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How ‘Bent’ Made Gay History

It was a passing reference to “pink triangles” in As Time Goes By, a 1976 play about a century of gay life, that caught Martin Sherman’s attention. As he put it recently, “It was one of those awful clichés—you could see the light bulb going off over my head.” That eureka moment led to Bent, Sherman’s path-breaking 1979 drama abo...

The Fringe @ Center Theatre Group attends 'Immediate Family'

On Friday, April 24, Center Theatre Group’s young professionals group, The Fringe, got together for the irreverent comedy Immediate Family at the Mark Taper Forum. Over fifty Fringe members were in attendance and a wonderful performance set the tone for a great night of mingling and partying....

From "Freed-Man" to Free: The Distance of the Journey

This article was originally written by Lynell George for the program for the production of Joe Turner’s Come and Gone directed by Phylicia Rashad at the Mark Taper Forum in spring 2013. The below post is an excerpted version of the original article. Center Theatre Group's Los Angeles National Finalists of the August Wilson Monologue Compet...

Bid Whist

In Immediate Family, emotions boil to a crisis point over a game of cards. The Bryants sit down to play Bid Whist as an alternative to arguing. At first, the trash-talking is done in good fun and with love. As the game progresses — although the words they use are about the game — it starts to get personal. They end up attacking and ganging...

Blind Spots, Bias, and Bigotry

We all have biases, and often without being aware of it. Unconscious prejudices, while they aren’t as combative as out-right bigotry, become blind spots that take away our ability to truly see those around us, to recognize and respect them as individuals.

Family Matters: A Conversation with Paul Oakley Stovall

Actor and playwright Paul Oakley Stovall found his voice early. By high school he was a published poet, an accomplished debater and self-assured actor. However, his drive to achieve, he admits, was set in motion by a looming, inner-tension: A secret.