THE TORCH SONG TRILOGY: THREE PLAYS [COVER TITLE: TORCH SONG TRILOGY: THE INTERNATIONAL STUD. FUGUE IN A NURSERY. WIDOWS AND CHILDREN FIRST!] [AUTHOR SIGNED]

New York, N.Y.: The Gay Presses of New York, 1983. Original illustrated paper wrappers, 8vo, 173 pages, includes illustrations 22 cm. Signed by the author The award-winning and popular work broke new ground in the theater: "At the height of the post-Stonewall clone era, Harvey challenged both gay and straight audiences to champion an effeminate gay man's longings for love and family" (Charles Busch in The Advocate, Nov 12, 2002) "Torch Song Trilogy is a collection of three plays by Harvey Fierstein rendered in three acts: International Stud, Fugue in a Nursery, and Widows and Children First! [sic]. The story centers on Arnold Beckoff, a Jewish homosexual, drag queen, and torch singer who lives in New York City in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The four-hour play begins with a soliloquy in which he explains his cynical disillusionment with love....
Theatre scholar Jordan Schildcrout notes that some critics viewed Torch Song Trilogy as ‘the most truly conservative play to come along in years' because of its focus on ‘fidelity and family' (Jack Kroll), while others declared the play a radical breakthrough because of its forthright depiction of gay sexuality, gay youth, and gay families during an era of political backlash against the gay rights movement.
Today, the play is primarily remembered as a groundbreaking moment for LGBTQ theatre. It is lauded for touching on issues such as gay marriage and adoption before they were acceptable. In a 2018 review revisiting the play, PopMatters writer Elizabeth Woronzoff remarked that Torch Song Trilogy laid the groundwork for many modern queer television shows such as Queer as Folk, Modern Family, and Will and Grace.
Additionally, the play addressed intersectionality in a newfound way. The inclusion of both the Jewish and queer identities allowed for the representation and (arguably) rejection of the stereotypes associated with each group. According to critic John Simon in a critique published in New York Magazine, the play highlights both the Jewish, melancholic humor and homosexual, flamboyant humor. Still, Simon argues that Fierstein rejects the common stereotypes of both identities and incites the audience to practice ‘warm empathy' towards every character....
The first act derives its name (International Stud) from an actual gay bar of the same name at 117 Perry Street in Greenwich Village in the 1960s and 1970s. The bar had a backroom where men engaged in anonymous sex....
The play won Fierstein two Tony Awards, for Best Play (with John Glines' historic Tony speech that acknowledged his lover and co-producer Larry Lane) and Best Actor in Play; two Drama Desk Awards, for Outstanding New Play and Outstanding Actor in a Play; and the Theatre World Award....
On January 25th, 2022, a new production in Spanish opened at Teatro Milan, in Mexico City. This currently running production is led by award winning actors Rogelio Suarez as Arnold and Anahi Allue as Ma. It is directed by Alejandro Vilallobos in his directorial debut and produced by Gabriel Guevara; the cast included Jose Peralta as David" (Wikipedia).
SUBJECT(S): Gay men -- Drama. Jewish gay men. Gay culture. Gay families LGBTQ+ families Gay male couples. OCLC: 1102120586. Light shelfwear, Very Good Condition. Nice author-signned copy of this groundbreaking work. (ART-28-12).