Well, people, I didn't think it was possible ... I just didn't think it was possible that the New York theatre scene could get any gayer.

I mean, we've already got 'Wicked' (gay!).

And 'Avenue Q' (really gay!).

And now 'Legally Blonde' (oh soooo gay!).

Oh, but it is.

That's because New York is about play host to GayFest NYC, a first-ever theatre festival catering to gay men and women with gay-themed plays and musicals. And it's all to benefit the students of the Harvey Milk High School in New York City. (More on that in a minute.)

I recently spoke with Bruce Robert Harris who, with Jack W. Batman, co-founded and produced the upcoming event. We discussed the in's and out's of the program and why it's so damn important to have a gay theatre festival in the first place.



Bruce and Jack spent almost two years putting the festival together and recruited an impressive list of writers and performers to its board. Among them are playwright Terrence McNally, humorist Kate Clinton, playwright/performer Charles Busch and actor/comedian Mario Cantone.

So how, may I ask, does one ascertain what makes a play, well, GAY? Bruce says, "For me as a producer, a gay play has to educate, entertain and give you something of substance. All the plays in the festival have a very deep message. And some have a message and are just fun."

He also hopes the festival will educate younger gay men and women about gay history – and that it will spark their interest and appreciation in it. "We're tackling social issues," Bruce says. "I'm tired of younger gay men saying they're going to go dance on Gay Pride day – and they don't know what Gay Pride really means. So this is an opportunity to entertain and educate those gay men as to why, for example, Stonewall happened, and what that particular moment in time represents to the gay community. We're showing people, 'This is why we have Gay Pride, this is what Gay Pride really stands for.'"

To find the perfect shows for the fesitval, Bruce, Jack and his board read through 175 original plays and musicals. "We were on a mission to find plays and musicals that would hit a cross-section of the gay community, and I think we have. If I can visualize it, I can create it. And if I can create it, I can raise money to produce it," he says. "We even got a musical from Armistead Maupin: He had 150 characters and 16 locations but, this being a limited festival, we just couldn't afford that."

But they managed to narrow the program down to two readings and three eclectic, full productions that include:

* 'Revolution,' a docudrama that depicts the events leading up to the gay liberation movement ignited by the Stonewall Riots in June of 1969.

* 'Competing Narratives,' the story of a reclusive straight-appearing former gay activist and his life partner who are visited by an African-American journalist who is harboring a long-held secret he is finally determined to reveal.

* And 'A Kiss From Alexander' where, in Manhattan's East Village, an attractive director is staging 'Alexander Was Great!' as an over-the-top gay musical that portrays the ancient world conqueror as a royal party animal.

Bruce and Jack not only want to make this festival an annual event in New York City, but also an event that will be held in different cities across the country. He says, "First we hope that GayFest NYC will happen every May and creep into June. And we also want this to grow into other cities like San Francisco. If I have my way, my staff will have the opportunity to teach other people in other cities how to do this so we can grow."

And we musn't forget that all of this gay theatergoing is all for a good cause: To help the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students of the Harvey Milk High School in New York City. It's this school where the needs of teens who are in crisis or at risk of physical or emotional harm in a traditional school get their education.

The ultimate goal is to raise $1 million through GayFest NYC -- as well as through other planned events -- for after-school programs, scholarships and a new gymnasium.

So tap those fingertips get thee to the thee-tah. After all, it's for the kids. And c'mon people, admit it: It's the gay thing to do.

GayFest NYC starts tomorrow and runs through June 2nd in New York City. For more information, show schedules and tickets, log on to www.GayFestNYC.com. And to learn more about the Harvey Milk High School, check out www.hmi.org.


GayFest NYC Productions (l-r): Sebastian La Cause, Michael Vaccaro & Matthew Boston in 'Competing Narratives' (photo: Ben Strothman), Craig Ramsay in 'A Kiss From Alexander' (photo: Joe Oppedisano) and Corey Boardman & Maggie Graham in 'Revolution' (photo: Ben Strothman)