Not On Stage/Out on Stage: US Gay and Lesbian Drama

From Lillian Hellman's The Children's Hour to Tony Kushner's Angels in America, U.S. playwrights have given us a powerful testament to the struggles of homosexuals. In this seminar we will learn how to analyze American gay and lesbian plays from the conceptual, structural, and emotional perspectives of both director and actor. Secondary readings will locate the texts within the evolution of the construction and representation of homosexuality throughout the twentieth century: from closetedness, through Stonewall and the consolidation of gay and lesbian identities, and finally to the expansion of sexual diversity through “queerness.” In addition to discussions, we will stage scenes and watch cinematic renderings of scripts when available. 3 hrs. sem.