The Greatest Showman #1191 - The Tide Reappears

The Pioneer Village of January Winter has been the subject of much discussion, not for the first time, and probably not the last.

Just two days ago, a revelation surfaced on Twitter suggesting that three singers—Troy Nelson, Al Cody, and Lewyn Davis—who are set to perform at Herald Village this week, include one who is reportedly using Renly Hall's pseudonym.

This wouldn't be surprising if it were true. In 2008, Beyoncé released an album under the stage name "Sasha Fierce" ("I Am... Sasha Fierce") to showcase a different persona. Similarly, during the 1960s folk music wave, many singers frequently altered their stage names to attract more attention.

However, if this rumor is true, Renly isn't attempting to grab attention but rather to avoid it.

Immediately, Twitter users began digging into the source of the revelation, which was traced back to a paparazzo who had recently entered the business. The account had only been active for six months, and the paparazzo had little to show aside from one source from TMZ.

So, is it true or false?

Before the Golden Globes and the awards season frenzy, Renly had virtually disappeared from public view. But when the Oscar nominations were announced, Renly, nominated for Best Actor out of nowhere, became the center of attention again. A small screening of "Off" reignited interest in the film, which also attracted more eyes to Renly.

With paparazzi's focus shifting back to Renly, this revelation wasn't a surprise. However, there wasn't enough time to confirm the news. The timeline between the announcement of the nominations, Renly's return to New York, and the news of Pioneer Village all came within four days. The paparazzi had no time to investigate the matter in detail. What's more, the claims seemed far-fetched.

Renly wouldn't need to change his stage name at all to stay low-profile. If he truly wanted to remain under the radar while performing at Pioneer Village, all he'd have to do is make a surprise guest appearance instead of appearing on the performance list.

Last year, Renly pulled off a similar stunt with his "one-man concert," but it was unlikely he would use the same trick twice. Given his aversion to publicity, Renly could easily announce a small, intimate concert, selling tickets publicly or holding a free lottery for tickets, ensuring that the crowd remained manageable.

This was my initial reaction after reading the news—assuming it was just a wild rumor. But after taking a moment to think it over, the paparazzo's investigation into the matter began to reveal something more intriguing. As reports began emerging, they painted a clearer picture.

First, news about "Drunken Country Ballads" appeared; then, Justin Timberlake, Carey Mulligan, and the Coen brothers, who frequently frequent Pioneer Village, were mentioned. Eventually, the Coen brothers even made a trip to the Surrey photo base. Two days later, Renly returned to New York.

As the pieces came together, it became apparent that the revelation was true. Renly had been gathering with the Coen brothers in Pioneer Village to prepare for their new project.

The English title of the work is literally translated as About LeVine-Davis, and now, Pioneer Village was hosting a LeVine-Davis singer for a performance. Although the specifics of the film remained a mystery, the connection between the film and the performance at Pioneer Village seemed undeniable.

The news was confirmed.

Everyone was abuzz. The focus had barely shifted from Renly's surprise Oscar nomination when this new development exploded onto the scene. But by the time the news had spread, it was already too late—tonight's show had already begun.

The professionals in the fan community had already prepared for the event. Clad in 1960s clothing, they arrived at Pioneer Village at 5 p.m., braving the cold winds and long waits.

New York's winter chill was unforgiving, and few were willing to stand outside in the freezing temperatures for a chance, however small, to see the show. After all, many of the folk music fans were no longer young.

But despite the discomfort, there was an undeniable energy in the air. Over 150 fans lined up eagerly, their excitement palpable, even if the event was based on mere rumors or curiosity.

The line grew longer by the minute, with people of all ages: some shy, some embarrassed, yet all eager. For some, this might be their only chance to see Renly again—maybe for his music, maybe for the memories.

When Paul Walker appeared, the crowd erupted.

"God, oh God, it's really Renly!"

"I can't believe it! I can't feel my toes anymore. Is this a dream?"

"Master Renly! He's really performing tonight! I'm going to cry!"

To outsiders, these fans may have seemed foolish, standing in the snow just for a performance. But for them, it was an experience that words couldn't capture—an emotion that was personal, and that was all that mattered.

If Renly was indeed the guest performer at Pioneer Village, this would be the first time in over a year that he had performed as a singer in public. For fans, this was an incredibly rare and precious moment. What made it even more special was that the performance was free—a chance to experience something that, for many, could only be dreamed of.

The news spread quickly on Twitter, with thousands of reactions flooding the platform.

"Is it true? Renly is really performing at Pioneer Village? Oh my God!"

"Levine Davis is Renly Hall? What?! Who can confirm this?"

"Oh my God, I just saw Paul Walker and Nathan Press. It's true!"

"I was going to line up, but I had to go back to work! Why does this always happen to me?"

Within 15 minutes, over 30,000 tweets related to the performance appeared, and one tweet—simple yet powerful—gathered over 13,000 retweets:

"I'm second in line at Pioneer Village. #WhatShouldIDoIfMyLegsGoWeakWhenISeeRenly?"

Screams, excitement, frustration—Renly, after nearly three months of silence, had returned to the public eye, and the fervor surrounding him remained undeniable. Despite missing the bulk of the awards season, Renly was still the hottest topic.

New York City buzzed. Thousands of fans flooded the streets, desperate to get to Greenwich Village, hoping to witness something incredible, even if they might miss the show.

Even if they couldn't get in, perhaps they could still catch a glimpse of Renly, just like in West End or Broadway shows, where fans often shared pictures of their encounters with him on social media.

The dream was alive, even if it felt impossible.

The real chaos began when the sheer size of the crowd impacted rush hour. Subway stations in Manhattan were temporarily closed, unable to accommodate the overwhelming number of people. The frenzy caused by a small bar performance was unprecedented.

Taxis became nearly impossible to hail as New Yorkers scrambled to reach the venue.

This was New York City—this kind of chaos was nothing new—but to think it all started because of a small performance? That was truly something remarkable.