In his own words, Shepard sought with this play to “destroy the idea of the American family drama”. But in his attempt to destroy the idea of the drama, he drew attention to the belief throughout the country that the American family had already been destroyed.

Indeed, pride manifests in Torch Song not as a feeling to be celebrated once a year but as a routine practice, a strength that Arnold and all queer people must regularly conjure in order to keep going in a world that is often hostile to their existence.    

Harvey Fierstein’s original iteration of Torch Song was actually three separate one act plays that premiered Off-Off-Broadway in consecutive years starting in 1977. The first was entitled The International Stud, which followed Arnold Beckhoff, a Jewish drag queen living in New York, searching for his “international stud.” He meets Ed Reiss, a bisexual teacher who struggles with what exactly he is searching for in life.

We are thrilled to “shine a light” on an organization that does so much for the Des Moines community. Their reach and impact is substantial!

A Christmas Carol production aims to challenge expectations and reinvigorate original themes for audiences of our time.

“I’m not arguing for the end of the world but then again maybe I am. This one, anyway.” Alone on stage, Elizabeth Sawyer opens Jen...