to take — and many gay and lesbian people think exactly the same thing.”

Project CommUNITY content

One such journey is that of Laurence Dale Diao, who recently joined the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus. Diao moved to the U.S. from the Philippines and learned English by watching Disney movies. He joined the chorus to build a chosen family, which led to many life changes.

“I actually just came out to my dad last night,” Diao said. “I was like, ‘I need to start promoting the show and it feels like I’m really not living my full authentic life.’”

There are two chances to hear the beautiful sounds of the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus during its “Disney Pride in Concert” shows on Saturday, June 25 and Sunday, June 26 at Boston Symphony Hall.

Click here for more information about the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus.