Walk through fire and come out singing

There’s a great new article about Rufus in yesterday’s Chronicle. (And some pictures too; check out those pants!) He sure has come a long way in the past few years. Remember when he was “our” darling, when you thought only “we” knew about him, and then you started going to his shows and looking at the growing number of fans, and thinking, oh my god, who are all these people and where did they come from? Ah, our boy’s hittin’ the big time.

Many of his artistic idols have also since taken notice. Good for him. Take for instance this delicious exchange following his show at the Warfield last month:

At the after-party to the after-party, held at the Tonga Room, author Armistead Maupin sips an umbrella-adorned cocktail and sings Wainwright’s praises. “We met for the first time today, although I’ve been stalking him for years,” he chuckles. “And I told him I really, really want him to work with me on a musical of Tales of the City. I’ll do whatever it takes to get him to do it. I’m in love.”

Wainwright, surrounded by friends and family, blushes when he hears this. “I am enormously honored that Armistead wants to work with me,” he says, slowly and carefully. “And I’m seriously considering it. But I have so much on my plate this year. I’ll just have to see.”