The run is produced by The Fugitive Kind (Michael Page, artistic director, Laura Caufield & Susan Molloy, producers) in association with the Barrow Street Theatre, Burton T. Frey Jr. and Heather Levine.
Gay Blues, according to the producers, "is one man's cantata about gay marriage. Gay Marriage. What the hell is gay marriage? Have you ever heard it called white people marriage? Or diabetic marriage? Or microbrew enthusiast marriage? Why the modifier? There's something about the word gay in front of the word marriage that gets people mad. Well, Matt Cleaver is mad too; mad that getting 'gay married' is illegal. He's looking to change all that, nothing gives people that get up and go like wailing the blues. Gay Blues. Come get f***ing pissed."
"A brawl broke out in our constitutional congress, resulting in one of history's greatest declarations about equality and human rights," Barrow Street Theatre producer Scott Morfee said in a statement. "This is why we celebrate the 4th of July — equal rights for all. Gay Blues is not afraid to brawl, but through song and story, it eloquently reminds us that there is no such thing as gay rights...that was all figured out in 1776. Wasn't it?"
The new production company, The Fugitive Kind, "produces and creates theatre that focuses on the narrative of people who have never felt comfortable in their own skin," according to to statement. "Following the ideologies of Tennessee Williams, the company is a non-profit that seeks to take socially progressive theatre to the next level by partnering with local charities and organizations to help promote the causes they are focusing on. For Gay Blues, The Fugitive Kind will partner with Marriage Equality New York with a portion of the proceeds going to the organization to help promote equality."
Cleaver is a writer and performer, born and raised in Pleasant Plain, OH, and currently living in Brooklyn. He is a recent graduate of Ohio University, where he earned his BFA in Theatre Performance. Director Michael Page is the founding artistic director of The Fugitive Kind and the managing director of the Barrow Street Theatre. Recent directing credits include Sarcastic, Sentimental, Bitchy & Sweet (Beechman), The Frankophile (Under St. Marks), Merchant of Venice, The Lady of Larkspur Lotion (Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey), The Gnadiges Fraulein (Provincetown Tennessee Williams Festival), Hot Flashes (NY Fringe), Way to Go!, Pugilist (BST), Vieux Carre, The Laramie Project and A Bright Room Called Day (Riverside Arts Center of Ann Arbor), Red Peppers, Hands Across The Sea, The Cocktail Hour (Monomoy Theatre on Cape Cod) as well as university productions. He is a Princess Grace Award nominee and holds an MFA from Ohio University School of Theatre in directing. Upcoming projects include Stand Fast by Tom Wirtshafter and Ron Brawer at this year's New York International Fringe Festival.
The show is presented when Our Town is not on stage at the Barrow Street Theatre, at 27 Barrow Street in Manhattan. Special added activities are:
July 2: Marriage Equality Dance Party in the theatre following the performance.
July 3: Duplex Night: all ticket holders receive $2 off drinks at The Duplex following the performance.
July 5: "Equality Gay-la": pre-show reception beginning at 7 PM with local politicians and celebrity guests.
Tickets are priced at $20 and can be purchased at www.smarttix.com, by phone at (212) 868-4444, or in person at the Barrow Street Theatre box office (open at 1 PM daily).
Visit www.thefugitivekind.org.
