Alan Cumming learned surprising things about Liberace while researching play (Exclusive)

Alan Cumming discovered an unexpected side of the legendary singer and pianist Liberace while researching him for a new project.

Traitors host Simon Russell Beale, the 60-year-old actor, is set to direct as the musical icon in the play I’ll Be Seeing You, to be staged at Scotland’s Pitlochry Festival Theater later this year. As part of his preparation, Cumming is spending time digging into Liberace’s life, he told PEOPLE at the 2026 AARP Adult Film Awards in Los Angeles earlier this month.

When asked what he learned most about Liberace, Cumming said, “He was such a family man. He loved to cook and was such a great host.”

“I always thought he was a guy who had a lot of servants and was somehow going to do this or that,” he explained. “And apparently that’s why he had his own restaurant, because he was tired of cooking on such a large scale. He sent his friends to his restaurant, and they followed his recipes… They had a cookbook (Liberace Cooks! Recipes from His Seven Dining Rooms).”

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Cumming went on to tell People he had “kinda missed the whole Liberace thing”, referring to the entertainer (who died in 1987, aged 67), who famously sued the Daily Mirror for libel after it published an article in 1956 implying he was gay. A jury finally ruled in Liberace’s favor in 1959.

“I knew about him, but that’s the theme of this play that I’m doing. Liberace actually lied under oath and said he wasn’t gay, so it’s kind of about truth,” he continued. “So a lot of people were angry at him. And when he died, they tried to pretend he didn’t have HIV/AIDS.”

Cumming added. “What’s really interesting is that I understand that the truth is very variable. It depends on the context, it depends on the time in which you lived, it depends on the situation you’re in. So the truth about him at the time was that he would do exactly what he did. And the best thing I found about him, and what’s in the play, is basically that. And Liberace says, “Because I did exactly what Oscar Wilde did, and I won.” That’s exactly right. ”

The Anniversary Party star also talked about how she feels connected to Liberace when it comes to her bold outfits on the latest season of The Traitors. The “Beer Barrel Polka” singer was known for wearing increasingly extravagant and flashy stage costumes, complete with cloaks, fur coats, ostrich feathers, and glittering details.

“The other day I went to the Liberace Foundation (Performing and Creative Arts) in Las Vegas to take a tour of the Liberace Collection, and they were talking about how Liberace has to keep improving himself with what he wears, and I thought, ‘Oh, I know what that’s like,'” Cumming tells PEOPLE.

Pitlochry Festival Theater, of which Cumming is artistic director, said “I’ll Be Seeing You,” written by Martin Sherman and starring Fra Fee, is “a play about the flamboyant superstar Liberace.” The film follows a young writer who struggles to understand who he is. Liberace is a man who he believed has lived his life in denial, hiding his true self behind sequins and spectacle. But when Liberace himself appears before him, the story takes a surreal turn.

“Through music, memory, and irresistible charm, ‘Liberace’ challenges not only the writer but also the audience to question their own assumptions, prejudices, and truths,” the synopsis adds.

“I’ll Be Seeing You” is scheduled to run from September 12th to October 11th, 2026.