Jon Marans's The Temperamentals, one of the very best of the bumper crop of new plays dealing with gay subject matter, opened Off-Broadway at New World Stages last night following a highly successful showcase run last year. It tells the based-in-truth story of two men -- the communist Harry Hay and the Viennese refugee and designer Rudi Gernrech -- as they fall in love while establishing the first gay rights organization in the United States pre-Stonewall. After the show, the company gathered with friends, fans, and photogs for a celebration at The Palm restaurant. Here are my pix from that event.
Thomas Jay Ryan, a.k.a. Harry Hay.
Michael Urie, a.k.a. Rudi Gernreich, with David Hyde Pierce.
Arnie Burton (left), who plays several roles in the show -- including Vincente Minnelli! -- with Yuki Lim.
Friends of the production: Actors Jeffrey Kuhn and David Turner.
Vince Gatton (right), who understudies several roles in The Temperamentals, with his sister Barbie.
Playwright John Marans (right) with one of the show's producers, Stacy Shane.
Stage and TV star Judith Light.
Film producer Neil Meron with actor/author/director Bob Balaban.
Daryl Roth (center), another of the show's producers, with David Hyde Pierce and his partner, TV executive Brian Hargrove.
This handsome portrait of the Temperamentals cast is now displayed on one of the restaurant's walls.
Published on Sunday, February 28, 2010
Michael Portantiere has more than 30 years' experience as an editor and writer for TheaterMania.com, InTHEATER magazine, and BACK STAGE. He has interviewed theater notables for NPR.org, PLAYBILL, STAGEBILL, and OPERA NEWS, and has written notes for several cast albums. Michael is co-author of FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: BEHIND THE MYLAR CURTAIN, published in 2008 by Hal Leonard/Applause. Additionally, he is a professional photographer whose pictures have been published by THE NEW YORK TIMES, the DAILY NEWS, and several major websites. (Visit www.followspotphoto.com for more information.) He can be reached at [email protected]
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