Would you be interest in this kind of gay-themed musical?

[MadViolist]

Posted: 2/5/16 at 6:29pm

Hey everybody,

currently I'm developing and idea for my first musical. It's maybe too brave to say it this way, but I'm classicaly trainer musician / composer and I really feel like I want to try this. Since I was really unable to find any lyricist which would create me plot / book I'd like, I've done something on my own.

the story

Back in 1950's, a young student-poet Stuart gets to the big city for studies. He was born in the sleepy village, so he and his art and way of expressing remains very straight-forward and nature-oriented all the time (not important for the story, though). As he gets to know a few women around (Ellen, older, very posh lady who spends the time by having a sex with younger men and misses something deeper; and Lili, young student from the rich family, who wants to create "real art" without eve knowing the real life without so much money), nobody still recognizes he's gay. It's not that easy with queer stuff these days, so he prefers to be quiet about it. Then he meets brother of one of his school-mates, Jack, and he falls in love with him. After a crazy evening party where the both of the mentioned women tries to get him for themselves, Stuart makes it clear about his orientation to Jack and Jack kisses him.

In the second act, which I'm currently developing still, Stuart accidentaly would finds out that Jack might be a member of some not-so-popular group of organized crime together with Lili's boyfriend-to-be, which leeds to quite unexpected end of the story/romance. Still working on it (I have this story in my head just for a short time - any suggestions how it should develop? I have a few ideas but maybe yours are better).

the music

As I've already said before, I'm classicaly trained so I enjoy mostly the musicals like The Light in the Piazza, West Side Story or Porgy and Bess. I have a few sketches (it definitely won't be through-sung, but there will be some musical intermezzos next to the song itselfs). Combination of classical and jazzy sounds and typical Broadway score.

Do you think this can work? I'm not really sure about the plot with that strong gay element, but I would love to create a big tenor (oh yeah, Stuart's gonna be tenore) role of kind of different style than are these Tonys from WSS, etc. If you have any suggestions or tips, don't hesitate!

Yours,

MadViolist

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/6/16 at 6:07am

Being gay isn't a theme, it's a character description.  Nor does it seem to be a big deal within your plot.  Other than him keeping it undercover until he meets the love interest, it doesn't seem to to be factor at all.

 

Difference between a Theme and a Subject (or, as you have done, a chat yet choice)

It is important not to confuse a theme of a literary work with its subject. Subject is a topic which acts as a foundation for a literary work while a theme is an opinion expressed on the subject. For example, a writer may choose a subject of war for his story and the theme of a story may be writer’s personal opinion that war is a curse for humanity. 

A theme is what the audience takes away from the work...an opinion, a view point. Being gay isn't a theme.

Updated On: 2/7/16 at 06:07 AM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/6/16 at 2:36pm

Oh no?  Go to a Pride parade sometime.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/6/16 at 5:11pm

Lol.....a theme for a party or event?  You betcha!

[MadViolist]

Posted: 2/6/16 at 8:05pm

Thanks for this exhausting reaction - I appreciate it!

But of course I know the difference itself, I only wrote it in a bad way - my question was much more about if common musical theatre visitor wouldn't mind if there was main gay character. Because people want something they can relate to (and not only gays like musicals, haha, no offence, I'm gay myself). Overall story is not gay-themed, right, maybe just the main romance.

I know, it's 21st century. But still had to ask.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/7/16 at 4:08am

"Ellen, older, very posh lady who spends the time by having a sex with younger men and misses something deeper"

Can I sign up to play this role??

[MadViolist]

Posted: 2/7/16 at 6:28am

SURE, as long as you can do an impression of sexy lady.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 2/7/16 at 8:45am

Many people we could not care that a gay character existed.  In some places, many would.  You have to know your audience.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/7/16 at 2:21pm

Well, I'm already intrigued by the partial description provided as well as the idea of using a more classical style in the score.  My only hope would be a less conventional ending of the genre than the typical tragic ending of gay protagonists in stories set in less tolerant eras.  I don't have a problem with the honesty of those stories, but I feel like I've had enough of them and would welcome a story with a positive and happy ending.  Perhaps they are more rare, but they did exist and I would love to see more of them, fictional or otherwise.