Cathedral of St. John the Divine Presents SPIRIT OF PRIDE Event 6/21

The Cathedral of St. John the Divine (1047 Amsterdam Avenue at 112th Street) is pleased to announce its annual LGBT celebration, Spirit Of Pride, 2010, on Monday, June 21st at 7:30 pm. Each year the Cathedral brings together people from the arts, education and government along with other advocates in support of the LGBT community in New York. This year the focus is on theatre. Admission is free for this special program.

An unprecedented number of plays and musicals have been produced this season that address the way global issues express themselves through the extended LGBT community: the personal and romantic; family and adoption; religion and relationships; the history of gay liberation and organization; and the military.

In a February in BackStage, Erik Haagensen observed "the gay smorgasbord that currently constitutes the New York theatrical scene ..." is richer than ever. This appeared days after a front-page story in The New York Times by Patrick Healy stating that "A new breed of plays and musicals this season is presenting gay characters in love stories, replacing the direct political messages of 1980s and ‘90s shows like The Normal Heart and Angels in America with more personal appeals for social progress."

The love that dares not speak its name had a banner year in New York theatre. "The best of times is now," goes the song in "La Cage aux Folles". And so it would seem for gay plays and musicals. It was a season that offered an unusually rich choice of gay productions, that included eight major Off Broadway and Broadway shows ("The Pride"; "The Temperamentals"; "Boys in the Band"; "Yank"; "Next Fall"; "La Cage aux Folles"; "My Trip Down The Pink Carpet" and "The Kid").

Among the performers scheduled to appear are Bobby Steggert, Brian Childers, Jeremy Lawrence, Mildred Dred Gerestant, and Donnetta Lavinia Grays. There will also be a panel discussion about the evolution of gay theatre and its emergence on Broadway and Off Broadway with David Zellnik and Joe Zellnik (creators of the multiple award nominated musical "Yank"); James Morgan (Artistic Director of the York Theatre); Geoffrey Nauffts (author of the Tony Award nominated Best Play "Next Fall"); Jon Marans, Jonathan Silverstein, and Stacy Shane (author, director, and producer of the award-winning acclaimed play "The Temperamentals"). The entertainment will also include other young LGBT singers and dancers. Participants are subject to change.

For more information on Spirit of Pride, 2010 please contact The Rev. Tom Miller, Cannon for Liturgy & Art at 212 316-7337 / tmiller@stjohndivine.org For information on programs, events and services at the Cathedral please visit the Cathedral website.