Sesame Street Drama

Today's blog has nothing to do with theatre, but it has a lot to do with drama - unnecessary drama in my mind.

I grew up a part of the Sesame Street generation, and I think I'm a better person for it.  Growing up in rural upstate New York, Sesame introduced me to the urban lifestyle (people that weren't related lived in small parts of bigger buildings?), people that weren't white (Maria was the first Hispanic woman I'd ever seen - and she didn't always speak English!), interracial relationships (before Maria married Luis, she and David - an African-American man - had eyes for each other), imaginary friends, grumps, monsters that were friendly, and the value of the dollar (R.I.P. Mr. Hooper).  These days, they continue to meet the needs of today's children - soon a Muppet whose father is in jail will be introduced.  Many of these lessons were overt, outright teachable moments, others were far more subversive - never discussed, just "there" to see as a normal part of every day life.

Most kids of my generation flocked to all things Grover, Cookie Monster and Big Bird (this was long before Elmo took over the Street).  I had a thing for Bert and Ernie.  I never knew why when I was 5 or 6.  I just loved them.  I know part of me identified with them as having a brotherly relationship, and I wanted a brother so bad I used to ask Santa for one every Christmas.  As I got older, I loved their very close friendship - they used to talk each other through problems as they laid in bed, waiting to drift off.  When one was scared, the other was there.  And how cool was it that Bert was perfectly welcome in the bathroom while Ernie and Rubber Ducky were taking a bath! (My mother still credits Ernie with getting me to take baths as a child.)  Bert and Ernie were the best brothers/best friends in the world, and I wanted that more than anything.

Mind you, I was blissfully unaware of sexuality at the time.  I Love Lucy reruns featured a loving, married couple who slept in separate beds and they had Little Ricky.  Prime time featured Darren and Samantha and Mike and Carol (both couples with children) sleeping in the same bed, just like my mom and dad did.  So what if Bert and Ernie slept in separate beds like Ricky and Lucy?  They loved each other just as much the Ricardos, Bradys and Stevens did.  Love is love no matter what the sleeping arrangements are.  Right?

Now, as a grown up gay man, I think I understand why part of me was so drawn to the orange and yellow boys who lived together.  Because even then, as a 5 year old, I knew that two guys living together was as normal as a black family living with an Hispanic family in the same building and their being harmonious friends was.  I didn't need a story or big lesson - it was just there, two guys living their lives together, a part of the fabric of Sesame Street.  But the sexual aspect of it - even when they were sharing bathtime - was never a part of it.  Not the mechanics of it, anyway.  It shouldn't be, either. 5 and 6 year olds don't need to know the sex part of relationships.  But they NEED to know about the love and acceptance of all relationships.  And Street does that so well.

Until this week.

I've never been disappointed in the Children's Television Network and eveything it has stood for for decades, until I read a re-issue a 2011 statement on the subject, which has made it into current media following the release of a cover on The New Yorker following the Supreme Court decisions of the past week.  They said: "They were created to teach preschoolers that people can be good friends with those who are very different from themselves,” the 2011 statement said. “Even though they are identified as male characters and possess many human traits and characteristics (as most Sesame Street Muppets do), they remain puppets, and do not have a sexual orientation.”  That they ever felt the need to issue such a statement saddens me.  A company celebrated for its ground-breaking inclusiveness suddenly becomes a turtle hiding in its shell?  

Sorry, folks, but the minute a Muppet is given a gender, sexual orientation is a part of the package.  It doesn't ever need to be directly addressed on the show.  In fact, I don't think it should.  But, rather, just as it always has, Sesame Street should continue to portray all kinds of couples in loving relationships as completely normal and part of life.  If a straight boy sees Bert and Ernie as best friends living together, cool.  If a gay boy sees Bert and Ernie as boyfriends or husbands living together happily, cool, too. Keep their beds apart, what does it matter?  Males, be they human or Muppet, can and should hug each other in emotional moments.  Hugs are not sexual.  Bert and Ernie could be sharing a hug and nothing more.

Will there be any uproar over the "obvious" profiling
of kids with jailed parents?  Note the Muppet's spiky, urban
hair style and hoodie.

Having a Muppet with a father in prison addresses the needs of a portion of their audience.  Fine.  Instead of denying the possibilty that Bert and Ernie could love each other "that way," why not address the needs of the growing number of kids with same-sex parents?  

And about that magazine cover: 1. If your 5 year old is readingand commenting on The New Yorker, whether Bert and Ernie are gay better be far down your list of issues to deal with.  2. (And more seriously) In light of the decisions by the Supreme Court, we see them as holding each other happily.  The same cover could have been used had the decisions gone the other way, only we'd see them as holding each other sadly.  I don't know about you, but I love my Muppets - gay, straight or otherwise - happy.  

Jeff
4.282

National Coming Out Day: Bare Comes Out

The tag line for the revival of Bare is "Everyone Has a Secret."  But being gay doesn't have to be.

October 11 is National Coming Out Day, and the theatre community is out in full force (no pun intended). They've been Tweeting, taking pictures, and, perhaps most importantly, sharing their own stories of coming out.  I wish that when I came out such support was available.  Not that it is ever easy, no matter how much support there is.  It is not something to take lightly.  If any of you took the opportunity to come out today, congratulations!  If you still aren't sure about how or when - or if you know someone who is struggling - take your time and give it lots of thought.  Just remember... you are not alone.

To commemorate the occasion, the cast and creative team of the upcoming revival of Bare spoke about their own "coming out," including director Stafford Arima, choreographer Travis Wall, book writer and lyricist Jon Hartmere, and cast member Taylor Trensch (Peter).  Another cast member, Casey Garvin (Zack) tells a poignant story of how Bare was a part of his own coming out.

Missi Pyle, who plays the nun in the show, calls herself a "straight ally," a growing and very important movement of people who identify themselves as straight, but decidedly pro-equality and there to support the LGBT community.  Members of the Broadway community who are straight allies include Steve Kazee, Audra McDonald, Will Swensen, Celia Keenan-Bolger, and John Ellison Conlee among many others.  Like I said, no one is alone.

Here's that video from Bare, followed by another video from the same event (courtesy of Playbill) in which Jason Hite (Jason) sings "Role of a Lifetime" from the show.  Impressive and heartfelt.

If you are struggling and need someone to talk to, click HERE.

For more information on Bare, click HERE.

Thank you to all of my friends, straight and gay, who support me and love me for everything I am.  Right back atcha!

Before you go...

• ...have you VOTED in this month's THEATRE POLL? CLICK your answer on the poll in the left column!
• ...have you ENTERED TO WIN tickets to CHAPLIN?  CLICK the CHAPLIN icon at the top right of the blog!

Jeff

4.043

Comments? Questions? @jkstheatrescene (Twitter); jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com (Email); or leave a comment below and check a box!

OUT Magazine: Broadway Love Stories

Broadway favorite and perennial magazine cover boy Neil Patrick Harris has made the cover of yet another magazine.  This time, though, it is part of a celebration of love stories and the impact of marriage rights for gays and lesbians, and the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell," as presented in this month's issue of OUT Magazine.

In the issue, there are 26 such love stories presented with people from all walks of life - actors, artists, writers, even a pair of recently out military men.  These are people who are in long-term, committed relationships which have survived during times of oppression, and who are now freer to express their love and commitment to each other in their workplace and in their lives.

Within the stories, there are three that should have particular resonance for Broadway fans, and I feature them here.  But to get the full scope of this romantic and politically important issue, click HERE to see more and to get information on the full issue of OUT Magazine.

DENIS O'HARE (ACTOR) AND HUGO REDWOOD (INTERIOR DESIGNER)


Tony Winner Denis O'Hare (Assassins, Take Me Out, Sweet Charity) discusses why getting married as quickly as possible after it became legal in New York.  The couple also discusses why their family includes foster children.  Click HERE for the full article.  Photo by Martien Mulder.

BILL T. JONES (DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER) AND BJORN AMELAN (SCULPTOR)


Tony Winner Bill T. Jones (Fela!, Spring Awakening) and his partner talk about a second chance at love after the loss of a partner, and how two diverse creative careers can combine both in culture and in love.  Click HERE for the full article.  Photo by Martien Mulder.

NEIL PATRICK HARRIS (ACTOR/HOST) AND DAVID BURTKA (ACTOR)


One of Broadway's best friends and frequent Tony Awards host Neil Patrick Harris (Cabaret, Assassins, Sweeney Todd, RENT) and his Broadway actor partner David Burtka (Gypsy) talk about their engagement to be married, why they are waiting and what life is like as America's most famous gay parents.  Click HERE for their cover story and even more photos.  Photos by Matthew Kristall.

Jeff

3.144