Promises, Promises Star Sean Hayes Comes Out in The Advocate

Sean Hayes, who will star opposite Kristin Chenoweth in the upcoming revival of Promises, Promises, set the record straight about his sexual orientation in a recent interview in The Advocate. The actor, best known for playing the flamboyant Jack McFarland on TV’s Will and Grace, had reportedly been cagey with the press in the past about being gay.

"I am who I am," he told the magazine. "I was never in, as they say. Never." As for why it took him so long to publicly acknowledge his sexual orientation, Hayes responded, "Nobody owes anything to anybody. You are your authentic self to whom and when you choose to be, and if you don't know somebody, then why would you explain to them how you live your life?" The actor also discussed how playing an openly gay character on television contributed to society: “I feel like I've contributed monumentally to the success of the gay movement in America,” he said, “and if anyone wants to argue that, I'm open to it. You're welcome."

The revival of Promises, Promises, which features a score by Burt Bacharach and Hal David and a book by Neil Simon, is directed and choreographed by Rob Ashford. It will begin previews at the Broadway Theatre on March 27 and open on April 25, 2010.