Sprg Awakeng: How a Gay, Deaf Actor and a Hearg, Straight Actor Brought a Broadway Role To Life

Contents:

• JONATHAN GROFF SAYS HIS 'SPRG AWAKENG' CHARACTER GAVE HIM THE STRENGTH TO E OUT AS GAY
• JONATHAN GROFF SAYS HIS 'SPRG AWAKENG' CHARACTER GAVE HIM THE STRENGTH TO E OUT AS GAY
• BLOGGG BROADWAY: "13"'S FAGMOS AND "SPRG AWAKENG'S" GAY {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;}NEWSBY MICHAEL PORTANTIEREOCTOBER 15, 2008/3:45 PMBY MICHAEL PORTANTIEREOCTOBER 15, 2008 / 3:45 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"BLOGGG BROADWAY: \"13\"'S FAGMOS AND \"SPRG AWAKENG'S\" GAY SCENE","DATEPUBLISHED":"2008-10-15T19:45:15.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2008-10-15T19:45:15.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","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 PORTANTIERE","KEYWORDS":"THE BACKLOT","ARTICLESECTN":"NEWS"}{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;}A SCENE OM 13 (PHOTO CRED: JOAN MARC)  {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;}EDOR'S NOTE: STARTG TODAY, OUR THEATER CRIC MICHAEL PORTANTIERE WILL BE BLOGGG REGULARLY ABOUT BROADWAY AND OFF-BROADWAY SHOWS AS WELL AS OTHER EMS OF THEATRIL TERT. {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;}BROADWAY IS ONE OF THE LAST PLAC WHERE YOU’D EXPECT TO FD ANY SORT OF HOMOPHOBIA. BUT SCE THE THEATER ALS WH EVERY NCEIVABLE SORT OF LIFE SUATN, AND SCE PRODUCERS AND ARTISTS N’T NTROL DIENCE REACTN TO GAY (OR SUPPOSEDLY GAY) CHARACTERS AND SUBJECT MATTER, THERE ARE OCSNS WHEN THE CLN OF CERTA WORDS AND SUATNS SHOWS MAK SOME PEOPLE VERY {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;}IF A SHOW PICTS HOMOPHOBIC BEHAVR BY CHARACTERS WHO AREN’T CLEARLY CHARACTERIZED AS VILLAS, IS THAT WRONG? IN A RELATED QUTN: IS ACCEPTABLE TO PRENT “IC” SCEN OF GAY TIMACY THAT RULT GASPS, GROANS, AND/OR NERVO LGHTER OM THE DIENCE, PECIALLY WHEN YOUNG PERFORMERS AND DIENC ARE VOLVED?{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;}{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 QUTNS ARE BEGGED BY TWO MILS NOW ON BROADWAY, 13 AND SPRG AWAKENG. THE FORMER JT OPENED, WHEREAS THE LATTER HAS BEEN PLAYG AT THE EUGENE O’NEILL THEATRE SCE DECEMBER 2006, FOLLOWG S IAL OFF-BROADWAY N AT THE ATLANTIC THEATRE {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;}GRAHAM PHILLIPS {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;}PHOTO CRED: JOAN {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;}{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;}A SOURCE OF NTROVERSY 13 DURG PREVIEWS WAS THE LORFUL SULT “FAGMO,” WHICH HAD BEEN ED BY THE POPULAR JOCK BRETT (ERIC M. NELSEN) AND HIS MNS TO RI THE CENTRAL CHARACTER, EVAN (GRAHAM PHILLIPS). A BO OF “FAG” AND “HOMO,” THE WORD WAS CUT BEFORE THE SHOW OPENED. APPARENTLY, SOME DIENCE MEMBERS – AS WELL AS A FEW THEATER DTRY PEOPLE – WERE UPSET BY S E BEE PERPETUAT THE IA THAT THE MOST HURTFUL THG KIDS N DO IS IMPLY THAT ONE OF THEIR NUMBER IS GAY. (AMONG KIDS, “FAG” DON’T ALWAYS MEAN “HOMOSEXUAL”; OFTEN MEANS “LAME” OR “TOTALLY UNOL.” BUT ’S NEVER A PLIMENT.){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;}ROBERT HORN, -THOR OF 13, TOLD ME RECENTLY THAT HE MA UP “FAGMO,” THOUGH CERTALY SOUNDS LIKE AN THENTIC MIDDLE-SCHOOL SULT. HORN NFIRMED THAT A LOT OF MATERIAL WAS CUT OM THE SHOW DURG PREVIEWS TO BRG DOWN TO S CURRENT 90-MUTE LENGTH; HE SAID HE HAD RECEIVED A LIST OF SUGGTNS OF CUTS AND CHANG OM VAR PEOPLE VOLVED THE PRODUCTN, BUT HE SISTS WAS HIS OWN CISN TO EXCISE “FAGMO” THIS LED TO AN TERTG DISCSN OF HOMOPHOBIA AND PERCEIVED HOMOPHOBIA. I GOT THE IMPRSN THAT, WHEN ALL WAS SAID AND DONE, HORN DIDN’T FEEL SENTIAL TO KEEP THE WORD IF WAS GOG TO UPSET PEOPLE WHO WOULD OTHERWISE LOVE 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;}THERE’S ANOTHER MOMENT 13 THAT ULD HAVE BEEN VERY DICEY, BUT AS FAR AS I’M NCERNED, DISFORT HAS BEEN AVOID THROUGH SKILLFUL DIRECTN: TWO OF THE BOYS END UP AT THE MOVI WH THE SAME GIRL, WHO’S STG BETWEEN THEM. WHEN THE GUYS CLOSE THEIR EY AND LEAN TO TONGUE-KISS THE YOUNG LADY, SHE MOV AWAY AT THE LAST MOMENT, AND THEY END UP MAKG OUT WH EACH OTHER. THIS IS STAGED SUCH A BRILLIANTLY HILAR WAY, WH SLOW-MOTN AND STROBE LIGHTG, THAT EVEN THE MOST VOCIFERO LGHTER AND SHOUTS OM THE DIENCE SEEM {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;}GION GLICK AND JONATHAN B. WRIGHT THE ORIGAL BROADWAY ST OF SPRG {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;}BY WAY OF PARISON, LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THE “GAY SCENE” SPRG AWAKENG, THE NTEMPORARY ROCK MIL BASED ON FRANK WEKD’S LATE-19TH CENTURY DRAMA ABOUT CLUELS TEENAGERS LT. IN THE WEKD PLAY, THERE’S A SWEET, FUNNY, MOVG SCENE WHICH THE YOUNG STUNTS HANSCHEN AND ERNST NNECT EMOTNALLY AND PHYSILLY. WHILE STEVEN SATER’S ADAPTATN OF THIS SCENE FOR THE MIL HEWS CLOSELY TO THE ORIGAL TERMS OF THE TEXT, THE ONSTAGE ENUNTER WAS DIRECTED BY MICHAEL MAYER TO BE PLAYED SUCH AN OVER-THE-TOP EDIC WAY THAT HAS BEE A BROADLY IC SCTN SCENE, MARKED BY OLLY LCULATED MOV ON THE PART OF THE SCER AND POP-EYED SKTISHNS OM HIS {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;}WE MAY NEVER KNOW FOR SURE WHY THIS SCENE HAS BEEN HANDLED THIS MANNER, BUT I HAVE A GUS. ALTHOUGH I DON’T REMEMBER ANY GASPG, GROANG, OR APPROPRIATE LGHS WHEN I SAW SPRG AWAKENG AT A CRICS’ PERFORMANCE EARLY ON AT THE ATLANTIC, I IMAGE THAT THE MOMENT QUTN BEGAN TO ELIC UNWANTED VOL REACTNS WHEN PERFORMED BEFORE GENERAL DIENC — CLUDG YOUNG PEOPLE — LATER THE OFF-BROADWAY N AND DURG BROADWAY PREVIEWS. MAYER PROBABLY CID TO RAMP UP THE EDY OF THE SCENE AS A PRE-EMPTIVE STRIKE: YOU KNOW, “IF WE PLAY THIS SUCH A WAY THAT ’S OBV WE WANT THE DIENCE TO LGH, WON’T BE JARRG WHEN THEY DO.”{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;}ONE N UNRSTAND THE IMPULSE, BUT BRGS BACK TO THE QUTNS RAISED AT THE TOP OF THIS MENTARY. I’D LOVE TO HEAR EVERYONE’S {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

JONATHAN GROFF SAYS HIS 'SPRG AWAKENG' CHARACTER GAVE HIM THE STRENGTH TO E OUT AS GAY

He also said he ed to be "ashamed of who he was" before he me out as gay. Jonathan Groff said his character the Broadway mil "Sprg Awakeng" is what gave him the strength to e out as me out as gay 2008, jt one month after he fished his n as Melchr "Sprg Awakeng.

"Groff said he felt "ashamed of who he was" before g out as gay. "He didn't say the word 'gay, '" she said the documentary.

We discsed the procs of creatg a character together, dience reactns, the siari between growg up af and gay, and even the adorable characteristics of sea otters. I n yell at someone all day, I n talk wh them, I n bate wh them all week, all year--this show is allowg people to unrstand thgs that I've been tryg to expla my whole the the LGBT muny, 's been an uphill battle workg to make sure that trans and gay parts are beg played by trans and gay actors.

JONATHAN GROFF SAYS HIS 'SPRG AWAKENG' CHARACTER GAVE HIM THE STRENGTH TO E OUT AS GAY

I kept askg people, "Is he gay?

Stewart: I thk a lot of people growg up feel like they have to wear their straightns on their sleeve, make sure people know they're not gay, but I don't do that. But I will say, growg up, I kd of always knew I was gay, but I also always knew I was af.

I would always tell people I was af, but not always that I was gay, I jt was. So when I me out when I was eight, I was like, "If you n accept me beg af, then this perfect child image is already gone, so you n accept me beg gay.

BLOGGG BROADWAY: "13"'S FAGMOS AND "SPRG AWAKENG'S" GAY {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;}NEWSBY MICHAEL PORTANTIEREOCTOBER 15, 2008/3:45 PMBY MICHAEL PORTANTIEREOCTOBER 15, 2008 / 3:45 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"BLOGGG BROADWAY: \"13\"'S FAGMOS AND \"SPRG AWAKENG'S\" GAY SCENE","DATEPUBLISHED":"2008-10-15T19:45:15.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2008-10-15T19:45:15.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","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 PORTANTIERE","KEYWORDS":"THE BACKLOT","ARTICLESECTN":"NEWS"}{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;}A SCENE OM 13 (PHOTO CRED: JOAN MARC)  {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;}EDOR'S NOTE: STARTG TODAY, OUR THEATER CRIC MICHAEL PORTANTIERE WILL BE BLOGGG REGULARLY ABOUT BROADWAY AND OFF-BROADWAY SHOWS AS WELL AS OTHER EMS OF THEATRIL TERT. {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;}BROADWAY IS ONE OF THE LAST PLAC WHERE YOU’D EXPECT TO FD ANY SORT OF HOMOPHOBIA. BUT SCE THE THEATER ALS WH EVERY NCEIVABLE SORT OF LIFE SUATN, AND SCE PRODUCERS AND ARTISTS N’T NTROL DIENCE REACTN TO GAY (OR SUPPOSEDLY GAY) CHARACTERS AND SUBJECT MATTER, THERE ARE OCSNS WHEN THE CLN OF CERTA WORDS AND SUATNS SHOWS MAK SOME PEOPLE VERY {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;}IF A SHOW PICTS HOMOPHOBIC BEHAVR BY CHARACTERS WHO AREN’T CLEARLY CHARACTERIZED AS VILLAS, IS THAT WRONG? IN A RELATED QUTN: IS ACCEPTABLE TO PRENT “IC” SCEN OF GAY TIMACY THAT RULT GASPS, GROANS, AND/OR NERVO LGHTER OM THE DIENCE, PECIALLY WHEN YOUNG PERFORMERS AND DIENC ARE VOLVED?{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;}{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 QUTNS ARE BEGGED BY TWO MILS NOW ON BROADWAY, 13 AND SPRG AWAKENG. THE FORMER JT OPENED, WHEREAS THE LATTER HAS BEEN PLAYG AT THE EUGENE O’NEILL THEATRE SCE DECEMBER 2006, FOLLOWG S IAL OFF-BROADWAY N AT THE ATLANTIC THEATRE {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;}GRAHAM PHILLIPS {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;}PHOTO CRED: JOAN {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;}{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;}A SOURCE OF NTROVERSY 13 DURG PREVIEWS WAS THE LORFUL SULT “FAGMO,” WHICH HAD BEEN ED BY THE POPULAR JOCK BRETT (ERIC M. NELSEN) AND HIS MNS TO RI THE CENTRAL CHARACTER, EVAN (GRAHAM PHILLIPS). A BO OF “FAG” AND “HOMO,” THE WORD WAS CUT BEFORE THE SHOW OPENED. APPARENTLY, SOME DIENCE MEMBERS – AS WELL AS A FEW THEATER DTRY PEOPLE – WERE UPSET BY S E BEE PERPETUAT THE IA THAT THE MOST HURTFUL THG KIDS N DO IS IMPLY THAT ONE OF THEIR NUMBER IS GAY. (AMONG KIDS, “FAG” DON’T ALWAYS MEAN “HOMOSEXUAL”; OFTEN MEANS “LAME” OR “TOTALLY UNOL.” BUT ’S NEVER A PLIMENT.){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;}ROBERT HORN, -THOR OF 13, TOLD ME RECENTLY THAT HE MA UP “FAGMO,” THOUGH CERTALY SOUNDS LIKE AN THENTIC MIDDLE-SCHOOL SULT. HORN NFIRMED THAT A LOT OF MATERIAL WAS CUT OM THE SHOW DURG PREVIEWS TO BRG DOWN TO S CURRENT 90-MUTE LENGTH; HE SAID HE HAD RECEIVED A LIST OF SUGGTNS OF CUTS AND CHANG OM VAR PEOPLE VOLVED THE PRODUCTN, BUT HE SISTS WAS HIS OWN CISN TO EXCISE “FAGMO” THIS LED TO AN TERTG DISCSN OF HOMOPHOBIA AND PERCEIVED HOMOPHOBIA. I GOT THE IMPRSN THAT, WHEN ALL WAS SAID AND DONE, HORN DIDN’T FEEL SENTIAL TO KEEP THE WORD IF WAS GOG TO UPSET PEOPLE WHO WOULD OTHERWISE LOVE 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;}THERE’S ANOTHER MOMENT 13 THAT ULD HAVE BEEN VERY DICEY, BUT AS FAR AS I’M NCERNED, DISFORT HAS BEEN AVOID THROUGH SKILLFUL DIRECTN: TWO OF THE BOYS END UP AT THE MOVI WH THE SAME GIRL, WHO’S STG BETWEEN THEM. WHEN THE GUYS CLOSE THEIR EY AND LEAN TO TONGUE-KISS THE YOUNG LADY, SHE MOV AWAY AT THE LAST MOMENT, AND THEY END UP MAKG OUT WH EACH OTHER. THIS IS STAGED SUCH A BRILLIANTLY HILAR WAY, WH SLOW-MOTN AND STROBE LIGHTG, THAT EVEN THE MOST VOCIFERO LGHTER AND SHOUTS OM THE DIENCE SEEM {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;}GION GLICK AND JONATHAN B. WRIGHT THE ORIGAL BROADWAY ST OF SPRG {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;}BY WAY OF PARISON, LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THE “GAY SCENE” SPRG AWAKENG, THE NTEMPORARY ROCK MIL BASED ON FRANK WEKD’S LATE-19TH CENTURY DRAMA ABOUT CLUELS TEENAGERS LT. IN THE WEKD PLAY, THERE’S A SWEET, FUNNY, MOVG SCENE WHICH THE YOUNG STUNTS HANSCHEN AND ERNST NNECT EMOTNALLY AND PHYSILLY. WHILE STEVEN SATER’S ADAPTATN OF THIS SCENE FOR THE MIL HEWS CLOSELY TO THE ORIGAL TERMS OF THE TEXT, THE ONSTAGE ENUNTER WAS DIRECTED BY MICHAEL MAYER TO BE PLAYED SUCH AN OVER-THE-TOP EDIC WAY THAT HAS BEE A BROADLY IC SCTN SCENE, MARKED BY OLLY LCULATED MOV ON THE PART OF THE SCER AND POP-EYED SKTISHNS OM HIS {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;}WE MAY NEVER KNOW FOR SURE WHY THIS SCENE HAS BEEN HANDLED THIS MANNER, BUT I HAVE A GUS. ALTHOUGH I DON’T REMEMBER ANY GASPG, GROANG, OR APPROPRIATE LGHS WHEN I SAW SPRG AWAKENG AT A CRICS’ PERFORMANCE EARLY ON AT THE ATLANTIC, I IMAGE THAT THE MOMENT QUTN BEGAN TO ELIC UNWANTED VOL REACTNS WHEN PERFORMED BEFORE GENERAL DIENC — CLUDG YOUNG PEOPLE — LATER THE OFF-BROADWAY N AND DURG BROADWAY PREVIEWS. MAYER PROBABLY CID TO RAMP UP THE EDY OF THE SCENE AS A PRE-EMPTIVE STRIKE: YOU KNOW, “IF WE PLAY THIS SUCH A WAY THAT ’S OBV WE WANT THE DIENCE TO LGH, WON’T BE JARRG WHEN THEY DO.”{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;}ONE N UNRSTAND THE IMPULSE, BUT BRGS BACK TO THE QUTNS RAISED AT THE TOP OF THIS MENTARY. I’D LOVE TO HEAR EVERYONE’S {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

"It's tertg bee, af studi class, they talk about how af people and gay people have a very siar experience, bee af people are ually born to hearg parents, people who don't know sign, and gay people are ually born to straight parents, so they don't have nnectns wh their parents that way. I've gotten a lot of letters om young people who are gay or transgenr or jt simply young, and they've said that this show has saved their liv. "Jonathan Groff said his character the Broadway mil "Sprg Awakeng" is what gave him the strength to e out as me out as gay 2008, jt one month after he fished his n as Melchr "Sprg Awakeng.

Bury Your Gays: Averted. In s dictment of reprsive bourgeois mor, the play addrs topics that prevented om beg performed until 1906, cludg gay relatnships, masturbatn, suici, and rape.

“You’re gay.