PHOTO SPECIAL: Looking Back at 14 Landmark Gay Plays | Playbill

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PHOTO SPECIAL: Looking Back at 14 Landmark Gay Plays

Mart Crowley's <i>The Boys In The Band</i> (1968) portrayed the pleasures, miseries and private lives of gay men at a birthday party. — PHOTO SPECIAL: Looking Back at 14 Landmark Gay Plays

As part of Playbill.com's 30 Days of Pride, we look back at 14 landmark plays dealing with gay themes.
20 PHOTOS

Mart Crowley's <i>The Boys In The Band</i> (1968) portrayed the pleasures, miseries and private lives of gay men at a birthday party. — Mart Crowley's The Boys In The Band (1968) portrayed the pleasures, miseries and private lives of gay men at a birthday party.

Carol Rosegg

Christopher Innvar, John Wellmann, Kevin Isola, Jon Levenson, Kevyn Morrow, Nick Westrate and Graham Rowat — Christopher Innvar, John Wellmann, Kevin Isola, Jon Levenson, Kevyn Morrow, Nick Westrate and Graham Rowat

Carol Rosegg

Harvey Fierstein's <i>Torch Song Trilogy</i>, a semi-autobiographical comedy of Jewish drag queen Arnold and his extended family, debuted uptown in 1981. — Joel Crothers and Harvey Fierstein in Torch Song Trilogy

Carol Rosegg

<i>Torch Song Trilogy</i> was adapted into a 1988 film starring Fierstein. — Torch Song Trilogy was adapted into a 1988 film starring Fierstein.

Carol Rosegg

George Hearn, Gene Barry and Les Cagelles in <i>La Cage aux Folles</i> — George Hearn, Gene Barry and Les Cagelles in La Cage aux Folles

Carol Rosegg

Next Slide

Les Cagelles — Les Cagelles

Carol Rosegg

<i>The Normal Heart</i>, Larry Kramer's assault on the establishment for disregarding the AIDS crisis, debuted in 1985. — The Normal Heart, Larry Kramer's assault on the establishment for disregarding the AIDS crisis, debuted in 1985.

Carol Rosegg

The Normal Heart_Broadway_Production Photos_Cast_HR — Cast of The Normal Heart

Joan Marcus

The film adaptation of Kramer's play debuted on HBO May 25, 2014. — The film adaptation of Kramer's play debuted on HBO May 25, 2014.

Carol Rosegg

Michael Rupert and cast in <i>Falsettos</i>, 1992 — Michael Rupert and cast in Falsettos, 1992

Carol Rosegg

Paul Rudnick's <i>Jeffrey</i>, a comedy about gays finding love (and lust) again in the age of AIDS, debuted in 1993. — Paul Rudnick's Jeffrey, a comedy about gays finding love (and lust) again in the age of AIDS, debuted in 1993.

Carol Rosegg

David Marshall Grant, Stephen Spinella and Jeffrey Wright — David Marshall Grant, Stephen Spinella and Jeffrey Wright

Carol Rosegg

<i>Angels in America</i> was adapted into an HBO miniseries in 2003, starring Merly Streep, Al Pacino and Emma Thompson. — Angels in America was adapted into an HBO miniseries in 2003, starring Merly Streep, Al Pacino and Emma Thompson.

Carol Rosegg

Zachary Quinto and Christian Borle — Zachary Quinto and Christian Borle

Carol Rosegg

Terrence McNally's 1995 Tony-winning comedy <i>Love! Valour! Compassion!</i> followed a group of gay men loving and fighting on a beach-house holiday. — Terrence McNally's 1995 Tony-winning comedy Love! Valour! Compassion! followed a group of gay men loving and fighting on a beach-house holiday.

Carol Rosegg

<i>The Laramie Project</i> (2000), by Moisés Kaufman and the Tectonic Theater Project, dealt with the reaction to the 1998 murder of gay student Matthew Shepard. The play draws on hundreds of interviews with inhabitants of Laramie, Wyoming. — The Laramie Project (2000), by Moisés Kaufman and the Tectonic Theater Project, dealt with the reaction to the 1998 murder of gay student Matthew Shepard. The play draws on hundreds of interviews with inhabitants of Laramie, Wyoming.

Carol Rosegg

Richard Greenberg's <i>Take Me Out</i>, surrounding a major league baseball player who comes out at the peak of his career, opened on Broadway in 2003. — Richard Greenberg's Take Me Out, surrounding a major league baseball player who comes out at the peak of his career, opened on Broadway in 2003.

Carol Rosegg

Patrick Breen, Cotter Smith and Patrick Heusinger — Patrick Breen, Cotter Smith and Patrick Heusinger

Carol Rosegg

Tony Award winner Nathan Lane starred in <i>The Nance</i>, Douglas Carter Beane's 1930s-set play about a gay burlesque performer facing a changing world. The show enjoyed a 2013 Broadway run. — Tony Award winner Nathan Lane starred in The Nance, Douglas Carter Beane's 1930s-set play about a gay burlesque performer facing a changing world. The show enjoyed a 2013 Broadway run.

Carol Rosegg

Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron's <i>Fun Home</i>, based on the work of lesbian cartoonist Alison Bechdel, opened at the Public Theater in 2013. — Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron's Fun Home, based on the work of lesbian cartoonist Alison Bechdel, opened at the Public Theater in 2013.

Carol Rosegg

Mart Crowley's <i>The Boys In The Band</i> (1968) portrayed the pleasures, miseries and private lives of gay men at a birthday party.

Mart Crowley's <i>The Boys In The Band</i> (1968) portrayed the pleasures, miseries and private lives of gay men at a birthday party.

Christopher Innvar, John Wellmann, Kevin Isola, Jon Levenson, Kevyn Morrow, Nick Westrate and Graham Rowat

Harvey Fierstein's <i>Torch Song Trilogy</i>, a semi-autobiographical comedy of Jewish drag queen Arnold and his extended family, debuted uptown in 1981.

<i>Torch Song Trilogy</i> was adapted into a 1988 film starring Fierstein.

George Hearn, Gene Barry and Les Cagelles in <i>La Cage aux Folles</i>

<i>The Normal Heart</i>, Larry Kramer's assault on the establishment for disregarding the AIDS crisis, debuted in 1985.

The Normal Heart_Broadway_Production Photos_Cast_HR

The film adaptation of Kramer's play debuted on HBO May 25, 2014.

Michael Rupert and cast in <i>Falsettos</i>, 1992

Paul Rudnick's <i>Jeffrey</i>, a comedy about gays finding love (and lust) again in the age of AIDS, debuted in 1993.

David Marshall Grant, Stephen Spinella and Jeffrey Wright

<i>Angels in America</i> was adapted into an HBO miniseries in 2003, starring Merly Streep, Al Pacino and Emma Thompson.

Zachary Quinto and Christian Borle

Terrence McNally's 1995 Tony-winning comedy <i>Love! Valour! Compassion!</i> followed a group of gay men loving and fighting on a beach-house holiday.

<i>The Laramie Project</i> (2000), by Moisés Kaufman and the Tectonic Theater Project, dealt with the reaction to the 1998 murder of gay student Matthew Shepard. The play draws on hundreds of interviews with inhabitants of Laramie, Wyoming.

Richard Greenberg's <i>Take Me Out</i>, surrounding a major league baseball player who comes out at the peak of his career, opened on Broadway in 2003.

Patrick Breen, Cotter Smith and Patrick Heusinger

Tony Award winner Nathan Lane starred in <i>The Nance</i>, Douglas Carter Beane's 1930s-set play about a gay burlesque performer facing a changing world. The show enjoyed a 2013 Broadway run.

Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron's <i>Fun Home</i>, based on the work of lesbian cartoonist Alison Bechdel, opened at the Public Theater in 2013.

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