Andrew Keenan-Bolger, a prominent figure from Broadway, continues to charm audiences not just on stage but also with his real-life love story. Born on May 16, 1985, the actor, director, author, and filmmaker is known for his resplendent career in theater, most notably in Newsies and Tuck Everlasting.
In S. Asher Gelman new Off-Broadway play Scarlett Dreams, Keenan-Bolger plays Kevin, a playwright who gets immersed into a virtual reality world via an app made by his husband.
The actor talked to PEOPLE how it’s like to be able to represent our community onstage.
“I think any time I get to play a gay character on stage, it feels like a blessing. It’s something that I have not been able to do all that often. I was trying to think of the last time that I played someone gay and it’s been a minute,” the actor explained.
“At the end of the day, most roles are written for straight people, so it feels really nice that I get to just come out on stage every single night, really, as myself. I’m not trying to put on anything.”
The actor also likes the way the matter is handled in the play.
“I think the fact that my character’s gayness, really, is not a part of the show. He is a married man and you’re seeing a story about a married guy,” he says.
“They talk about sex a few times, but it has very little to do with the actual plot of the show. And to me that feels like the most groundbreaking thing, that I’m a character who happens to be gay rather than a character that the entire plot of it is either about the trauma surrounding it or self-discovery.”
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However, aside from his distinguished theatre career, Keenan-Bolger is also a vocal activist for LGBTQ+ rights and representation, unafraid to express his identity as a gay man.
Recently, Keenan-Bolger has made the headlines with updates about his harmonious romantic journey. Andrew and his significant other, fellow actor Scott Bixby, have been turning heads on the red carpet, on social media, and in their personal lives due to their heartwarming and enviable relationship.
The couple, who had a fairytale-like engagement in London, tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony back in 2018 and have been going strong since. The couple’s genuine affection for one another is not only setting a perfect example for the LGBTQ+ community but also prompts an incredible warmth of inclusivity and representation for it. His online presence is strikingly personal, often showing snapshots of his life outside the glaring lights of the stage.
Sadly, this still remains a topic that not all celebrities dare to open up about. Andrew Keenan-Bolger breaks this pattern by both expressing himself freely and campaigning for greater representation in all professional fields, for everyone to be who they truly are, including their desired partner in life.
Approaching his 39th birthday, Keenan-Bolger seems to enjoy stability and happiness both professionally and personally. We can only wish, with a playful but respectful wink, for more blissful years of love and triumphant successes for Andrew Keenan-Bolger and Scott Bixby.
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