AFI World Premiere: "tick, tick... BOOM!"

by Nathaniel R

Tiny gasps and squeals gave way to shrieking and thunderous applause at the world premiere of Lin-Manuel Miranda's directorial debut tick, tick... Boom last night at the AFI Festival. And that was just from one of the numbers. We shan't spoil the surprises but let's just say that if you're a musical theater nut, you won't have a single greater high at the movies this year than during its "Sunday" setpiece. That song by Rent's gone-too-soon composer, Jonathan Larson, is a personalized silly riff on Stephen Sondheim's transcendent song of the same name from Sunday in the Park with George. 

For those who are unfamiliar with "tick, tick... BOOM!" in its original form, it was a rock monologue that Jonathan Larson wrote and performed a few times in the early 90s...

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Gay Best Friend: Michael in "Camp" (2003)

a series by Christopher James looking at the 'Gay Best Friend' trope

I wish I looked as good as Michael (Robin de Jesús) at my prom.Back in 2003 there weren’t many places where a gay kid wouldn’t be the “other” person. That’s why the “gay best friend” trope became so prevalent. Film would always show us the “token” gay person in a non-threatening supporting role, reinforcing that they were “different” than the norm. Camp flips this on its head. The comedy takes place at Camp Ovation, a musical theater camp outside of New York. It’s one of the few places where the gays outnumber the straight men.

This dichotomy between being “othered” and being welcomed is established in the first scene, with the song “How Shall I See You Through My Tears” from The Gospel of Colonus. This performance is intercut with the entrance of Michael (Robin de Jesús), as he arrives at prom in drag...

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Yes No Maybe So: Boys in the Band (2020)

by new contributor Gabriel Mayora

This week Netflix released the trailer for the Ryan Murphy-branded second film adaptation of Matt Crowley’s iconic and controversial 1968 play The Boys in the Band. Crowley’s play is often seen as a landmark in mainstream gay representation though at the same time as it has developed a reputation as “dated.” This new adaptation is based on the hit 50th anniversary Broadway revival produced by Murphy and helmed by acclaimed Tony-winning director Joe Mantello (who also directs the new film), with the entire cast from the revival—all of whom are openly gay actors—reprising their roles. Here’s the official IMDB synopsis:

A group of gay men gather for a birthday party in 1968 New York City, only to find the drinks and laughs interrupted when a visitor from the host’s past turns the evening upside down.

Will the remake provide audiences with a fresh new perspective on a classic gay play? Netflix is releasing the film on September 30, so we don’t have to wait too long to find out. In the meantime, let’s give the trailer the Yes, No, Maybe So treatment...

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