GAYFEST NYC Lineup Announced at Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex

GAYFEST NYC, Inc. (Bruce Robert Harris and Jack W. Batman, Producers), the country's premier producer of new LGBT-themed plays, announces its Fifth Festival of Plays, a four-week event filled with powerful theatre works spotlighting gay issues.

This year, the Festival will include two fully-staged productions, talk-backs with the authors of the Festival plays, appearances by celebrated members of the LGBT community, plus a very special event, the BASiC theatre Project revival production of Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde by Moisés Kaufman. The Associate Producer for the Festival is Craig Wesley Divino. All proceeds from GAYFEST NYC benefit the Harvey Milk High School. Performances are scheduled from May 23 - June 16, 2013 at the Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex (312 West 36th Street). Casting will be announced in early May.

This year's Festival selections, chosen from dozens of submissions worldwide, are:

May 23 - June 2, 2013 (June Havoc Theatre)

Moonlight & Love Songs
Written by Scott C. Sickles
Directed by Steven Petrillo
Set and Costume Design by Michael Bottari and Ronald Case
Lighting Design by John Eckert

Forty-five and alone, architect Harry Wallace's romantic dreams come true when he falls in love with Jim, a young college student. Their romance seems motion picture-perfect until a staggering revelation causes it to implode. Public outrage follows as Jim attempts to repair the damage caused by his betrayal and Harry finds himself complicit in the deception.

June 6 - June 16, 2013 (June Havoc Theatre)

World Premiere
The Loves of Mr. Lincoln
Written by David Brendan Hopes
Directed by Sidney J. Burgoyne
Set Design by Michael Hotopp
Costume Design by Carrie Robbins
Lighting Design by John Eckert
Hair and Wig Design by Paul Huntley
Musical Direction by James Bassi

Abraham Lincoln loved his wife, his children, the Union, the United States of America...and Joshua Speed.

Special Event:

May 31 - June 16, 2013 (Dorothy Strelsin Theatre)

The BASiC Theatre Project production of
Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde
Written by Moisés Kaufman
Directed by Zi Alikhan

The great man of letters is destroyed by the love that dare not speak its name.

"GAYFEST NYC's mission is twofold," said Jack W. Batman, Producer of the Festival. "First, to develop new voices for the LGBT community and, in doing so, expand the reach and accessibility of both emerging and established playwrights, composers and lyricists while providing high level entertainment to a discerning and supportive audience. The second part of our mission is to give back. To that end, through our fundraising efforts and the generosity of our sponsors, advertisers and supporters, we have established a scholarship fund to benefit students of Harvey Milk High School," continued Batman. "Since 2007, GAYFEST NYC, Inc. has awarded forty scholarships to graduating seniors and established an accredited elective Playwriting program at the school."

Harvey Milk High School (HMHS) is a fully-accredited, voluntary NYC public high school focused on the educational needs of teenagers who are in crisis or at risk of physical violence and/or emotional harm in a traditional educational environment.

"GAYFEST NYC, Inc. is also committed to producing plays that will have a life outside the Festival," said Bruce Robert Harris, Producer of GAYFEST NYC, "plays that will represent the Festival in productions around the English-speaking world and which might also be brought to life in television and/or film presentations. Board members of GAYFEST NYC, Inc. include Terrence McNally, Charles Busch, Douglas Carter Beane, Lily Tomlin, Mario Cantone, Kate Clinton, William Ivey Long and a distinguished group of other entertainment professionals."

Sponsors of GAYFEST NYC include American Airlines, HSBC Bank, Macy's, Astoria Park Wine and Spirits, Bud Light, Throckmorton Fine Art, Robert Restaurant, DG Neary Real Estate, Jamie deRoy and Friends, Distrikt Hotel, Acting Out Design, Inc., Starbright Florist, Between the Bread, The Protein Bakery, Bamboo 52, Philip Marie Restaurant and media sponsors including the Theatermania.com, The New York Observer, Scene Magazine, Passport Magazine, Edge Publications, Next Magazine, FunMaps and others. GAYFEST NYC receives generous support from the Office of the Manhattan Borough President.

Single tickets are $25 for all productions. Tickets are now on sale at www.Theatermania.com or by calling 212-352-3101. For additional information log onto: www.GAYFESTNYC.com.