"...a clever idea for a genre spoof..."	"...a gem of a musical..."
- Backstage West	- Accessibly Live

" I WAS A TEENAGE HOME"
ACCESSIBLY LIVE OFF-LINE review
Sun, Sept. 9 2007

      Theatre Neo presents the world premiere of I WAS A TEENAGE HOMO, a musical of a young man's transformation of a "straight A" high school student, and the community that experiences this unique change, currently performing at North Hollywood's Secret Rose Theatre.

     In the town of Straightville, USA, it's 1978 and disco is all of the rage! Young Rock Dale (Tripp Pickell) is your average looking teen-age kid. He lives with his widowed mom Florence (Marcy Goldman) and has a girlfriend, Donna Winters (Alexander Raines). But Rock has an attitude problem at his school, Straightville High, picking rough and tumble fights with the boys. His school principal suggests that he goes though some testing with Dr. Rorschach (Michael Merton), that can make this boy rather different. He does become different to the point where this doctor turns this boy into a teenage homosexual! Meanwhile, the local sheriff Officer Ponch (James Knudsen) and his assistant, Deputy Judy (Wendy Worthington) receives word that there is somebody different within their midst, so they investigate this matter. Is this good doctor really an evil one, shaping Rock into some sort of creature that is more of (or for) a man? What will the kids at Straightville High do? Will Rock become normal? What will Donna think? Will living like a homo be like disco and last forever??

     This musical, with book and lyrics by Bill Fagan & Jeff Scott with music by Scott, is very witty! It takes the premise of a 1950's era "B" horror movie and transplants it into the late 1970's when the glam of disco was at its peak! The songs are very lively, the plotting is overly humorous, and the choreography by Christine Krench takes those once stylish dance moves of the 70's and sends them into a campy throwback of something that's now hip no more! That's what makes this musical extremely fun! It take something rather serious and turns it into a "horror" that can be scary (coming out), but really isn't!

     The rest of the ensemble cast consists of (in alphabetical order ), Thomas Crawford, David Garry, Caerley Hill, Christine Krench, Michael Miranda, and Rita Renee.

     Directed by Mary McGuire, I WAS A TEENAGE HOMO is a gem of a musical! It was years in the creating, with playwrights Fagan and Scott collaborating on the book and music for months at a time via LA and Texas. Sadly, Bill Fagan passed away in early 2005, making this work his final. Nevertheless, this musical is very upbeat and gay (No pun intended!) And the burning question for the moment; is it really scary? Well, if one remembers disco, then there is a reason to be afraid--very afraid!!!

I WAS A TEENAGE HOMO presented by Theatre Neo and performs at The Secret Rose Theatre, 11246 Magnolia Blvd, North Hollywood, until October 13th. Show times are Friday and Saturday nights @ 8:00 PM, and Sunday afternoons @ 2:00 PM. Reservations, call (323) 769-5858. Visit the web site at http://www.TheatreNeo.com
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Reviewed By ACCESSIBLY LIVE OFF-LINE
(Vol. 12-No. 37-Week of September 10th, 2007)