Staging Gay Lives: An Anthology Of Contemporary Gay Theater [Paperback]

John M Clum (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0813325056 | ISBN-13: 978-0813325057 | Publication Date: February 9, 1996

Created for general and scholarly audiences alike, this volume offers ten of the best recent plays by and about gay men, all of which have been successfully produced and critically acclaimed in the United States and England. The playwrights, who reflect multicultural origins ranging from Anglo to African American and Latino, have crafted powerful and insightful depictions of the roles gay men play in gender politics.Each play is explosive, politically and socially relevant, and enlightening, whether it be Martin Sherman’s much-praised A Madhouse in Goa or the avante-garde Pomo Afro Homos’ Dark Fruit. The first to offer such a diversity of voices, this collection also crosses generational borders. Included are two of the first and most important modern gay playwrights—Martin Sherman and Peter Gill—as well as exciting younger dramatists who have emerged in the “gay nineties.”Illustrating the sexual politics and events that have swirled through mainstream society since the Stonewall rebellion in the 1960s—AIDS, homophobia, transgendering, discrimination, violence—these plays offer essential and direct articulation of the human lives involved. Each of these plays in its own unique way deeply investigates the pain, sorrow, joy, and beauty of being gay in a predominantly heterosexual world.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In his introduction, Clum (Acting Gay, LJ 3/1/92) writes that "this collection is evidence that the most vibrant drama written in English today is by gay playwrights." Certainly gay drama has entered the mainstream of contemporary theater with such recent award winners as Angels in America and Love! Valour! Compassion! reaching a much wider audience. Clum has selected plays (including two of his own) that touch all aspects of gay life. Included are The Harvey Milk Show, a musical; Dark Fruit, by the performance group Pomo Afro Homos; and In the Heart of America by Naomi Wallace, a protegee of Tony Kushner. Wallace's work, a fictionalized version of the murder of gay sailor Allen Schindler, touches many nerves. Recommended for large contemporary drama and gay literature collections.?Howard E. Miller, Alliance Blue Cross & Blue Shield Lib., St. Louis
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

John M. Clum is professor of English at Duke University and author of Acting Gay: Male Homosexuality in Modern Drama.

Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Westview Press (February 9, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813325056
• ISBN-13: 978-0813325057
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,027,824 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must read for any theatre lover!, June 23, 2000

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"lopey" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Staging Gay Lives: An Anthology Of Contemporary Gay Theater (Paperback)

I stumbled across this "Staging Gay Lives" when I was despertley looking for the play, "What's Wrong With Angry?" by Patrick Wilde. This play became the base for a very popular queer film called, "Get Real". This book of 10 queer themed plays was the only place I could find this play. After getting the book, I also enjoyed the other 9 plays that were in the book. This book of plays, is a must read for any theatre lover out there. Weather gay or straight, I think that anyone can appreciate the sincere realism of these 10 beautifuly written plays.