Breakthrough Theatre of Winter Park
Queer Quills
Queer Quills: The Drag by Mae West
Sunday, February 7, 2020
7:00 p.m.
Description
Please join us for a reading of THE DRAG by the one and only MAE WEST directed by CHRIS ROBISON.
A suggested donation of $5 benefits the Paul M. Wegman Scholarship. (Suggested donation means if you can't pay, then please come anyway, but if you can, please do!)
| About The Drag |
"The Drag" was written in 1927 by an unlikely playwright – bombshell star Mae West. She wrote several risque plays that generated front-page publicity.
Her first starring role on Broadway was in a play she titled "Sex", which she also wrote, produced, and directed. Though critics hated the show, ticket sales were good. The notorious production did not go over well with city officials and the theater was raided with West arrested along with the cast.
She was prosecuted on morals charges and, on April 19, 1927, was sentenced to ten days for "corrupting the morals of youth." Media attention about the case enhanced her career.
Her next play, "The Drag", dealt with homosexuality and was what West called one of her "comedy-dramas of life." After a series of try-outs in Connecticut and New Jersey, West announced she would open the play in New York.
However, "The Drag" never opened on Broadway due to the Society for the Prevention of Vice vows to ban it if West attempted to stage it.
West continued to write plays, including "The Wicked Age", "Pleasure Man and The Constant Sinner." Her productions were plagued by controversy and other problems, although the controversy ensured that West stayed in the news and most of the time this resulted in packed performances.
Her 1928 play, "Diamond Lil", about a racy, easygoing lady of the 1890s, became a Broadway hit. This show enjoyed an enduring popularity and West would successfully revive it many times throughout the course of her career.
| About Queer Quills |
Queer Quills is a reincarnation of sorts of the beloved Gay & Lesbian Readers Theatre that the same team presented in 2004. The series was conceived of as an informal forum to present readings of classic and new works with gay themes or by gay playwrights that also featured some of the finest actors and directors in Central Florida. The plays included "Love! Valour! Compassion!," "The Boys in the Band," and "The Killing of Sister George."
The mission of Queer Quills is to showcase plays that reflect the GLBT journey through live theatre. Selections tend toward plays that aren't likely to be produced or haven’t been in a while, in the Central Florida area because they might be considered too risky. The plays in the series were selected because of their notable impact on the growth of theatre and gay and lesbian history.
| About the Paul M. Wegman Scholarship for Actors |
The Paul M. Wegman Scholarship for Actors at Valencia Community College will be awarded annually to an acting/performance major who has completed her/his first year of study. This scholarship will help a deserving acting student, selected from those who meet the criteria and submit a letter of application, by paying for tuition, fees, and textbooks as funds are available. This scholarship was created by friends of Paul M. Wegman in his honor, and will be awarded to students who have demonstrated imagination, creativity, professionalism, and love for the Theater. The fund is currently still being supported by donations by a few of Paul’s friends, but we very much appreciate this opportunity to grow the fund, in memory of our greatly talented good friend.
Queer Quills is produced by Kangagirl Productions and Heidi Dog Productions.
A suggested donation of $5 benefits the Paul M. Wegman Scholarship. (Suggested donation means if you can't pay, then please come anyway, but if you can, please do!)
| About The Drag |
"The Drag" was written in 1927 by an unlikely playwright – bombshell star Mae West. She wrote several risque plays that generated front-page publicity.
Her first starring role on Broadway was in a play she titled "Sex", which she also wrote, produced, and directed. Though critics hated the show, ticket sales were good. The notorious production did not go over well with city officials and the theater was raided with West arrested along with the cast.
She was prosecuted on morals charges and, on April 19, 1927, was sentenced to ten days for "corrupting the morals of youth." Media attention about the case enhanced her career.
Her next play, "The Drag", dealt with homosexuality and was what West called one of her "comedy-dramas of life." After a series of try-outs in Connecticut and New Jersey, West announced she would open the play in New York.
However, "The Drag" never opened on Broadway due to the Society for the Prevention of Vice vows to ban it if West attempted to stage it.
West continued to write plays, including "The Wicked Age", "Pleasure Man and The Constant Sinner." Her productions were plagued by controversy and other problems, although the controversy ensured that West stayed in the news and most of the time this resulted in packed performances.
Her 1928 play, "Diamond Lil", about a racy, easygoing lady of the 1890s, became a Broadway hit. This show enjoyed an enduring popularity and West would successfully revive it many times throughout the course of her career.
| About Queer Quills |
Queer Quills is a reincarnation of sorts of the beloved Gay & Lesbian Readers Theatre that the same team presented in 2004. The series was conceived of as an informal forum to present readings of classic and new works with gay themes or by gay playwrights that also featured some of the finest actors and directors in Central Florida. The plays included "Love! Valour! Compassion!," "The Boys in the Band," and "The Killing of Sister George."
The mission of Queer Quills is to showcase plays that reflect the GLBT journey through live theatre. Selections tend toward plays that aren't likely to be produced or haven’t been in a while, in the Central Florida area because they might be considered too risky. The plays in the series were selected because of their notable impact on the growth of theatre and gay and lesbian history.
| About the Paul M. Wegman Scholarship for Actors |
The Paul M. Wegman Scholarship for Actors at Valencia Community College will be awarded annually to an acting/performance major who has completed her/his first year of study. This scholarship will help a deserving acting student, selected from those who meet the criteria and submit a letter of application, by paying for tuition, fees, and textbooks as funds are available. This scholarship was created by friends of Paul M. Wegman in his honor, and will be awarded to students who have demonstrated imagination, creativity, professionalism, and love for the Theater. The fund is currently still being supported by donations by a few of Paul’s friends, but we very much appreciate this opportunity to grow the fund, in memory of our greatly talented good friend.
Queer Quills is produced by Kangagirl Productions and Heidi Dog Productions.
