Abstract
This thesis presents an in-depth analysis and directorial approach to Jon Marans' play, The Temperamentals, which dramatizes the early struggles of the LGBTQ+ rights movement in 1950s America. The production focuses on the personal and political dynamics surrounding the formation of the Mattachine Society, one of the first sustained gay rights organizations in the United States, through the lives of its co-founders, Harry Hay and Rudi Gernreich. This analysis explores the relevance of the plays' themes in the contemporary socio-political landscape by exploring the interaction of personal identity, societal repression, and collective activism depicted in the play. These chapters detail the pre-production analysis, historical context, directorial concepts, and the challenges encountered during the production process, including generational gaps in understanding historical context and the integration of modern LGBTQ+ issues. This work serves as both a historical reflection and a call to action, urging theatre practitioners to engage critically with ongoing struggles for equality and human rights.
Advisor
Matthew Caron
Committee Member
Heather Hamilton
Committee Member
Vladamir Rovinsky
Committee Member
Matt Connolly
Date of Degree
2025
Language
english
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
Program of Study
Directing
Department
Creative Arts
College
Humanities and Social Sciences
Recommended Citation
Parrish, E. E. (2025). Directing The Temperamentals: Exploring identity, activism, and historical resonance in LGBTQ+ theater [Master’s thesis, Minnesota State University, Mankato]. Cornerstone: A Collection of Scholarly and Creative Works for Minnesota State University, Mankato. https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/etds/1512/
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Included in
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies Commons, Theatre and Performance Studies Commons
Rights Statement
