'THE TEMPERAMENTALS' Celebration For Cast Drawing At The Palm 4/8

This Thursday, April 8; the critically acclaimed hit show "The Temperamentals" by Jon Marans, will have a Celebration for the presentation of the cast drawing on the wall at The Palm. The Off Broadway play at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street), received two Lortel Award Nominations: Outstanding Play and Michael Urie for Outstanding Lead Actor. The Day Before (April 7th) would have been Harry Hay's 98th birthday.

Daryl Roth, Stacy Shane and Martian Entertainment are presenting the new American play. Thomas Jay Ryan (recently on Broadway "In The Next Room") portrays Harry Hay. Michael Urie (from TV's "Ugly Betty") is Rudi Gernreich. Arnie Burton (an original cast member of Broadway's "39 Steps") joined the cast in multiple roles. Rounding out the cast of five multiple talented actors are Matthew Schneck, and Sam Breslin Wright. It is directed by Jonathan Silverstein. The Set & Costume design is by Clint Ramos, lighting by Josh Bradford and Daniel Kluger is the sound designer. (2 hrs 05 mins including intermission) www.thetemperamentals.com

The play began as a small showcase the end of April 2009 in an intimate Studio Theatre. All performances were sold out in advance, with a waiting list for the initial engagement. Due to the tremendous critical and popular acclaim, it moved to a larger theatre for a few weeks extension. It then was extended two more times during this past summer. The current Off Broadway production began on February 18th and opened on February 28th to wonderful critical acclaim.

"The Temperamentals" tells the story of two men - the communist Harry Hay and the Viennese refugee and designer Rudi Gernreich - as they fall in love while building the first gay rights organization in the United States pre Stonewall. The play weaves together the personal and political to tell a relatively unknown chapter in history. It explores the love between two complex men, as their impossible dream of forming such an unheard of organization becomes a reality in this perilous, unpredictable world. It is an intimate portrayal of the men who created history and the epic struggles they overcame. The characters consist of the actual men who founded the Mattachine Society (Harry Hay, Rudi Gernreich, Chuck Rowland, Bob Hull, and Dale Jennings), as well as other prominent figures of the time in Hollywood and the film industry as well as the politics of the McCarthy era and the world of fashion.

TalkOut Mondays - a weekly panel of distinguished guests* that follows the performance continues with: April12 David Mixner (civil rights activist and best-selling author) & Judith Light (actress); April 19 David Reynolds (American historian and literary critic) & guest TBA; April 26 Chuck Wolfe (President & CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund) & Ryan J Davis (Progressive Blogger & Activist). Future confirmed Guest include: Marle Becker (gay activist, "Out FM" radio program); Charles Busch (actor, playwright); David Carter (author "Stonewall-The Riot That Sparked The Revolution" - and being made into a PBS special); Frank DeCaro (SIRIUS XM Out Q Radio host); Frank Kameny (headed the D.C. Mattachine Society & was fired in 1957 as an astrophysicist for being gay. A public apology to him from the Obama administration was made this year in a public ceremony); Tom Kirdahy (playwright); Jim McGreevey (former Governor of New Jersey, he was the first and, to date, the only openly gay state governor in United States history); Terrence McNally (award-winning playwright); Daryl Roth (producer 6 Pulitzer Prize winning plays); David Rothenberg (political activist, Fortune Society, WBAI Radio) * subject to change/availability

Performances are: Monday; Thursday; Friday 8pm; Saturday 2pm & 8pm; Sunday 3pm & 7pm. Tickets are: $65 and for Saturday evening $69. Premiums seats are also available. Student tickets in the mezzanine are $25 and are available in advance (must be purchased at the box office). Special group rates are also available. Tickets are on sale at the box office and through TeleCharge (212) 239-6200 or (800) 432-7250 and TeleCharge.com.