Date: Fri 04-Apr-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Illustration: C

Location: A10

Quick Words:

CGMC-Out!-Clark-Shubert-gay

Full Text:

(rev "Out! The Whole Story" by CT Gay Men's Chorus @Shubert, 4/4/97)

CGMC Comes Out With A Winner

BY SHANNON HICKS

NEW HAVEN - A few years ago, music director Winston Clark sent questionnaires

to the members of the Connecticut Gay Men's Chorus, asking about their lives

and experiences of growing up gay. The men were asked, among the queries, how

old were you when you first came out? Do you think you were born gay, became

gay because of life experiences, or some combination? What would you tell

straight people about being gay?

Questionnaires were also sent to the members' parents, of which nearly 30

responses were recorded. Mr Clark was interested, of course, in the parents'

initial reactions to their son "coming out." He also asked them to share how

exactly their son presented the information to them; whether there have been

events, books, people, etc, that have been helpful to them; what they would

say to parents of other gay children; and something they may want to tell

their son, but never have.

The resulting words, rearranged into song by Mr Clark and put to music by

Peter Winkler, is the musical Out! The Whole Story , which had a

three-performance premiere at the Shubert Theatre in New Haven March 22-29. It

is a gathering of songs and (some) dance based on the words and experiences of

the CGMC's 50 singers.

The musical, says Mr Clark, "came from a notion that the whole issue of gay

rights in America had become so politicized that the individual voices of

ordinary, hard-working, mainstream gay men were not being heard."

Out! The Whole Story is the first musical to be given its world premiere at

the historic Shubert Theatre in 17 years. The last production to receive

global opening status at the College Street theatre was Richard Rogers' Two By

Two , during the Shubert's 1970-71 season.

The show has already been optioned for production in New York. An earlier

one-act version of the musical presented by the chorus caught the attention of

New York producer Bob Doyle, who struck the deal with Mr Clark and Mr Winkler

after following the show's developmental progress. Mr Doyle, who was excited

at the idea of the full-length show even before its New Haven opening, said he

felt the musical "could become a gay Chorus Line !"

Mr Doyle's parallel is a good one. Out! does not try to be a Cinderella story,

all happy ending. Instead, it makes viewers think, hard, through the happy and

the sad they are presented with on stage. The production puts to music some of

the most controversial topics concerning a gay lifestyle, and many of the

sequences are done with the full cast lined up on stage, with a small number

of solo singers per sequence.

President Clinton's adopted, but hotly contested, military policy of "Don't

Ask, Don't Tell" is brought up in one sequence of the same name. Other songs

show one side of the gay fence or the other: Total acceptance by a parent

("MaryJane" is a mother's absolute love for her son, no matter what) of

his/her gay child, or the denial and/or hatred such an announcement can bring

(in "Friday," a parent cries, "But you were confirmed ... [this will be

accepted] the Friday after Never!")

Clark's no-holds-barred lyrics also explore a son's terrified moments before

having to tell his parents about his lifestyle. "I Have Something To Tell

You," "No Turnin' Back" and "It's Time" paint pictures of apprehensive young

men.

But as with any CGMC-produced show, there is also an infusion of humor and

honesty. In "Gay Heaven," a young man is confronted by Liberace (the always

flamboyant and wonderful Keith Hyatte) upon moving into the afterworld, while

"Four Years Valentine's Day" is a conversation laced with laughs, and

innuendo, between two lovers about to celebrate their fourth anniversary.

As is befitting the reputation of talented singers and dancers the CGMC has

been building for three years, Out! can now be added to the growing roster of

A-list entertainment the chorus' audiences have always enjoyed.

The music director of the CGMC for five years, Winston Clark has offered

Connecticut audiences probably the closest look yet at today's gay lifestyle.

A thoughtful experience, Out! The Whole Story is something many people will

continue to enjoy and learn from.