A dozen essays by a range of established scholars and performing artists address issues in post–1969 American gay and lesbian theatre and drama, the period after the raid at the Stonewall Inn helped spawn a “gay revolution.” The collection covers playwrights, millennial dramatists, and actors while exploring the history of gay-themed theatre and drama, the breadth of stage roles, and the dramatic representation of homosexual characters from various perspectives. These include the impact of AIDS, contemporary American politics, images of homophobia, gay-themed plays aimed at Theatre for Youth audiences, and other topics.

James Fisher is professor of theatre and head of the theatre department at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He is the author of several books on theatre.

Edited by James Fisher
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 232
Bibliographic Info: bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2009
pISBN: 978-0-7864-3418-3
eISBN: 978-0-7864-5238-5
Imprint: McFarland

Introduction

James Fisher      1

From Tolerance to Liberation: Gay Drama in the Mainstream from Torch Song Trilogy and The Normal Heart to Angels in America, Love! Valour! Compassion! and Take Me Out

James Fisher      7

Mainsteam Theatre, Mass Media, and the 1985 Premiere of The Normal Heart: Negotiating Forces between Emergent and Dominant Ideologies

Jacob Juntunen      32

“Not Just Any Woman”: Bradford Louryk, a Legacy of Charles Ludlam and the Ridiculous Theatre for the Twenty-First Century

Sean F. Edgecomb      56

Mamet, Homophobia, and Chicago Politics

Charles Eliot Mehler      79

No Tragedy: Queer Evil in the Metaphysical Comedies of Nicky Silver

Jordan Schildcrout      90

Gay and Lesbian Theatre for Young People or the Representation of “Troubled Youth”

Manon van de Water and Annie Giannini      103

Crossing the Border: Irish Drama and the Queer American Character

David Cregan      123

Lisa Kron: Facing and Placing Lesbian Identity on New York Stages

Leslie Atkins Durham      141

The Last Gay Man: Raised in Captivity and Hurrah at Last

Robert F. Gross      158

The Soundplay’s the Thing: A Formal Analysis of John (aka Lypsinka) Epperson’s Queer Performance Texts

Joe E. Jeffreys      177

The (Fe)Male Gays: Split Britches and the Redressing of Dyke Camp

Paul Menard      185

“Ladies and Gentlemen, People Die”: The Uncomfortable Performances of Kiki and Herb

James Wilson      194

Notes on Contributors      213

Index      217

“highly recommended”—Choice.