"The Temperamentals" the critically acclaimed and award-winning play by Jon Marans ,Off Broadway at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street) will close on May 30th. Daryl Roth, Stacy Shane and Martian Entertainment are presenting the new American play. Thomas Jay Ryan (recently on Broadway "In The Next Room") portrays Harry Hay. Michael Urie (from TV's "Ugly Betty") is Rudi Gernreich. Arnie Burton (an original cast member of Broadway's "39 Steps") joined the cast in multiple roles. Rounding out the cast of five multiple talented actors are Matthew Schneck, and Sam Breslin Wright. It is directed by Jonathan Silverstein. The Set & Costume design is by Clint Ramos, lighting by Josh Bradford and Daniel Kluger is the sound designer.
"The Temperamentals" is the recipient of a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performances and Michael Urie won the Lortel Award for Outstanding Lead Actor. The acclaimed play has received nominations for a Drama League Award for Michael Urie for Distinguished Performance Award; Outer Critics Circle Awards for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play and Jon Marans for the John Gassner Award; as well as Lortel Award Nominations for Outstanding Play and GLAAD Award Nomination for Outstanding New York Theater: Broadway & Off-Broadway. OUT Magazine (12/09-1/10) annual "Out 100 class of 2009" honored Jon Marans - playwright, Stacy Shane - producer, Jonathan Silverstein - director and Michael Urie - actor. The cast (Arnie Burton, Thomas Jay Ryan, Matthew Schneck, Michael Urie & Sam Breslin Wright) have been immortalized with a drawing on the wall at The Palm (250 West 50th St. NYC).
The play began as a small showcase the end of April 2009 in an intimate Studio Theatre. All performances were sold out in advance, with a waiting list for the initial presentation. Due to the tremendous critical and popular acclaim, it moved to a larger theatre for an additional engagement. It was then extended two more additional times for the summer. The current new Off Broadway production at New World Stages that began on February 18th and opened on February 28th will have played 11 previews and 91 performances.
Immediately after the opening, the popular and acclaimed TalkOut Monday series (discussions following each week performance) re-commenced. The guests included: Larry Kramer (playwright, author, activist) & Paul Rudnick (playwright, author); Derek & Romaine (Sirius "Out Q109" radio hosts) & "The TEMPERAMENTALS" cast; Bill C Davis (Playwright "Mass Appeal," "Avow"); Tom Viola (activist, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids executive director) & Broadway Impact co-founders: Gavin Creel (star of "Hair"), Rory O'Malley and Jenny Kanelos; Charles Kaiser (author of The Gay Metropolis, the landmark history of gay life in America) & John Loughery (author of The Other Side of Silence which has a chapter about Hay and the events of the era); Elizabeth Ashley (Award winning actress) & Michael Wilson (director); David Hyde Pierce (Tony, Emmy award-winning actor) & Brian Hargrove (television executive, writer, producer); Judith Light (Award-wining actress, activist) & David Mixner (civil rights activist and best-selling author); David McReynolds (American historian and literary critic) & Matthew Schneck ("The Temperamentals" cast); Chuck Wolfe (President & CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund); Barney Frank (US Congressman; just named # 2 in the Out magazine Power 50 - their annual guide to America's most influential gays); Michael Urie, Cheyenne Jackson & Frank DeCaro (SIRIUS XM Out Q Radio host).
