Naked Boys Singing! Milwaukee Gay Arts Center Lawyer Responds to City's Allegations

Richard H. Hart Jr., Attorney at Law, the Representative for Milwaukee Gay Arts Center released a statement today discussing the City's allegations after the CLAIM OF INJURY AND CLAIM OF SUIT was filed against the City of Milwaukee after the Vice Squad summarily shut down the MKE production of NAKED BOYS SINGNG! On August 10th, 2005, for violating City Ordinance 83.

The City has replied publicly that the MGAC applied for the license in question because MGAC knew they were wrong.

"As the attorney for the Milwaukee Gay Arts Center, I wish to make the record clear on an issue raised by the City of Milwaukee concerning the closure of the production of "Naked Boys Singing!" Hart says. 

Spokespersons for the City are now raising an issue questioning why MGAC applied for a theater license if they knew it did not need one? The undisputed facts are:

1. The City had on file all the documentation as to MGAC, including that it was a non-profit organization.

2. As stated in the claim filed with the City, shortly before the production opened City Officials themselves contacted MGAC and told them the Center needed to have a theater license in order to legally put on the show. MGAC was not aware that there was such a thing as a "theater license", but, in order to be fully compliant with any and all City requirements, they immediately complied with the City directive, as they should have. MGAC was never given, nor shown, a copy of the theater license ordinance. MGAC rightfully assumed that the City Officials in the Licensing Bureau are fully knowledgeable of the rules and regulations of the City. MGAC was seeking to be cooperative and compliant with the City, not confrontational.

3. The City closed down the production based on the fact that, even though MGAC had applied for the theater license, as directed by the City, the City had not issued it. The City claimed MGAC was operating illegally. However, after the production was closed down by the City and, while investigating and preparing possible legal action regarding the matter, the undersigned obtained a copy of the theater license ordinance. In reviewing the ordinance, it was discovered that there were exceptions to the theater licensing requirement for religious, education and charitable organizations. This was the first MGAC knew of any exemptions.

4. It is clear that the City Officials wrongfully required that MGAC apply for a theater license. Then they wrongfully used the lack of a license as an excuse to close down the production. For City Officials to now question why MGAC applied for a license when it knew it did not need one is a misstatement of fact. MGAC had no such knowledge prior to being closed down. It is unfortunate that, instead of taking responsibility for its own mistakes, the City is trying to twist the facts and imply that citizens of the community are irresponsible for following the directive of Government Officials." END QUOTE

Naked Boys Singing! is currently playing in New York City and Chicago, with upcoming productions in Denver, CO and Key West, FL in the US and playing a continental European tour and planning a production in Wales, UK in 2006. The show features fifteen feel good songs celebrating the trials and tribulations of being naked. The show has played Off-Broadway for more than 2,100 performances and been translated into 5 languages and been performed in 27 cities worldwide. Written and directed legitimate professionals, including award-winning writer Bruce Vilanch, the show has raised over $500,000 for charities and has been enjoyed by ? million people worldwide!