The Temperamentals A New Play
The Temperamentals A New Play by Jon Marans is an illustrated edition published by Chelsea Station Editions in 2011. This 133-page work explores the early 1950s, when “temperamental” served as a coded term for homosexuality among gay men. The play centers on the relationship between Harry Hay, a communist, and Rudi Gernreich, a Viennese refugee and designer, as they navigate their love and the founding of the Mattachine Society, the first gay rights organization in the pre-Stonewall United States.
Readers will find a blend of historical context and personal narrative as Marans presents the challenges and triumphs faced by these pioneering figures. This edition features not only the script but also production photos from the off-Broadway performance, a foreword by actor Michael Urie, and contributions from notable figures such as activist David Mixner and journalist Joel Nikolaou. The afterword by journalist Michael Bronski provides further insight into Harry Hay’s legacy, enriching the reader’s understanding of this significant period in American drama and LGBTQ history.
Official synopsis Publisher
“Temperamental” was code for “homosexual” in the early 1950s, part of a secret language gay men used to communicate. The Temperamentals, Jon Marans’ hit off-Broadway play, tells the story of two men¿the communist Harry Hay and the Viennese refugee and designer Rudi Gernreich¿as they fall in love while building the Mattachine Society, the first gay rights organization in the pre-Stonewall United States. This special edition includes Marans’ script and production photos from the off-Broadway production, along with a foreword by actor Michael Urie; an introduction by activist David Mixner; a look at Gernreich’s fashion career by journalist Joel Nikolaou, and an afterword on Harry Hay by journalist Michael Bronski.
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