Oedipus at Palm Springs took home the Outstanding New York Theater Broadway or off-Broadway Award at the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation GLAAD Media Awards at the Marriott Marquis on March 27. David Ozanich's The Lightning Field was honored with the title of Outstanding New York Theater off-off-Broadway.
Oedipus at Palm Springs by The Five Lesbian Brothers a group composed of Maureen Angelos, Babs Davy, Dominique Dibbell, Peg Healey and Lisa Kron opened the season at New York Theater Workshop. The play takes its inspiration from the Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex. During a sunny vacation for two committed lesbian couples, the fun-loving surface of tanning, mixed drinks, golf and sport utility vehicles meets the messy infrastructure of long-term relationships, maternal love and gay marriage. Oedipus at Palm Springs beat other GLAAD nominees Border/Clash: A Litany of Desire, The Color Purple, Ghetto Superstar The Man That I Am and Swimming in the Shallows.
The Lightning Field played at the 2005 New York International Fringe Festival and then scheduled additional performances at the Flea Theatre. The Lightning Field centers on Sam, a New York veterinarian, who takes his much younger boyfriend, Andy, on a pilgrimage to an obscure art installation in the New Mexico desert. Sam hijacks the trip by inviting his father, Gerrit, and Andy's mother, Lori, both divorcees. Lori discovers Sam's intent to propose and begs Andy to embrace his youth and reject the convention and burden of marriage. Meanwhile, questions about Sam's fidelity surface, forcing Gerrit to expose the truth about his own indiscretions in hopes Sam will reform his promiscuous ways. The Lightning Field triumphed over nominees Busted Jesus Comix, Christine Jorgensen Reveals, Dress Suits to Hire and Golden Age.
Additionally, Doug Wright's I Am My Own Wife won the award for Outstanding Los Angeles Theater. The show was previously honored with the Outstanding New York Theater Broadway or off-Broadway Award during its Gotham run.
