Pet Sounds Returns for a Five Week Run

I previously posted about the play, Pet Sounds, being performed to support a local non-profit organization. In turns out that the play is pack for a longer run with showings on January 25, 26; February 1,2,8,9,22,23,29, and March 1 each at 8: PM. In additions, there will be matinee shows on January 27, February 3,10,24, and March 2 each at 2:00 PM. I gave the play a rave review back in June, 2007 (http://michael-in-norfolk.blogspot.com/2007/06/more-pet-sounds.html). I strongly encourage locals who did not see the play last summer to make a point of seeing the play this time around. You will NOT be disappointed.

TACT Benefit Production of Pet Sounds

Back in the summer I did several posts about Pet Sounds, a production written, produced and acted by the Granby High School Drama Club. The students were not allowed to put on the play at the school due to its gay story line, but the local 40th Street Stage came to their rescue and it played to full houses for a number of weekends. The cast is returning to put on a special production again to benefit TACT - i.e., Tidewater AIDS Community Taskforce - on February 1, 2008 at 8:00 PM. It is a great show and a great cause and I urge local readers to consider attending. For reservations call (757) 423-4084.

More Pet Sounds

Raymond and I attended a performance of Pet Sounds - the Granby High School student written and produced musical that was not allowed to be staged at the school because it dealt with homosexuality, among other issues - last night. The show was incredible and the talent of these students was amazing. The 40th Street Stage that hosted the show is a quirky venue in a former warehouse and not exactly a London West End theater like the one I experienced some years back, but it all worked marvelously.

Since the show was a musical using the music of Petula Clark, not only was acting skill required, but musical, choreographic and dancing talent as well. We had to keep saying to ourself "I cannot believe these are just high school students." The show not only addressed the issues faced by gay students, but also many of the other issues faced by high school teenagers, ranging from racial issues to the universal quest for acceptance and discovering one's self. In my opinion, not only should the show have been required viewing for all students, faculty and staff at Granby High School, but also for every resident in this area over the age of 13 or 14.

I cannot say enough praise of the students - some of whom definitely deserve a future in the big league - but for their drama coach as well. It was a job truly well done.

More on Pet Sounds

I have posted twice now on the play "Pet Sounds" being performed at the 40th Street Stage in Norfolk because Granby High School would not allow the student written and produced musical to be performed at the school. I have received comments from readers who saw the play and praised it. Meanwhile, some of the local Christianist fundies are foaming at the mouth. Here's what one bigot - Patrick G from Chesapeake who didn't even have the balls to give his last name - said in a comment on the Virginia Pilot article:

"I can just picture that drama teacher patting himself on the back. He must think he is so creative. This kind of garbage has been done before. If he wants a challenge, let's see him do a play where the teenager on the floor is a either a Christian, a Jewish or Islam believer and the ones surrounding him on the stage are homosexuals who are calling him names for not supporting the homosexual agenda. Now that my friends is reality. If you don't believe that, just tally up the number of hateful personal remarks by supporters of the homosexual agenda on this message board."

Funny, I have lived in this area for 24 years now, and I can't think of a single time I have seen anyone called names for being Christian. On the other hand, I have personally been yelled at and called a "faggot" or worse a half dozen times or more and even harassed by the Norfolk Police on one occasion for being gay. I must be somehow missing making contact for the "supporters" of the homosexual agenda

Here's what the Granby High drama teacher told me in an e-mail about this comment:

The photo displayed with this article is actually a bunch of the main characters friends with telephones in their hands. They are singing "Call Me' and we were not even thinking of tryng to show someone on the floor being called names by those not supporting the homosexual agenda (whatever that is). In fact, several of the characters in that circle are gay! Further, six months ago we presented a play where there was one character surrounded on the stage by hateful hypocrites who eventually nailed him to a cross. Of course that was Jesus. Each night I watched as many members of the audience cried at his death. And I, the director, am Jewish! My only agenda is to create good theatre with my kids and to get an audience for them.

Gee, that sounds like the proper agenda for a drama teacher. Maybe Patrick G needs to evaluate his own agenda. It seems like it's the Christianists who are always spewing hate.

Anti-Gay Censorship is Alive and Well in Norfolk

Musical Banned by Granby High School Due to Sensitive Material.

Norfolk's Granby High School has banned the presentation of a new musical, Pet Sounds, because it has a gay theme. Fortunately, the 40th Street Stage, a private forum, will host the presentation, which is described as follows:

The new musical, Pet Sounds, or The Life and Times of Nigel Zingraff and Petula Clark, directed by Bruce K. Hanson, is a charming coming of age story about a gay sixteen-year-old Nigel Zingraff, who, after being outed, can't decide to stay out or go back into the closet. Along with his two best friends, Kamea and Theo, Nigel is a student at the New York School of Performing Arts.

Pet Sounds portrays real-life high school students experiencing real-life situations. The show uses the elements of musical comedy to present a less than perfect view of the lives of student in America. Based on the songs made famous by Petula Clark, Pet Sounds has a score mostly written by Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent, which includes: "Downtown", "Don't Sleep in the Subway", "Who Am I?" and "My Love."