Photo Coverage: GAYFEST NYC Celebrates with Leslie Jordan

On April 14, 2008 GAYFEST NYC hosted a major fundraising event as a kick-off for this year's Festival and a benefit for the Harvey Milk High School scholarship fund. The evening included a performance by Emmy Award-winning actor Leslie Jordan at the New World Stages, 340 West 50th Street, New York, NY 10036, with a reception to follow at Crave Restaurant and Bar.

The second annual GAYFEST NYC, the country's premier festival of new gay-themed plays, will be presented May 14 - June 15, 2008 at the TBG Arts Center, 312 West 36th Street, New York City. The five-week event, produced by Bruce Robert Harris and Jack W. Batman, presents professional Off-Broadway productions of new works by LGBT authors or spotlighting gay issues. Five fully-staged professional productions featuring Actors' Equity Association casts, talk-backs with the authors of the Festival plays, appearances by celebrated members of the LGBT community, plus other events are planned.

GAYFEST NYC's reach has extended beyond national borders and into the international theatre community. This year's Main Stage selections, from dozens of submissions worldwide, are Edward the King by David Brendan Hopes, directed by Sidney J. Burgoyne, Spill the Wine by Brian Dykstra, directed by Margarett Perry and Jumping Blind by Philip Gerson, director TBA. Two additional plays will be produced in the Studio Theatre: The Wrath of Aphrodite by Tim O'Leary, directed by Martin Casella and Steve Hayes' Hollywood Reunion, written by and starring Steve Hayes.

"GAYFEST NYC's mission is to develop new voices for the LGBT community and expand the reach and accessibility of both emerging and established playwrights, composers and lyricists, while providing high level entertainment to a very discerning and supportive audience," said Jack W. Batman, co-Producer of the festival. "At the same time, we are committed to giving back to the LGBT community, through our fundraising efforts and the generosity of our sponsors, advertisers and supporters. To that end, we established a scholarship fund to benefit students of Harvey Milk High School," continued Batman, "and last year GAYFEST NYC awarded eleven scholarships to graduating seniors and established an after-school acting program for the students." Harvey Milk High School (HMHS) is a fully-accredited, voluntary NYC public high school focused on the educational needs of teenagers who are in crisis or at risk of physical violence and/or emotional harm in a traditional educational environment.

"GAYFEST NYC is also committed to producing plays that will have a life outside the Festival," said Bruce Robert Harris, co-Producer of GAYFEST NYC, "plays that will represent the Festival in productions around the English-speaking world and which might also be brought to life in television and/or film presentations. Board members of GAYFEST NYC include Terrence McNally, Kate Clinton, Charles Busch, Douglas Carter Beane, Mario Cantone and a distinguished group of Broadway producers, actors, writers, artistic and executive directors of regional theatres plus other entertainment professionals. The play choices present a balanced program that will give audiences a comprehensive educational and entertainment experience."

Sponsors of GAYFEST NYC include HSBC Bank, Bud Light, RockStar energy drink, Andrew Christian, DG Neary Real Estate, Jamie DeRoy, Gayla, Inc., Interactive Male, Dr. Frank Spinelli, Steel Gym, Sutter Home Vineyards, Theatermania.com and media sponsors including Where New York, IN New York magazine, Next Magazine, Back Stage, HX Magazine, The New York Blade, GO! Magazine, FunMaps, Mark Nelson Events and others. GAYFEST NYC also receives generous support private from the Office of the Manhattan Borough President.