Alternative Theatre Company Brings Gay Theatre to New York

USA (SANEPR.com) April 16, 2009 -- Alternative Theatre Company (www.alternativetheatreco.org) announces the New York premier of DIRTY SECRETS, a gender-bent thriller by award-winning New York City-based playwright Joe Marshall.

Directed by Marshall, DIRTY SECRETS runs June 4 - 21 to coincide with the Gay Pride celebrations in New York City. Performances are at the Roy Arias Theatre at Times Square Arts Center, located at 300 W 43rd Street. Show times are 8:00 pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, and 2:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Tickets cost $27.50 in advance, $35 at the door, and may be purchased online at www.AlternativeTheatreCo.org or by calling Brown Paper Tickets at (800) 838-3006.

DIRTY SECRETS is a smart, gender-bent thriller that pokes fun at brainless gay stereotypes. Right from the opening scene you know you're watching a play about homosexuals. Instead of boring us with platitudes about the evils of pigeonholing people, the characters skewer stereotypes by spouting earnest lines like, "You don't act gay -- you're masculine!" It's all about Tom, who shows up at the home of Nick and Shane, a gay couple who live in Manhattan. Tom is depressed because he's just discovered that his lover of eight years has had sex with another man. It turns out that distraught Tom has come to torture Shane, and it's the ways in which Tom carries out his revenge -- first demanding sex with Shane, later seducing Nick -- that move the play along. He has a worthy opponent in the snaky Shane, who trumps Tom's attempts at blackmail, but can't keep up with his nasty houseguest's vile temper.

Writer/Director Marshall not only uses his trademark quick wit and natural dialogue, but also recognizes the human emotions that bring the characters to the brink of insanity. "This play speaks loudly about the downfalls of cheating in any relationship. It's something everyone can relate to, regardless of his or her orientation," says Marshall. "It's about growing up and learning from your mistakes, and discovering the hard lesson that the easy choice is not always the right choice."

DIRTY SECERTS has previously been produced in Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix and Tucson, AZ.

About Alternative Theatre Company:
The Alternative Theatre Company is a non-profit organization renowned for producing award-winning LGBT theatre. Founded in 1991 by Joe Marshall, the company relocated from Arizona to New York City in 2009.

For more information about Alternative Theatre Company please contact:
Adrian Maynard
VP of Marketing
(212) 464-8875
altrcompany@aol.com
www.AlternativeTheatreCo.org