Ben Platt auditions for gay remake of A Star Is Born with flawless Shallow cover
Actor Ben Platt performs onstage during the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2018 in New York City. (Kevin Winter/Getty)
Pitch Perfect star Ben Platt has revealed a gay cover of “Shallow,” and put himself forward for a gay remake of A Star is Born.
Platt performed the Lady Gaga track at New York City’s 54Below earlier this year alongside theatre performer Max Sheldon, who released the clip on March 5.
Ben Platt and Max Sheldon duet on gay “Shallow” cover
In a the video, the pair discussed their opinions on the Lady Gaga version of A Star is Born, before Sheldon explains: “We think that maybe, in ten years, they should grow into it, they should do A Star is Born but with two dudes.”
Platt responds: “Should we do a preview of that now? Will you be my Gaga?”
The pair then launch into the flawless cover of “Shallow”, with Platt taking on the role of Bradley Cooper’s Jackson Maine and Sheldon stepping into Gaga’s shoes as Ally.
After the performance, Sheldon jokes: “If anyone has a contact for Gaga… send it!”
Platt publicly came out as gay ahead of the release of his debut solo album Sing To Me Instead, which drops on March 29.
Star opens up about sexuality on new album
Platt told People that the record is “a roller coaster of a relationship that is an amalgam of the ones I’ve had.”
He added that the deeply personal album is his “first opportunity to represent my relationships and the men that I’ve loved.”
The Tony-winning musical star added: “I’ve been out since I was 12 years old to my family and anyone in my life.
“I’ve never sort of hidden that or been ashamed by it. It’s just part of me.”
Ben Platt performs at the Ben Platt & Atlantic Records Album Listening Party on February 06, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Jesse Grant/Getty)
Speaking to Ellen DeGeneres on March 14, he added: “It’s a very new thing for me.. to have an opportunity to [discuss my relationships] through something personal, through a piece of work, has been really wonderful.
“I grew up a large fan of your stand-up, and I am very inspired by the way you discussed your sexuality and relationships, and how it became part of the art and part of what makes you so fun.
“That was really inspiring to me, and I tried to [emulate that].
“[Fans] have been really supportive, and the sexuality element has been really encouragingly innocuous, it has not been this big thing. It’s just part of who you are and part of the work.”
He added: “I’m very single, we can mention that!”
