Any LGBT Characters?- Page 2

[BWWMatt]

Posted: 4/29/17 at 2:09pm

I completely agree that most shows have a romance in the center, heck, forget shows, the majority of everything in art and pop culture has a romantic relationship in the center.

I guess what I didn't say very well was, does that mean that all of the other characters in the show are straight as well? Like, even if a show is about a central heterosexual romance, if the sexuality of other characters isn't addressed at all, how much do we fault the writers/directors for not specifying or even indicating that certain characters are LGBTQ? Obviously in the handful of shows (usually plays) that don't involve romance at all, it's a more interesting question, but I wonder if we shouldn't assume someone's sexuality in real-life, how far does that extend into the arts? Does the responsibility to showcase and represent marginalized peoples supersede the normal hesitation to assume?

I don't have an answer, this thread just got me thinking. 

[Willie4316]

Posted: 4/29/17 at 3:22pm

GavestonPS said: "^^^^^ Have you seriously never heard of FALSETTOS?"

I actually completely forgot, my bad! 

[ANewBrainn]

Posted: 4/29/17 at 4:36pm

The gay plotline in In Transit was so "been there, done that" that it made me want to rip my eyes out.

[BroadwayStar4]

Posted: 4/29/17 at 6:28pm

MattTamanini, It's certainly something to think about. We live in a heteronormative society, so everyone is straight by "default" until proven gay, and it really shouldn't be that way. But unfortunately, that's how society is. So in order for a character to be gay or lesbian in a show or movie, it has to be made clear. Otherwise, the audience are just gonna assume that the character is straight. 

I guess you can look at it in both ways. You can either blame the writers and directors for the lack of LGBT representation in their shows, or you can blame the audience for assuming the characters are all straight. 

But the fact is, there's been a severe lack of LGBT stories being told. Sure, there are some out there in both plays and musicals, but they're very few and far between (some not very popular). And it's usually something AIDS-related, and while that's very important, it would be refreshing to see an uplifting, romantic musical about a gay couple; full of grand set designs and big dance numbers. 

I don't know, I just expected more from Broadway.

Updated On: 4/29/17 at 06:28 PM

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 4/29/17 at 9:35pm

I always assumed Colonel Pickering was gay. "Confirmed bachelor" was a long and beloved code word for gay, up there with "companion" and "family."

[uncageg]

Posted: 4/30/17 at 1:44am

There have been LGBT shows out this past season but I have not gone.

 

I will go there.....The LGBT community is not all white. I so want to see shows depicting the lives of Asian, Puerto Rican, Black and Hispanic gay people. Some writer needs to emerge with a good story about the rest of the gay community. JMO

Updated On: 5/2/17 at 01:44 AM

[MrsSallyAdams]

Posted: 4/30/17 at 11:18am

Summing up the thread I'm seeing LGBT characters as:

Leading roles in: Falsettos, Significant Other, Indecent, Six Degrees of Separation
Supporting roles in: In Transit, Come from Away, War Paint, The Glass Menagerie 
Comic relief: Holiday Inn, Sunset Blvd. Present Laughter (?)
Possible Chorus Members: The Great Comet, Miss Saigon, Groundhog Day

Off Broadway also saw leading gay/bi male characters in Gently Down the Stream and Kid Victory.

So it's not the best season but it's not the worst. Is there any LGBT subtext among the musicians in Bandstand?

[Kad]

Posted: 4/30/17 at 11:25am

Off-Broadway saw queer main characters in The View UpStairs, The Total Bent, A Life, Gently Down the Stream, Kid Victory, War, Bull in a China Shop, The Harvest, How to Transcend a Happy Marriage, The Moors, Everybody, and many more.

[Sondheimite]

Posted: 4/30/17 at 11:29am

Updated On: 4/30/17 at 11:29 AM

[BroadwayStar4]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 4:45pm

So it's not the best season but it's not the worst. Is there any LGBT subtext among the musicians in Bandstand?

I would say, it's the worst. It sucks that in this day and age, especially on Broadway, that LGBT people are still reduced to comic reliefs, background characters, and subtext crap.

[Chicken_Flavor]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 9:27pm

BroadwayStar4 said: "So it's not the best season but it's not the worst. Is there any LGBT subtext among the musicians in Bandstand?

I would say, it's the worst. It sucks that in this day and age, especially on Broadway, that LGBT people are still reduced to comic reliefs, background characters, and subtext crap. "

Sadly, this is extremely true, and it's broadway for chrissakes!!

[Kad]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 9:34pm

Wait. A season with Significant Other, Falsettos, and Indecent- works explicitly built on LGBT themes- is the worst for representation? 

[CallMeAl2]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 10:44pm

Call_me_jorge said: ""Rubbing nipples with delight" I'd say dear Evan Hansen has some gay character, although it's not known for sure. 

I contend that Jared is gay. He certainly seems to be obsessed with bringing to the forefront every possible gay nuance in the Even-Connor relationship.

"

 

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 5/1/17 at 10:50pm

Kad said: "Wait. A season with Significant Other, Falsettos, and Indecent- works explicitly built on LGBT themes- is the worst for representation? "

Yeah, I always want more queer representation in basically everything, but it's kind of bizarre that this season is being treated like it's some disaster. 

[BroadwayStar4]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 3:02am

Wait. A season with Significant Other, Falsettos, and Indecent- works explicitly built on LGBT themes- is the worst for representation?

Those shows are great. But just 3 shows is not enough, it's way too low. And it's been that way for a very long time. Every season, it's always the same: I would guess over 80% of shows don't feature the existence of LGBT people. I thought this year would be different. I thought things would get much better as the years go by, but there hasn't been much of an improvement at all; it's almost static. Don't get me wrong, I think Broadway is miles ahead of Hollywood when it comes to LGBT inclusion, but they could do much better than this. They really can. 

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 3:32am

I could see it calling the worst in recent years. But worst ever? It's not that far off 2012 season where the only musical with any gay themes was the one where Jessie Mueller played a gay man's past life.

[PatrickDC]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 4:46am

Some would argue that the lack of representation is progress. I don't know if I'll explain this well, but as being gay becomes increasingly more accepted and part of the mainstream, as out politicians make news, and more actors come out, and we hear gay-related stories nearly nightly on the news, perhaps the theater community sees less a need to help society hold a mirror to itself and show positive views of homosexuality. 

[Smaxie]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 6:29am

Wasn't there a hint of mint in Oslo's depiction of Arafat? It's a while since I saw it in its Off-Broadway run.

What also hasn't been mentioned is that only around 35 shows (give or take) open in a Broadway season. When you consider that, I don't think LGBT characters have been exactly underrepresented.  

[HenryTDobson]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 7:38am

PatrickDC said: "Some would argue that the lack of representation is progress. I don't know if I'll explain this well, but as being gay becomes increasingly more accepted and part of the mainstream, as out politicians make news, and more actors come out, and we hear gay-related stories nearly nightly on the news, perhaps the theater community sees less a need to help society hold a mirror to itself and show positive views of homosexuality. 

"

I love this way of thinking though I'm not quite sold on if it's true. I have no problem with the LGBT representation this season. 

[Kad]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 8:04am

It's not even the worst in recent years. Last season had only one Broadway production with a queer main character- The Color Purple. 

[BroadwayStar4]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 10:43am

Some would argue that the lack of representation is progress. I don't know if I'll explain this well, but as being gay becomes increasingly more accepted and part of the mainstream, as out politicians make news, and more actors come out, and we hear gay-related stories nearly nightly on the news, perhaps the theater community sees less a need to help society hold a mirror to itself and show positive views of homosexuality. 

Then at this rate, soon there won't be any LGBT characters at all. And that's problematic. LGBT stories should be told - not to help straight people understand homosexuality - but to present that LGBT people exist in this world and they have stories to tell too (and not all of their stories have to be about AIDS or homophobia). I mean, straight people are everywhere, do we really need another straight romance forced into every show? We need some gay love around here! Hollywood is too chicken**** to make a Disney movie about two gay princes, so why can't Broadway make their own? Let's try that idea for starters!

[Kad]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 10:45am

You seem to be under the mistaken assumption that Broadway is somehow not a commercial entity like Hollywood.

[BroadwayStar4]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 10:50am

I'm aware of the commercial entity, but that's not the point I'm trying to make here.

[Kad]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 11:01am

What point are you trying to make?

You were given names of productions this year that focused on LGBT themes. You discounted them as being insufficient. 

You were given some names of many productions off-Broadway that focused on LGBT themes. You disregarded them.

You claimed this was the worst season for LGBT representation. It is inarguably not.

LGBT-focused works will never make up the bulk of Broadway productions. But there is absolutely no argument to be made that representation of queer people on Broadway is an increasing problem.

[haterobics]

Posted: 5/2/17 at 11:06am

MrsSallyAdams said: "Off Broadway also saw leading gay/bi male characters in Gently Down the Stream and Kid Victory."

HOMOS (or everyone in America) with Michael Urie and Robin De Jesus was also pretty darn gay.