Alan Cumming: Uncut
Friday, March 28, 2025 at 8pm
This performance is presented without an intermission.
Henry Koperski: Music Direction
A trailblazer, creative polymath, renaissance man, maverick, master of reinvention—beyond eclectic: Alan Cumming is all of this and more.
His latest ventures are as diverse as ever. He recently won two Emmys for hosting and producing the American reality competition series The Traitors and was appointed artistic director of Pitlochry Festival Theatre in his native Scotland. He stars in Glenrothan, the directorial film debut of Brian Cox, and recorded a single with Gaelic rapper Griogair Labhruidh.
In addition, he co-authored a book with longtime collaborator Forbes Masson, celebrating the 40th anniversary of their cabaret alter egos, Victor and Barry. He also lends his voice to an elderly woman with a pet crab in Disney Kids’ Robogobo. Amid all this, he continues to tour with NPR’s Ari Shapiro in their cabaret show Och and Oy! while also performing his solo show, Uncut.
He is the author of seven books, including a No. 1 New York Times best-selling memoir. A regular performer, he appears in concert at venues worldwide and is also the co-owner of Club Cumming, his namesake cabaret boîte in New York City’s East Village, designed as a welcoming space for “all ages, all genders, all colors, all sexualities—where kindness is key and anything can happen.” Unsurprisingly, Time magazine recognized him as one of the three most fun people in show business, alongside Cher and Stanley Tucci!
Thirty years ago, his portrayal of Hamlet took the West End by storm, earning him praise as “an actor knocking at the door of greatness.” Twenty-five years ago, he captivated audiences as the Master of Ceremonies in Cabaret, a performance that forever changed the Broadway landscape. A decade ago, his visceral, nearly solo production of Macbeth was a stunning transatlantic coup de théâtre.
His screen work spans from art house films to blockbusters, cult favorites to mainstream hits, but his performances are always indelible and some immortal: He brought to life Mr. Floop in Spy Kids, Eli in The Good Wife, Nightcrawler in X2: X-Men United, Sebastian in The High Life, "O" in Sex and the City, Boris in Golden Eye, King James in Doctor Who, Sandy Frink in Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, Mayor Menlove in Schmigadoon!, and even played himself on Broad City.
The list of his collaborators over the years includes Liza Minnelli, Jeremy O. Harris, Jackie Chan, the Smurfs, David Bowie, The Simpsons, Robert Wilson, Stanley Kubrick, Jay Z, Bianca Del Rio, the Spice Girls, George Lucas, Terence Blanchard, KT Tunstall, and not forgetting Dora the Explorer, Arthur and Elmo.
He has showcased his photography in the exhibition Alan Cumming Snaps! and launched an award-winning fragrance, Cumming. His stage and screen roles have ranged from Dionysus, the Devil, God, and the Pope to a 70-year-old woman. He was even photographed by Herb Ritts for Vanity Fair as Pan.
Beyond acting, he has been a model for Lee Jeans and even appeared on a postage stamp. A Tony and Olivier Award-winning theatre actor, he also hosted the Tony Awards, earning an Emmy nomination for his performance. In total, he has received seven Emmy nominations, winning twice for his work as the host and producer of The Traitors, in addition to a New York Emmy, a Scottish BAFTA, and a British Comedy Award.
An Independent Spirit Award-winning producer and a National Board of Review-winning director, he has also been nominated for a Grammy and multiple Golden Globes. His portrait hangs in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, and he holds four honorary doctorates, along with more than 40 humanitarian awards. And yet, as he often says, “Awards mean nothing!”
Los Angeles-based composer and musician, Henry Koperski has crafted music for stage and screen, with his scores and songs featured on Netflix, Audible, and Showtime. The New York Times hailed him as “the connective tissue” of New York City’s music and comedy scene, where he performed regularly from 2012 to 2020.
A versatile performer, Henry appears onstage as a music director, writer, and pianist, collaborating frequently with Alan Cumming, Ari Shapiro, Matt Rogers, and Matteo Lane. He made his Broadway debut in 2024 with Alan Cumming Is Not Acting His Age at Studio 54 and served as producer and host of Downtown at the Kennedy Center Cabaret in 2022–23.
In addition to piano, Henry is a skilled saxophonist and accordionist, performing and recording professionally on both instruments. His saxophone playing is featured on Troye Sivan’s 2023 track “How to Stay With You,” and he has appeared on The Late Show with Seth Meyers and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. He also performs in the feature film Paper Spiders, starring Lili Taylor.
Under the artist name Henki Skidu (henkiskidu.com), Henry records original music and has composed theme songs for over a dozen chart-topping podcasts, including Las Culturistas, Seek Treatment, and Inside the Closet. His original song is featured in the 2024 film Plan B, performed by Jon Heder.
Henry has written and performed two solo shows, Halo Pop and Magic Elf Lord, both directed by Michael Pesce. His third solo show is currently in development.