Gays on Broadway

De: Ethan Mordden

Narrado por: Daniel Henning

Writing with his customary verve and wit, author Ethan Mordden follows the steady liberation of gay themes on the American stage. The story begins in the early twentieth century, when gay characters were virtually banned from productions. The 1920s saw a flurry of plays closed on moral grounds as well as the Wales Padlock Act, which forbade representation of "sex degeneracy". While authorities made consistent attempts to shutter the movement, the public remained curious, and after a few decades of war making, a truce broke out when The Boys In the Band became a national smash hit. From this point on, gay theatre proved too popular to abolish.

With this change, theatre was graced with a host of unforgettable characters-from thrill killers to historical figures to drag performers, as well as professional gays (such as the defiantly effeminate window dresser in Kiss of the Spider Woman), closeted gays, and those run-of-the-mill citizens who don't reside entirely within the colorful nonconformist identity (like the two male lovers in the comedy Norman, Is That You?).

Spoken plays and musicals, playwrights, directors, and actors all played their part in popularizing the gay movement through art. Gays on Broadway is an essential chronological review of the long journey to bring the culture of gay men and women onto the American stage.

©2023 Ethan Mordden (P)2023 Tantor

Juicy stories and behind-the-scenes details

Gays on Broadway is a lively, witty tour through the history of queer presence on the American stage. Ethan Mordden’s deep knowledge of theater shines through, and the book is packed with juicy stories and behind-the-scenes details.

Mordden knows his stuff and tells it with wit and affection. Sometimes it feels like you’re being introduced to everyone who ever stepped on a stage, but the anecdotes and cultural insights keep it lively. I especially loved seeing how queer stories evolved from whispers to center stage. If you love theater or queer history (or both), this is a great pick.

If you’re fascinated by how queer artists shaped Broadway, this book is a compelling, well‑research chronicle—with some dishy insider gossip to boot.