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Brothers chase, while the gay men just go on having a great time. I think it's a play that both gay and straight audiences could earily relate to.
I'm
High Gear: Is there any possibility of your being able to bring a gay play into Cleveland? Soeder: Presently, negotiating for the rights to "P.S. Your Cat is Dead." (see January's High Gear for a review of the book Ed.) Unfortunately, I don't have a theatre for it yet. If I find a place that will produce it, I'll direct it.
High Gear: What are some of the gay sub-themes you've worked with in your past productions and how were they treated?
Soeder: In "Colette" we dealt very frankly with Colette's bisexuality, her relationship with George Sand, and other encounters she had with women during her music hall years. Colette's lesbianism was portrayed as honestly and naturally as any other facet of her life. In "Follies" there was very much the undercurrent of the aging ex-Broadway male stars and their young paid gay escorts. In fact, there's one poignant scene in "Follies" where the character Carlotta sings, "I'm Still Here," a song about the desparate need we all have for security. She sings this while surrounded by waiters and escorts who are obviously gay. As a general rule, I dodge standard cliches about gays. I don't think such stereotypes are appreciated by either gay or straight audiences.
High Gear: How do you deal with derogatory statements made against gays individuals in the cast?
by
Soeder: They're seldom made.
HIGH SEART HIGH GEAR
People in the arts are very sophisticated about accepting others' lifestyles. The goal of any production is to create an ensemble effect. That is, telepathy created by closely working with one another. In order to do this the cast needs to know each other off stage as well as on. There's no room for personal discrepancies.
Incidentally, all performers periodically employ a healthy camping session; but this is never done in a derogatory sense.
High Gear: Given the statistics you quoted earlier, would you say that being gay is an asset or a hindrance in the theatre?
Soeder: Neither. Talent and integrity are the important factors. There is many a place where sexual preference may. matter; but the end result has nothing to do with art.
Asked about his future plans, Soeder indicated he is restless living in Cleveland. He claims that much of the type of theatre he desires to do would not be well received here: "You really depend on the critics to either make you or break you, and Cleveland's critics are. relatively conservative." If such is the case, and surely, Soeder, if anyone, would know, each of us has a responsibility to play the role of critic-at-large especially those of us in the gay community. After all, should Soeder ever leave town, it won't be easy to find another accomplished director willing to take the risk of bringing gay related theatre to Cleveland.
Fran Soeder not only has proven he is a multi-talented individual; but has also done much to pump life into the local
arts
scene.
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MCC/Akron worship services, 2 p.m., Unitarian Church Building 3300 Morewood Road, Akron.
Fifty-Cents Buffet, Godmother's II, 1014 East 63rd Street.
Julie's Mass, 1 p.m., The Vaults, 1281 West 9th Street. Champagne Buffet 2 p.m., $3.
Gay Rap Group, 7 to 9 p.m., Cleveland Free Clinic, 12201 Euclid Avenue (across from Euclid-120th Rapid). All men and women welcome. Small perIsonal growth groups, must call the Gay Switchboard 696-5330 to sign up and for further information. An open group will meet as on Fridays.
Thirty-Cents Beer, After Dark, 1311 Broadway Avenue, Garfield Heights.
MCC/Cleveland worship services, 7:30 p.m., 6415 West Clinton Street, corner of West 65th and Clinton, call 696-3649. Live Band, Zanzibar, 1630 Payne Avenue.
House Drink Special, Bayou Landing, 1012 Sumner Court, twenty-five cents drink night, changes each week.
March 14, Dignity Youngstown, 4:30 p.m., 141 North Rayen, use rear entrance. March 14, MCC Akron, 2:00 p.m., Second anniversary service, call 216/253-8388 for information
March 14, MCC Akron 3:00 p.m. Spaghetti supper.
April 4, KGLF Conference, Student Union, Kent State University.
EVERY MONDAY Movie Night, 8 p.m., Club Cleveland, 1448 West 32nd Street.
Radio Free Lambda, 6 p.m., WRUW-FM 91.1, gay radio program.
Two for One Night, The Hayloft, 77 North Adams, Akron. American Beer Consumption, American Hotel and Restaurant, Lakeshore and Kenmore, Akron. Beer less than half price. T-Shirt Night, American Hotel and Restaurant.
Game Night, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., Gypsy's Restaurant, 2418 St. Clair Avenue. Bring your own games, cards, etc.
Open Rap, MCC/Cleveland, 2999 West 25th Street. Call 6963649 for information.
March 22, Dignity Akron/Can-
ton, 7:00 p.m., Newman Center, 143 South Union Street, Akron, a Catholic religious, educational, and social group. Call 688-8164 for information or write P.O. Box 3501, Akron, 44310.
EVERY TUESDAY
Kent Gay Liberation Front general meeting, 8:00 p.m. Kent Student Union, Kent State University, room 206.
Name That Tune Contest, American Hotel and Restaurant, Lakeshore and Kenmore, Akron.
Buddy Night (Two for One), 4:00 p.m. till 12 p.m. Club Cleveland, 1448 West 32nd Street.
EVERY WEDNESDAY
T-Shirt Night, Ame.ican Hotel: and Restaurant, Lakeshore and Kenmore, Akron.
Free Spirit Worship, MCC/Cleveland, 2999 West 25th
Street.
Half-Price Drink Night, Bayou Landing, 1012 Sumner Court.
Chicken Night, Club Cleveland, 1448 West 32nd Street, free to 18 thru 21 year olds.
Bible Study, 7:30 p.m., MCC/Akron, 544 East Buchtel, Akron.
Buffet, 7:00 p.m., The Vaults, 1281 West Ninth Street.
Country-Western Band, Zanzibar, 1630 Payne Avenue.
Half Price Drink Night, After Dark Lounge, 13111 Broadway Avenue, Garfield Heights.
Bible Study, MCC/Cleveland, 2999 West 25th Street. March 17, St. Patrick's Party, Ann's Bar, 126 Pine Avenue, S.E., Warren.
March 17, St. Patrick's Day Party, Bayou Landing 1012. Sumner Court.
March 17, St. Patrick's Day Follies, and Miss Corner Tavern '76 Contest Hal's Corner, 1432 West Tuscarawas (Rt. 30), Canton. Door prizes, admission $1.00.
March 17, St. Patrick's Day Party, Godmother's II, 1014 East 63rd off St. Clair.
March 17, St. Patrick's Day Party, American Hotel and Restaurant, Lakeshore and Kenmore, Akron. Specials on most drinks and green beer.
March 17, Cleveland Gay Political Union meeting, 8 p.m. Cleveland State University, University Center (Glass Cage),
room 361.
MARCH 1976
March 31, Cleveland Gay Political Union meeting, 8 p.m.
EVERY THURSDAY Request Night, Bayou Lan-. ding, 1012 Sumner Court.
Gay Counseling, 6 till 10 p.m. The Cleveland Free Clinic, 12201 Euclid. Call 721-4010 for information.
Home Cooked Buffet, Club Cleveland, 1448 West 32nd Street,
Counseling, 6 till 9 p.m., MCC/Cleveland, 2999 West 25th Street. For appointment call 6963649.
Beer Blast and Cocktail Hour, Alpine Cafe, 121 Pine S.E., Warren.
March 25, Bandanna Night, American Hotel and Restaurant, Lakeshore and Kenmore, Akron. Wear your favorite bandanna and get 25% off on beer and bar liquor.
March 25, Twiggy's Third Anniversary Party, Twiggy's, 2537 St. Clair Avenue.
March 25, Dignity/Cleveland, 7:30 p.m. mass, 8:00 meeting,en Hallinan Center, Case Western Reserve University, social and spiritual organization for gay Catholics.
April 1, Fools Show, Bayou Landing, 1012 Sumner Court.
EVERY FRIDAY
Gay Rap Group, 8 to 11 p.m., Cleveland Free Clinic, 12201 Euclid Avenue (across from Euclid 120 Rapid). All men and women welcome. General informal meetings and discussions. eng Women's Rap, 7:30 p.m. meeting, 8:30 p.m. discussion, Kent Gay Liberation Front, Student Union, room 312, Kent State Univesity.
Men's Rap, 8 p.m., KGLF, Student Union, room 308, Kent State University.
March 12, Hal's Corner Grand Opening, 7 to 9 p.m., 1432 West Tuscarawas (Rt. 30) Canton, free.
Corner
March 12, Hal's Grand Opening, 1432 West Tuscarawas (Rt. 30), Canton, free drinks from 7 till 9 p.m. Live band, no cover.
April 2, Kent Gay Liberation Front Conference, Student Center, Kent State University, call 672-2068 for information. Speakers include Peter Fisher, author of the Gay Mystique, Allen Young and Karla Jay, editors of Out of the Closets and After You're Out.
April 9, new issue of High Gear, watch for it!
EVERY SATURDAY Spiritual Renewal, MCC/Cleveland, call 696-3649 for more information.
March 13, St. Patrick's Day Party, After Dark Lounge, 13111 Broadway Avenue, Garfield Heights.
March 20, Spring Equinox Celebration, presented by Oven Productions, 2728 Lancashire, Cleveland Heights. $3.00 tickets advance.
March 20, Frist Day of Spring Dance, American Hotel and Restaurant, Lakeshore and Kenmore, Akron.
March 20, KGLF Conference, Kent State University.