John Benjam Hickey On What It Means to Play a Gay Dad Off-Broadway

Contents:

• WHAT GENERATNS OF GAY MEN HAND DOWN ‘THE INHERANCE’
• TONY-WNER JOHN BENJAM HICKEY ON FDG GAY LOVE, ISRAELI STYLE, ’SUBLET’
• JOHN BENJAM HICKEY OPENS UP ABOUT BEG GAY AND RELATNSHIP WH HIS PARTNER
• JOHN BENJAM HICKEY ON PLAYG A GAY REPUBLIN BROADWAY'S "THE INHERANCE""I’VE NEVER GOTTEN TO PLAY OR SEE A CHARACTER LIKE THAT. HOW MANY GAY REPUBLINS DO YOU MEET?"{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}LIFEBY MICHAEL MTONOVEMBER 18, 2019/10:21 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:1398PX;WIDTH:2100PX;}MATTHEW MURPHYKYLE SOLLER, OM LEFT, PL HILTON AND JOHN BENJAM HICKEY  THE INHERANCE.BY MICHAEL MTONOVEMBER 18, 2019 / 10:21 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"JOHN BENJAM HICKEY ON PLAYG A GAY REPUBLIN BROADWAY'S \"THE INHERANCE\"","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2019-11-18T15:21:03.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2019-11-18T15:21:03.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"MICHAEL MTO","KEYWORDS":"THEATER, MTO UNFILTERED","ARTICLESECTN":"LIFE"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}PICTURED ABOVE, OM LEFT: KYLE SOLLER AND JOHN BENJAM HICKEY  THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}NO STRANGER TO OPENLY GAY DRAMAS, JOHN BENJAM HICKEY PLAYED FELIX TURNER, THE NEW YORK TIM REPORTER WHO FALLS FOR ACTIVIST NED WEEKS (JOE MANTELLO), THE 2011 REVIVAL OF LARRY KRAMER’S THE NORMAL HEART. HIS HEARTBREAKG TURN AS A MAN WASTG AWAY OM AIDS WON HICKEY THE TONY AWARD FOR BT PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR A FEATURED ROLE A PLAY. AND NOW, HE’S EXTRAORDARY ONCE AGA AS GAY REPUBLIN HENRY WILX, A MAN WHO SEEMS TO HAVE CLOSED HIMSELF OFF OM LOVG RELATNSHIPS, MATTHEW LOPEZ’S SPRAWLG TWO-PARTER, THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HICKEY FTLY SHOWS YOU THE MAN’S HUMANY BEFORE REVEALG THE LAYERS OF TREPIDATN THAT HAVE LED TO THE CHARACTER’S SELF-FEATG CHOIC. BASED ON E.M. FORSTER’S HOWARD’S END, THE PLAY OPENED TO STRONG REVIEWS LAST NIGHT AND HAS ALREADY BEE THE RIGUR THEATER EXPERIENCE FOR GAYS WHO GET THE REFERENC. I SPOKE TO THE OUT ACTOR ABOUT HIS ROLE AS A NDU TO OUR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HELLO, JOHN. HOW ARE YOU HOLDG UP WH THE PLAY’S SCHLE?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT’S REALLY AMAZG HOW HASN’T REALLY GOTTEN EASIER. I’VE BEEN DOG FOR THE BETTER PART OF TWO YEARS NOW, STARTG LONDON. IT’S LIKE A REAL MOUNTA CLIMB. THIS PLAY IS VERY ATHLETIC AND TAK A LOT OUT OF YOU. YOU HAVE TO REBOOT EVERY TIME YOU GO TO THE THEATER. YOU HAVE TO START TO CLIMB ALL OVER AGA. BUT ’S REALLY FUN. HOW MANY OPPORTUNI DO YOU HAVE TO BE A TWO-PART, OVER SIX-HOUR LONG PLAY? IT’S REALLY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}YOU'RE BASILLY PLAYG A GAY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BASILLY. IF YOU HAD TWO WORDS TO SCRIBE HIM, THOSE WOULD BE TWO APT WORDS. HE IS A REAL TATE VELOPER, A REPUBLIN, A GUY WHO SURVIVED THE LAMY OF THE AIDS YEARS. HE’S SOMEONE WHO LIVED THROUGH , AND THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO WERE ABLE TO STAND UP FOR EACH OTHER AND PEOPLE WHO ULDN’T SHOW UP. HENRY WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO GOT PARALYZED WH THE FEAR OF . HE DID NOT GET OUT OF THAT PSYCHOLOGILLY TACT. I’VE NEVER GOTTEN TO PLAY OR SEE A CHARACTER LIKE THAT. HOW MANY GAY REPUBLINS DO YOU MEET? YOU DON’T MEET THAT MANY. SO THAT WONRFUL SEEMG NTRADICTN IS WHAT MAK HIM SO FUN TO PLAY.MATTHEW {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE ST OF THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHAT IS THE PLAY'S RELATN TO HOWARDS END?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ALL OF THE CHARACTERS ARE BASED ON OR ARE POS OF CHARACTERS THE FORSTER NOVEL. PART OF THE FUN OF THE PLAY IS SEEG WHERE NS PARALLEL TO THE NOVEL—PLOT TWISTS AND WHAT HAVE YOU—AND WHEN MATTHEW TAK OFF, BE A PLETELY DIFFERENT THG. HOWARDS END IS ALWAYS THE TOUCHSTONE FOR THE STORY HE’S TELLG. AND E.M. FORSTER IS A CHARACTER THE PLAY THE PERSON OF MAN, WHO HELPS THE YOUNG STORYTELLERS FD THEIR WAY TO GAY LIFE THE 21ST CENTURY NEW YORK CY, UNR A NEW POLIL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WH ALL THE ACLAS, THE PLAY ARRIV NEW YORK WH A SORT OF MANTLE OF IMPORTANCE, BUT SURELY YOU N’T PLAY THAT WAY OR WOULD {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE THG ABOUT THE PLAY IS ’S SO MUCH FUN, AND WHEN YOU’RE DOG , FEELS MORE LIKE THE BT NETFLIX BGE WATCH OR A TELENOVELA THAN “AN IMPORTANT NEW PLAY." THERE ARE PARISONS TO ANGELS AMERI, BUT I FEEL MATTHEW’S WRG IS CLOSER TO LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSN! IT’S A WARM-HEARTED EDY. AUDIENC GASP AND LGH AND CRY. MATTHEW IS A GREAT STORYTELLER. IF ARRIV WH THE MANTLE OF IMPORTANCE, THAT’S DISPELLED BY HOW FUN THE PLAY IS TO EXPERIENCE AS AN DIENCE. PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME, “I N’T BELIEVE THAT WAS OVER SIX HOURS LONG.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SO ’S THE NEW MAMMA MIA!?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}[LGHS] Y! AND MAMMA MIA! IS MENTNED!{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}YOU WERE ALSO THE NORMAL HEART, ABOUT THE FURY AND HEARTBREAK OF THE EARLY DAYS OF AIDS ACTIVISM. YOU HAVE BEE AN IMPORTANT FIGURE THE TELLG OF GAY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THAT’S UP TO SOMEBODY ELSE TO SAY, BUT I’VE BEEN VERY LUCKY. I NEVER PLANNED THIS WAY. TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO, TERRENCE MCNALLY ASKED ME TO BE LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSN! ALMOST 10 YEARS AGO WAS THE NORMAL HEART. AND NOW, MATTHEW’S PLAY. IT’S BEEN EXTRAORDARY FOR ME TO BE THE WONRFUL, BENCHMARK GAY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT YOU NEVER DID ANGELS AMERI?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I NEVER DID. I’M THE WORLD’S BIGGT FAN OF THAT PLAY. TONY KHNER IS ONE OF MY CULTURAL HERO. I WAS DOG SNAKEB, THE PLAY CHIGO THAT DAVID MARSHALL GRANT WROTE, AND WAS ASKED TO E AND DN FOR ANGELS, BUT I ULDN’T E BEE I WAS THAT PLAY. DAVID SAID, “I GOT LLED TO DN, TOO.” FOR THE SAME PART. I SAID, “YOU SHOULD DO THAT.” I’M OFFICIALLY TAKG CRED HERE. [LGHS]{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;PADDG-BOTTOM:56.49999999999999%;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:100% !IMPORTANT;WIDTH:100% !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MOVG ON TO ANOTHER MATTHEW YOUR LIFE: THIS SEASON, YOU WILL DIRECT MATTHEW BRORICK AND SARAH JSI PARKER A REVIVAL OF NEIL SIMON’S 1968 THREE-PART EDY PLAZA SUE, WHICH I LOVE. YOU ONCE TOLD ME MATTHEW IS THE ONE WHO NOTIFIED YOU THAT YOU WERE TONY-NOMATED FOR THE NORMAL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THAT’S RIGHT! SARAH AND MATTHEW HAVE BEEN IENDS OF ME FOR OVER 20-25 YEARS. I ALWAYS LOVED THE IA OF THEM WORKG TOGETHER. I ASKED THEM TO DO A READG AT SYMPHONY SPACE. WE WERE LOOKG AT THGS TO READ. WE LOOKED AT A LOT OF NEIL SIMON PLAYS AND WE READ PLAZA SUE AND LOVED HOW BRILLIANT, HEART-RENDG, AND, OF URSE, FUNNY WAS AS A PLAY ABOUT MARRIAGE AND RELATNSHIPS. THE BEGNG, THE END…WHAT AN TERTG THG FOR THE TWO TO DO TOGETHER. PLAZA SUE WAS ALREADY MOTN WHEN I AGREED TO DO THE INHERANCE. [THE PRODUCERS ALLOWED HICKEY THE TEMPORARY OUT TO DO THE SIMON PLAY.] IF WORKS OUT, I GET TO HAVE WHAT THOSE OF OF A CERTA AGE LL “A CYNTHIA NIXON MOMENT”—TWO THGS AT THE SAME {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND THEN YOU’LL HAVE TO N FOR ERNOR. THE MOVIE OF PLAZA SUE HAS WALTER MATTH ALL THREE MALE ROL, BUT THREE ACTRS THE FEMALE ROL, WHEREAS THE ORIGAL BROADWAY PRODUCTN HAD JT ONE ACTOR AND ONE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I LOVE THE MOVIE, BUT PART OF THE MAGIC OF PLAZA SUE IS TO SEE THE SAME TWO PEOPLE DO ALL SIX PARTS. THERE’S AN TERNAL NFN THE MOVIE THAT ’S ONE GUY AND THREE DIFFERENT WOMEN. THE FUN IS SPENDG DISBELIEF OF TWO WONRFUL BROADWAY STARS CHANGG THEIR HAIR AND MAKP THREE TIM TOGETHER. THEY’LL SEE SARAH JSI THREE DIFFERENT OUTFS. [LGHS] ONE OF THE THGS THAT’S AMAZG ABOUT THE PLAY IS THAT THE WOMEN’S PARTS ARE EVERY B AS STRONG. THEY WANT EVERY B AS MUCH AS THE MEN DO AND THEY NEVER SUBJUGATE THEMSELV TO THE MEN. THEY GIVE AS GOOD AS THEY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SO DO YOU! YOU SERVE A TONY JT FOR YOUR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THEATERMTO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
• JOHN BENJAM HICKEY DISCS BEG GAY AND HIS RELATNSHIP WH HIS PARTNER
• IS JOHN BENJAM HICKEY GAY?

WHAT GENERATNS OF GAY MEN HAND DOWN ‘THE INHERANCE’

“It touch all of this unspoken, valier misogyny, homophobia, racism, all the stuff that’s jt unr the surface that’s so sry and toxic. Michael is not fightg for his survival the way he would have been not long ago; the pills we see him take, which would almost certaly have been HIV meditn for any middle-aged gay character up to this pot, might jt be stats. For the gay men of Generatn X, “’s like we’re no longer livg a war zone.

TONY-WNER JOHN BENJAM HICKEY ON FDG GAY LOVE, ISRAELI STYLE, ’SUBLET’

He starred “The Inherance” on Broadway, a vast, two-part play that addrsed the post-AIDS crisis generatn gap, and 2015’s off- Broadway “Dada Woof Papa Hot, ” he played a gay father wh a se of survivor’s guilt. But the qutn still troubl him: “If I have all the same thgs as a straight person, if my problems are the same as theirs, then what mak me gay?

The first generatn of gay men to live their liv openly lost those liv to AIDS, whether they actually died or were jt left to tend to those who did. Osborne—how he’d ially said beg gay wasn’t the most important thg about him; how he’s begng to realize actually might be; and how I’m startg to realize we say that to make ourselv seem ls threateng.

“I me out at a time where agents and producers were like: ‘Better be reful, you played a gay part last year, don’t do that aga for a while. ’ And Tony said ‘Beg gay is not your personal life. Beg gay is who you are.

JOHN BENJAM HICKEY OPENS UP ABOUT BEG GAY AND RELATNSHIP WH HIS PARTNER

’” I have to ask: if he’s thought about what mak him gay, what has he e up wh? “I don’t know what a gay dog is, but the are not the giant mangy straight-guy dogs I thought I was supposed to get. Generatn X is left largely alone to figure out what gay middle age looks like, and to mol what after, the first generatn to do so en masse and openly.

JOHN BENJAM HICKEY ON PLAYG A GAY REPUBLIN BROADWAY'S "THE INHERANCE""I’VE NEVER GOTTEN TO PLAY OR SEE A CHARACTER LIKE THAT. HOW MANY GAY REPUBLINS DO YOU MEET?"{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}LIFEBY MICHAEL MTONOVEMBER 18, 2019/10:21 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:1398PX;WIDTH:2100PX;}MATTHEW MURPHYKYLE SOLLER, OM LEFT, PL HILTON AND JOHN BENJAM HICKEY  THE INHERANCE.BY MICHAEL MTONOVEMBER 18, 2019 / 10:21 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"JOHN BENJAM HICKEY ON PLAYG A GAY REPUBLIN BROADWAY'S \"THE INHERANCE\"","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2019-11-18T15:21:03.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2019-11-18T15:21:03.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"MICHAEL MTO","KEYWORDS":"THEATER, MTO UNFILTERED","ARTICLESECTN":"LIFE"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}PICTURED ABOVE, OM LEFT: KYLE SOLLER AND JOHN BENJAM HICKEY  THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}NO STRANGER TO OPENLY GAY DRAMAS, JOHN BENJAM HICKEY PLAYED FELIX TURNER, THE NEW YORK TIM REPORTER WHO FALLS FOR ACTIVIST NED WEEKS (JOE MANTELLO), THE 2011 REVIVAL OF LARRY KRAMER’S THE NORMAL HEART. HIS HEARTBREAKG TURN AS A MAN WASTG AWAY OM AIDS WON HICKEY THE TONY AWARD FOR BT PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR A FEATURED ROLE A PLAY. AND NOW, HE’S EXTRAORDARY ONCE AGA AS GAY REPUBLIN HENRY WILX, A MAN WHO SEEMS TO HAVE CLOSED HIMSELF OFF OM LOVG RELATNSHIPS, MATTHEW LOPEZ’S SPRAWLG TWO-PARTER, THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HICKEY FTLY SHOWS YOU THE MAN’S HUMANY BEFORE REVEALG THE LAYERS OF TREPIDATN THAT HAVE LED TO THE CHARACTER’S SELF-FEATG CHOIC. BASED ON E.M. FORSTER’S HOWARD’S END, THE PLAY OPENED TO STRONG REVIEWS LAST NIGHT AND HAS ALREADY BEE THE RIGUR THEATER EXPERIENCE FOR GAYS WHO GET THE REFERENC. I SPOKE TO THE OUT ACTOR ABOUT HIS ROLE AS A NDU TO OUR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HELLO, JOHN. HOW ARE YOU HOLDG UP WH THE PLAY’S SCHLE?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT’S REALLY AMAZG HOW HASN’T REALLY GOTTEN EASIER. I’VE BEEN DOG FOR THE BETTER PART OF TWO YEARS NOW, STARTG LONDON. IT’S LIKE A REAL MOUNTA CLIMB. THIS PLAY IS VERY ATHLETIC AND TAK A LOT OUT OF YOU. YOU HAVE TO REBOOT EVERY TIME YOU GO TO THE THEATER. YOU HAVE TO START TO CLIMB ALL OVER AGA. BUT ’S REALLY FUN. HOW MANY OPPORTUNI DO YOU HAVE TO BE A TWO-PART, OVER SIX-HOUR LONG PLAY? IT’S REALLY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}YOU'RE BASILLY PLAYG A GAY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BASILLY. IF YOU HAD TWO WORDS TO SCRIBE HIM, THOSE WOULD BE TWO APT WORDS. HE IS A REAL TATE VELOPER, A REPUBLIN, A GUY WHO SURVIVED THE LAMY OF THE AIDS YEARS. HE’S SOMEONE WHO LIVED THROUGH , AND THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO WERE ABLE TO STAND UP FOR EACH OTHER AND PEOPLE WHO ULDN’T SHOW UP. HENRY WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO GOT PARALYZED WH THE FEAR OF . HE DID NOT GET OUT OF THAT PSYCHOLOGILLY TACT. I’VE NEVER GOTTEN TO PLAY OR SEE A CHARACTER LIKE THAT. HOW MANY GAY REPUBLINS DO YOU MEET? YOU DON’T MEET THAT MANY. SO THAT WONRFUL SEEMG NTRADICTN IS WHAT MAK HIM SO FUN TO PLAY.MATTHEW {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE ST OF THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHAT IS THE PLAY'S RELATN TO HOWARDS END?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ALL OF THE CHARACTERS ARE BASED ON OR ARE POS OF CHARACTERS THE FORSTER NOVEL. PART OF THE FUN OF THE PLAY IS SEEG WHERE NS PARALLEL TO THE NOVEL—PLOT TWISTS AND WHAT HAVE YOU—AND WHEN MATTHEW TAK OFF, BE A PLETELY DIFFERENT THG. HOWARDS END IS ALWAYS THE TOUCHSTONE FOR THE STORY HE’S TELLG. AND E.M. FORSTER IS A CHARACTER THE PLAY THE PERSON OF MAN, WHO HELPS THE YOUNG STORYTELLERS FD THEIR WAY TO GAY LIFE THE 21ST CENTURY NEW YORK CY, UNR A NEW POLIL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WH ALL THE ACLAS, THE PLAY ARRIV NEW YORK WH A SORT OF MANTLE OF IMPORTANCE, BUT SURELY YOU N’T PLAY THAT WAY OR WOULD {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE THG ABOUT THE PLAY IS ’S SO MUCH FUN, AND WHEN YOU’RE DOG , FEELS MORE LIKE THE BT NETFLIX BGE WATCH OR A TELENOVELA THAN “AN IMPORTANT NEW PLAY." THERE ARE PARISONS TO ANGELS AMERI, BUT I FEEL MATTHEW’S WRG IS CLOSER TO LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSN! IT’S A WARM-HEARTED EDY. AUDIENC GASP AND LGH AND CRY. MATTHEW IS A GREAT STORYTELLER. IF ARRIV WH THE MANTLE OF IMPORTANCE, THAT’S DISPELLED BY HOW FUN THE PLAY IS TO EXPERIENCE AS AN DIENCE. PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME, “I N’T BELIEVE THAT WAS OVER SIX HOURS LONG.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SO ’S THE NEW MAMMA MIA!?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}[LGHS] Y! AND MAMMA MIA! IS MENTNED!{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}YOU WERE ALSO THE NORMAL HEART, ABOUT THE FURY AND HEARTBREAK OF THE EARLY DAYS OF AIDS ACTIVISM. YOU HAVE BEE AN IMPORTANT FIGURE THE TELLG OF GAY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THAT’S UP TO SOMEBODY ELSE TO SAY, BUT I’VE BEEN VERY LUCKY. I NEVER PLANNED THIS WAY. TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO, TERRENCE MCNALLY ASKED ME TO BE LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSN! ALMOST 10 YEARS AGO WAS THE NORMAL HEART. AND NOW, MATTHEW’S PLAY. IT’S BEEN EXTRAORDARY FOR ME TO BE THE WONRFUL, BENCHMARK GAY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT YOU NEVER DID ANGELS AMERI?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I NEVER DID. I’M THE WORLD’S BIGGT FAN OF THAT PLAY. TONY KHNER IS ONE OF MY CULTURAL HERO. I WAS DOG SNAKEB, THE PLAY CHIGO THAT DAVID MARSHALL GRANT WROTE, AND WAS ASKED TO E AND DN FOR ANGELS, BUT I ULDN’T E BEE I WAS THAT PLAY. DAVID SAID, “I GOT LLED TO DN, TOO.” FOR THE SAME PART. I SAID, “YOU SHOULD DO THAT.” I’M OFFICIALLY TAKG CRED HERE. [LGHS]{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;PADDG-BOTTOM:56.49999999999999%;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:100% !IMPORTANT;WIDTH:100% !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MOVG ON TO ANOTHER MATTHEW YOUR LIFE: THIS SEASON, YOU WILL DIRECT MATTHEW BRORICK AND SARAH JSI PARKER A REVIVAL OF NEIL SIMON’S 1968 THREE-PART EDY PLAZA SUE, WHICH I LOVE. YOU ONCE TOLD ME MATTHEW IS THE ONE WHO NOTIFIED YOU THAT YOU WERE TONY-NOMATED FOR THE NORMAL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THAT’S RIGHT! SARAH AND MATTHEW HAVE BEEN IENDS OF ME FOR OVER 20-25 YEARS. I ALWAYS LOVED THE IA OF THEM WORKG TOGETHER. I ASKED THEM TO DO A READG AT SYMPHONY SPACE. WE WERE LOOKG AT THGS TO READ. WE LOOKED AT A LOT OF NEIL SIMON PLAYS AND WE READ PLAZA SUE AND LOVED HOW BRILLIANT, HEART-RENDG, AND, OF URSE, FUNNY WAS AS A PLAY ABOUT MARRIAGE AND RELATNSHIPS. THE BEGNG, THE END…WHAT AN TERTG THG FOR THE TWO TO DO TOGETHER. PLAZA SUE WAS ALREADY MOTN WHEN I AGREED TO DO THE INHERANCE. [THE PRODUCERS ALLOWED HICKEY THE TEMPORARY OUT TO DO THE SIMON PLAY.] IF WORKS OUT, I GET TO HAVE WHAT THOSE OF OF A CERTA AGE LL “A CYNTHIA NIXON MOMENT”—TWO THGS AT THE SAME {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND THEN YOU’LL HAVE TO N FOR ERNOR. THE MOVIE OF PLAZA SUE HAS WALTER MATTH ALL THREE MALE ROL, BUT THREE ACTRS THE FEMALE ROL, WHEREAS THE ORIGAL BROADWAY PRODUCTN HAD JT ONE ACTOR AND ONE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I LOVE THE MOVIE, BUT PART OF THE MAGIC OF PLAZA SUE IS TO SEE THE SAME TWO PEOPLE DO ALL SIX PARTS. THERE’S AN TERNAL NFN THE MOVIE THAT ’S ONE GUY AND THREE DIFFERENT WOMEN. THE FUN IS SPENDG DISBELIEF OF TWO WONRFUL BROADWAY STARS CHANGG THEIR HAIR AND MAKP THREE TIM TOGETHER. THEY’LL SEE SARAH JSI THREE DIFFERENT OUTFS. [LGHS] ONE OF THE THGS THAT’S AMAZG ABOUT THE PLAY IS THAT THE WOMEN’S PARTS ARE EVERY B AS STRONG. THEY WANT EVERY B AS MUCH AS THE MEN DO AND THEY NEVER SUBJUGATE THEMSELV TO THE MEN. THEY GIVE AS GOOD AS THEY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SO DO YOU! YOU SERVE A TONY JT FOR YOUR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THEATERMTO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

“One of the wonrful surpris of this time my life is that a iend of me rented a place on Fire Island, ” the legendary gay beach paradise on Long Island. 14, Tanner for The New York Tim“I n’t image what those years were like, ” says a young gay man named Eric, ntemplatg the worst of the AIDS crisis.

As a gay update of “Howards End, ” be about what is hand down, both lerally and symbolilly, om one generatn of the muny to the, Lopez said, a play about generatns of gay men “uldn’t not be about AIDS. “The Inherance, ” though, offers s characters — and evably s st, pecially the gay men the pany — a munn wh the victims and survivors of the AIDS generatn.

And, like Eric, they have found themselv newly immersed the past, thkg about how the epimic has echoed to the prent and qutng their relatnship wh, and rponsibily to, their gay like Edmund Whe — the 79-year-old thor and brazen pneer of gay lerature — who was ved to s on a rehearsal last month. Preparatns were unrway for the play’s first preview New York, after a wily ld premiere London that fetched four Olivier Awards (the Brish equivalent of the Tonys) Sommerfeld for The New York TimHoldg urt over tered sandwich and bagged chips durg a break, Whe spoke wh the st — most of whom are new to the productn — about New York Cy’s gay culture the days of liberatn and the emergence of AIDS. He told bawdy stori about cisg the standg room sectn of the Metropolan Opera, and wrg “The Joy of Gay Sex” wh his former therapist.

JOHN BENJAM HICKEY DISCS BEG GAY AND HIS RELATNSHIP WH HIS PARTNER

He was also more solemn, rellg how the early days of the Gay Men’s Health Crisis, which he helped found, he and dozens of others ightened by the emergg AIDS epimic gathered Larry Kramer’s apartment, where a doctor told them they should all stop havg sex.

IS JOHN BENJAM HICKEY GAY?

“For , gay liberatn was sexual liberatn. Jordan Barbour, a gay member of the st, said later, “I’m normally a very vol person, but that day I was silent. ”They did ask, though, about what was like when homosexualy was removed om the Diagnostic and Statistil Manual of Mental Disorrs — which Whe said sudnly ma gay men a mory group, no longer sufferers of a psychologil illns.

” This disnnect, of a gay leage severed, is many ways at the heart of “The Inherance. ” Kyle Soller — he isn’t gay but grew up iendly wh olr gay men lol theater and says he now feels he has been brought “eper wh the muny that has always been kd to me” — plays Eric, who wonrs “what his life would be like if he had not been robbed of a generatn of mentors, of poets, of iends and, perhaps, even lovers. Carson McCalley, a 23-year-old gay member of the pany, said that many of them were actors, addg, “What they would give to have the opportuny to be onstage here — and now I have that opportuny.