1. 6/4/2016 Columbus’ Evolution Theatre Opens Its Second LGBT­Focused Season | OUTLOOK OHIO MAGAZINE
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OUTLOOK OHIO MAGAZINE
Columbus’ Evolution Theatre Opens Its Second
LGBT-Focused Season
, , ,Creative Class Features Read This Just In! June 2, 2016
By Paige Johnson
Columbus’
has announced its 2016
season of LGBT-themed productions.
Season subscriptions are on sale now.
Evolution Theatre
Company
Evolution started in 2011 and since
2015 has focused exclusively on
LGTBQQIA material.
The company, in association with CATCO, will start its season with the
, which runs June 1-5 and June 8-12.
Local
Playwrights Festival
The rst week will feature four short plays, all focused on LGBTQQIA issues and
people in politics. They include by Cory Skurdal,
by Amy Drake, by Sheldon Gleisser and
by Jack Petersen.
A Point of Diminishing Returns
Alexander the Great in Love and War Vetted
Shall I Run Again
tells the story of Ulysses McKinley Rutherford Harding
Gar eld Hayes III, an Ohio politician who throws out his speech notes and speaks
from the heart at a poorly planned venue.
A Point of Diminishing Returns

2. 6/4/2016 Columbus’ Evolution Theatre Opens Its Second LGBT­Focused Season | OUTLOOK OHIO MAGAZINE
http://outlookcolumbus.com/2016/06/columbus­evolution­theatre­opens­its­second­lgbt­focused­season/ 2/4
portrays the historical gure’s thoughts on his
deathbed, in particular those related to his partner, Hephaestion.
Alexander the Great in Love and War
concerns sitting Vice President Tobias Gatton as he picks over his own choices
for a running mate. Congressman Gregory Highman is his rst choice, but Highman
has a secret in his past that triggers concerns about right and wrong.
Vetted
, the president thinks over his past as he tries to decide whether
to run for re-election.
In Shall I Run Again
The second week of the Local Playwright Festival will feature the premiere of
Skurdal’s Sticks and Stones. The Columbus resident won the 2014 Greater Columbus
Arts Council and CATCO Playwrights Fellowship Award.
is the story of Kyle, a young transgender artist, and Janice, an arts
critic. Janice gives Kyle’s work a poor review, and Kyle then posts online that Janice is
a closeted lesbian. This leads to a court case that has both sides trying to understand
themselves and each other.
Sticks and Stones
The festival is a pay-what-you-want event. Showtimes for the four short plays and
are 8p on Wednesdays through Saturdays, with a 2p matinee on
Sundays. Performances are at the Shedd Theater of the Columbus Performing Arts
Center, 549 Franklin Ave., Downtown.
Sticks and Stones
Evolution begins its own productions after the festival concludes. Five plays will be
staged over the course of ve months.
The rst offering, running July 14-23, is the musical comedy,
, about what happens when two Mormon missionaries
ring the doorbell of the one and only Ethel Merman. The musical
features both parodies and original music. It was written by Leo
Schwartz and will be directed by Bryan Adam, with musical
direction by Bryan Babcock.
Book
of Merman

3. 6/4/2016 Columbus’ Evolution Theatre Opens Its Second LGBT­Focused Season | OUTLOOK OHIO MAGAZINE
http://outlookcolumbus.com/2016/06/columbus­evolution­theatre­opens­its­second­lgbt­focused­season/ 3/4
From Aug. 4-7, Evolution will stage , directed by Greg Smith. ,
written by Michael Aman, tells the story of Edison, a young man with
leukemia. Edison’s insurance will only cover his treatments if he is HIV-
positive. Robert is an older man who happens to be HIV-positive. The
relationship between the two men unfolds in a comedic, touching and
unconventional love story.
POZ POZ
, written by Matthew Lombardo, will be staged Sept.
15-24. It tells the true story of an eight-hour recording session
with Tallulah Bankhead, which consisted of the legendary (and
drunk) actress trying to record a single line. Recording the
whole thing is lm editor Danny Miller. Bankhead grumbles
through the recording session and toys with Miller as she
grouses over her favorite subjects.
Looped
by William Finn will run from Oct. 13-22. Finn is the
composer behind Falsettos and The 25th Annual Putnam County
Spelling Bee. This musical revue features both his music and stories
from his life.
Make Me a Song
The last offering of Evolution’s 2016 season is
, written by Bixby Elliot. This wild, pop-music
driven comedy tells the story of 17-year-old Cal as he tries to
prove the homosexuality of his favorite president, Abraham
Lincoln. Cal’s search takes him down a hysterical path and
ultimately tests his theory that it’s better to be gay if you’re also
famous.
Abraham Lincoln
Was a F*gg*t
It runs from Nov. 10-19.
Evolution is selling subscriptions on its website, , for the entireevolutiontheatre.org

4. 6/4/2016 Columbus’ Evolution Theatre Opens Its Second LGBT­Focused Season | OUTLOOK OHIO MAGAZINE
http://outlookcolumbus.com/2016/06/columbus­evolution­theatre­opens­its­second­lgbt­focused­season/ 4/4
2016 season. Tickets for individual performances for The Book of Merman, POZ, and
Looped are also available online for $25. Tickets are $20 for people 60 and older and
$15 for students with a valid ID.
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POSTED BY BOB VITALE
TAGGED WITH Columbus Evolution Theatre Company theater