What's New, Telly Leung? Starring in Musicalized 'My Best Friend's Wedding' in Ogunquit

While Telly Leung was attending Carnegie Mellon University's School of Drama (CMU), he was cast in production of "Company" by its director, Billy Porter, another CMU grad. Porter went on to speak to colleagues producing a revival of "Flower Drum Song" and got Telly an audition. In the fall of 2002, Telly made his Broadway debut in the revival of 'Flower Drum Song," starring Lea Salonga, as a member of the ensemble and an understudy for Wang Ta. Not so long after, he appeared in another Sondheim musical – a revival of "Pacific Overtures" at the Roundabout. From there came two standout supporting roles in mega-musicals: "Wicked" and "Rent."

Telly took part in the development of George Takei's "Allegiance" for Broadway, where he created the role of Sammy in a cast led by Takei and Lea Salonga. Rex Reed of the NY Observer wrote that Sammy was "beautifully played and powerfully sung by handsome and awesomely talented Telly Leung." He followed "Allegiance" with a two-year stint as Aladdin on Broadway, during which a caricature of Telly in the Disney hit was added to the wall at the legendary Sardi's Restaurant.

Amongst his television roles are Marcel, the nomadic Chinese singer, in "Warrior" on Netflix, and as Wes of the Dalton Academy Warblers on "GLEE." He can be heard on the cast albums for "In Transit," "Godspell," "Allegiance," "Pacific Overtures," and "Flower Drum Song." He has released two albums, "i'll cover you" (2012) and "Songs for You" (2016).

Telly is also a producer through his Telly Leung Productions, which has released a variety of short films, documentaries, concert films, and a produced and starred in the holiday musical "The Nice List," which was made during the Pandemic.

At present, Telly has returned to the stage in the world premiere of "My Best Friend's Wedding," a new musical based on the hugely successful 1997 comedy that starred Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney, and Rupert Everett. In the pandemic-delayed musical, Telly plays the part of the gay bff of its heroine Julianne Porter (Krystal Joy Brown), who attempts to rekindle a romance with her ex while attending a wedding. As if taking a cue from the film that made great use of the Burt Bachrach-Hal David song "I Say A Little Prayer," the musical draws its score from that team's remarkable songbook of hits, including "The Look of Love," "A House Is Not a Home," "Don't Make Me Over," Close To You," "Do You Know the Way to San Jose," and "Walk on By."

For his part, Telly gets to shine in two familiar Bachrach/David hits, "What's New, Pussycat?" and "Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head." Directed by three-time Tony-winning Kathleen Marshall, the premiere engagement of "My Best Friend's Wedding" continues through October 27 at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Ogunquit, Maine. For more information, see the theater's website.

EDGE spoke with Telly recently about being part of a musical's world premiere, the songs of Bachrach and David, and his own bff.
Introduction by Robert Nesti

EDGE: As an actor, what is it like being a part of a show's world premiere?

Telly Leung: I love working on new works; I love that it's daunting, that it's the world premiere, and that it's the first time we're presenting the musical version of this beloved film. I also love originating a role, because it's wide open and a wonderful opportunity to bring myself to my role as an artist, as a human being, and who I am. People have such an affection for this film, and [for] Rupert Everett for his work in the movie. I think it's a wonderful opportunity to revisit this almost three decades later and bring myself to it. I love it. It is daunting because people love the film, but I think what we've created pays homage to it in the best way.

EDGE: You've done a few performances now. How is the show going?

Telly Leung: I think audiences are loving the show. I give all the credit to our brilliant leading lady, Krystal Joy Brown, who not only delivers a tour de force triple-threat performance where she never leaves the stage, but she can also find all of the complexities in this highly complex story. I think the appeal for many people is that this is an anti-rom-com. Spoiler alert: She doesn't get the guy in the end. Throughout the movie, people understand how complex love can be. That love sometimes bleeds into romantic love, friendship love, and best friend love, and what does that mean? I think sometimes those things could get glossed over in a big splashy musical like we're doing at the Ogunquit, but not in the hands of Krystal Joy Brown, who can achieve all of those wonderful musical comedy leading lady things that we expect from a leading lady.

EDGE: Tell us about your role as George.

Telly Leung: I played George, Julianne's gay best friend, a role iconically portrayed by Rupert Everett in 1997. I think it's important to remember that "My Best Friend's Wedding" came out before "Will & Grace," so it was a big deal to have Rupert not only play a gay best friend opposite Julia Roberts but also to have it be a three-dimensional, fully fleshed out character that wasn't a larger-than-life gay caricature. He was a person who had a deep and wonderful friendship that was real. I don't believe that it had been portrayed on the silver screen in that way before Rupert. He has said that coming out and making the film hurt his career. For a long time, I think people only saw him as Rupert Everett, the gay best friend in "My Best Friend's Wedding." He paid a price for playing this role, coming out, and being true to himself in the press.

I consider myself the Jiminy Cricket to Julianne's Pinocchio in a lot of ways. I am her confidant and supporter, but I think I'm also her conscience. She does some crazy, ridiculous things to win back her best friend and ruin this wedding. I think, in many ways, George grounds her in her morality, and it grounds it for the audience. We all do crazy things in the name of love, but when is [it] too much? It's good to have that one friend that tells you like it is, and pulls you back before you spin out.