BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Actor Alan Cumming is asking an age-old question in his new show: why are we so obsessed with youth?
The Tony Award winner will discuss aging and more in his “Alan Cumming Is Not Acting His Age” tour coming to Musikfest Café at ArtsQuest Center in Bethlehem on Thursday, April 20.
- Actor and cabaret Alan Cumming will perform at Musikfest Café on April 20
- Cumming is host of "The Traitors" and stars in "Schmigadoon!"
- Tickets cost $50-$95
At 58, the “The Traitors” host and “Schimigadoon!” star is working more than ever. The first six episodes of season two of “Schimigadoon!” was released on Apple TV on April 5.
He’s also wrapping up a performance with NPR's "All Things Considered host Ari Shapiro in "Och and Oy! A Considered Cabaret" at the Café Carlyle in New York City.
So, what’s the secret to mid-life success?
“Choose the life you want to live, and not be influenced by all the messages we get about aging and how we should stop doing certain things,” he says. “Fly your freak flag. That’s really the message I give out to people. What would be the worst thing is you made someone embarrassed? Don’t let other people control your life.”
Cumming spoke to us about his new show and his brief stint as an astrologer before his appearance at ArtsQuest.
Q: Tell us about your new tour? What inspired you?
I wanted to do a new cabaret show. I realized one of the things I’ve been thinking a lot about — and I know everyone has to deal with — is aging and just what that means. I was really fascinated by the idea by what is age appropriate and what is actually your age?
I realized that nobody can actually answer that question. It’s up to us to decide ourselves, so that was really the starting off point.
Q: Is age just a number?
As I talk about in the show, hopefully in a humorous, as well as in a serious, provocative way, Things do change. Your life does change, your body does change. People’s attitudes towards you change.
I think what the most important thing is that don’t let other people decide how you should live your life. You should decide how you want to live it yourself. That is the biggest thing I want people to takeaway. Not acting your age is actually is a positive thing. It means you’re still alive and curious about the world.
Q: Do you think as people age they put themselves more in a box?
I sort of joke about this mythical people with the clipboards, they’re the ones telling (us) what to do. I think that’s what we have to rally against. Do what you like. Don’t let other people tell you what to do.
Q: How was it performing with NPR’s Ali Shapiro?
The show I am doing in Bethlehem it’s just me and my band. It’s a different kind of thing. The thing with Ali is nice because we seem so different (from) each other. That’s what the show is based on. Our weird differences. He is a serious journalist and I’m a Scotty actor. We have a lot more in common that you might think.
Q: Speaking of serious journalists, I watched the “Carpool Karaoke” with “Succession” star Brian Cox. I didn’t know you used to write horoscopes for a newspaper.
It’s actually bonkers, but I did. What’s even more hilarious is that I was 16 when I did it. I don’t remember (a specific horoscope) but I do remember I did not want to exclude (anyone). There was an image I had of an old lady with cats. I would always write with her in mind, so I wouldn’t say, ‘you’re going to fall in love today.’ I’d always say things like, ‘Mercury’s in retrograde, so maybe you should buy a new blouse.’ I’d always make it old lady friendly.
Q: What was it like filming “Traitors.” Did you find it hard to work in reality TV with all those different personalities?
All the bits that are reality — when they’re all talking to each other and becoming completely paranoid, I had nothing to do with. I didn’t see all of that stuff until the show came out. They would tell me sometimes what the vibe was. But my parts of it were very contained. I just interacted as this sort of character — this dandy, Scottish layer. I decided I wanted to stay in character and not engage with people.
Tickets to Cumming's Bethlehem show cost $50-$95.
