THE BOYS IN THE BAND by Mart Crowley, is “the” play that defined gay theater when it premiered Off-Broadway in 1968. It is a ground-breaking portrayal of gay life in New York City during that era as a group of friends gather for a funny, but volatile birthday party that tests the boundaries of friendship.
The play was immediately made into a film with its original cast that enjoys cult status in the gay community. It was then revived on Broadway for its 50th anniversary with an all-star cast and then made into another film. These iconic characters don’t always cast a pretty image of gay life in the 1960s, but they do skillfully reflect the pain, struggle and humanity of our past—much of which is still all too relevant today.
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