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Publication:The Signpost; Date:March 25, 2005; Section:Arts & Entertainment;
Gay-themed musical revue presented for mature audiencesBY KELLY BINGHAM The Signpost correspondentOGDEN - "Pride of Broadway," a musical revue of homosexual-oriented show-tunes, will be presented this Saturday in the Browning Center at Weber State University. The show is sponsored by the WSU Department of Performing Arts and Associated Actors and Technicians. "We wanted to do something to support the gay community," said show director Chad Gneiting. "The theater community has a special place for gay culture. A lot of people in the department are associated with it." The "Pride in Broadway" show is intended to showcase tunes rarely performed on Utah stages. "We're sick of doing 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,'" Gneiting said. "Anytime we have a chance to do a new show that we think is good, we take it." Cast member Jillian Boshart agrees. "We don't do a lot of this material," Boshart said, "so it is a breath of fresh air." The performance will consist of selections that focus on comedy, drama and love within the gay culture, such as "Keep It Gay" from the musical "The Producers"; "My Brother Lives In San Francisco" from the opera "Elegies for Punks, Angels, and Raging Queens"; and "You Can't Take the Color out of Colorado" from the musical "When Pigs Fly." "'Colorado' is a catchy song," said cast member Richard Lopez. "It's about how gay people are all over the place, so trying to pretend they're not doesn't work." The Pride show embraces homosexual stereotypes, including the gay affinity for show-tunes and San Francisco. The use of stereotypes doesn't worry Gneiting. "I think people have come to expect the stereotypes with the homosexual and musical theater culture," said Gneiting, who also performs in his show. "I felt the songs had a certain message that there's more than the stereotypical gay lifestyle and culture; there's feeling and thought behind it." But some cast members are apprehensive. "I'm concerned," Lopez said, "because I'm gay and I'm singing about gay characters that are not how I am. I don't want the audience to think this is how all gay people are." Lopez is one of two homosexuals in the cast, which also include AAT members Jamie Taylor and Andrew Taula. The show doesn't shy away from other controversial issues. AIDS in the gay community is prevalent throughout the performance. The song "What Would I Do" from "Falsetto," is about a homosexual who is dealing with the death of his lover to AIDS. "It's a real tear-jerker," Lopez said. Proceeds from ticket sales are being donated to the organization Equity Fights AIDS, a charity ran by the Equity Stage Actors Guild. The Pride show is advertised as for mature audiences only. This designation raised the ire of cast members. "I don't think we deserve a mature audience rating," said Boshart. "It's just all about love and relationships." The rating also baffles Gneiting. "There's a couple of swear words, but there's no kissing on stage between same sex people." Gneiting said. "We may have to run around naked a bit so people don't get disappointed when they come and it's not that bad." Ratings aside, the main concern is the audience. "There are so many songs out there like this that people just don't get to hear," Gneiting said. "I hope that everyone will see the humanity side of these pieces and realize that the gay culture and the heterosexual culture aren't as far apart as people think." The performance will be Saturday night at 7:30. Seating is general admission. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the Browning Center. |