GAYFEST NYC - New Plays for Our Times!

“Fabulous Entertainment!”
The New York Times

SUBMISSIONS FOR GAYFEST NYC 2012
ARE NOW CLOSED

2011 NATIONAL GLAAD MEDIA AWARD NOMINEE
This One Girl’s Story
Book by Bil Wright, Music & Lyrics by Dionne McClain-Freeney

2011 HARRY WEIDER AWARD FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE
Presented to Bruce Robert Harris and Jack W. Batman by All Out Arts, Inc.

The not-for-profit GAYFEST NYC, Inc. is a New York City arts organization that nurtures playwrights and develops new LGBT and other minority plays and musicals for world stages and film and television production. GAYFEST NYC, Inc. presents a biennial festival showcasing those works most ready for production and offers other productions and readings throughout the year.

GAYFEST NYC, Inc. is a New York State 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit corporation that benefits The Harvey Milk High School, a fully-accredited, voluntary New York City public high school focused on the educational needs of teenagers who are in crisis or at risk of physical violence and/or emotional harm in a traditional educational environment. GAYFEST NYC, Inc. is committed to sharing its gifts and its dollars with the next generation of LGBT Americans and, to this end, monies raised through ticket sales and other specialized fundraising efforts throughout the year are used to provide classes, mentoring programs and scholarships for students of The Harvey Milk High School.

Since June 2007, GAYFEST NYC, Inc. has presented thirty-eight scholarships to graduating seniors of Harvey Milk High School and has initiated and financed programming, including the current professionally-taught Playwriting class that has become one of the most popular accredited elective classes at the school.

The GAYFEST NYC Annual Gala, Spring At Last! was held on Monday, March 21, 2011 at Loews Regency Hotel (540 Park Avenue, NYC). The evening featured cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, celebrity entertainment and silent & live auctions.

Headlining the event was Wanda Sykes (“The Wanda Sykes Show,” “The New Adventures of Old Christine,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm”) who has been called "one of the funniest stand-up comics" by her peers and ranks among Entertainment Weekly's “25 Funniest People in America.”

She was joined by actor/producer/director Michael Urie (“Ugly Betty,” The Temperamentals, Angels in America), composer/singer Lance Horne (whose debut CD solo recording, "First Things Last," was launched at Lincoln Center and at London’s Garrick Theatre), Cortés Alexander (The Tonics, Liza’s at the Palace) Justin V. Bond (Kiki and Herb), Emily McNamara (Host of Musical Mondays at Splash!) and Marty Thomas (Xanadu, Wicked).

Lance Horne. Michael Urie, Cortés Alexander, Emily McNamara, Wanda Sykes, Marty Thomas, Justin V. Bond

Author, political strategist, civil rights activist and public affairs advisor David Mixner was named the recipient of this year’s Community Service Award. The GAYFEST NYC Community Service Award is presented annually to a courageous, visionary and dedicated individual or organization whose selfless acts of care, sustained commitment and outstanding service have enhanced the quality of life for members of the LGBT community.

We'd love you to help us make GAYFEST NYC, Inc. one of the most highly supported LGBT organizations in the country. We are a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit corporation so all contributions are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

If you would like to make a personal contribution earmarked especially for the scholarship fund, please go to the tab on the left marked "Harvey Milk High School."