Play It Cool takes place in 1953 at an underground gay jazz club called Mary's Hideaway. Against a sexy Hollywood backdrop, and inspired by film noir, it examines the laws governing such clubs of the time; when every glance had a double meaning, every word was an innuendo and everything had to be done to strict code.
What Is the Story of Play It Cool?
As this new musical begins, Mary, the lesbian owner of an underground gay nightclub in early 1950s Hollywood, is preparing for an opening in which her sexy girlfriend, Lena, will be the featured singer. A mysterious movie producer enters the club with a fresh-faced young man just off the bus from South Carolina. Meanwhile, a sympathetic police officer drops by to pick up the protection money Mary pays him each week. The five characters proceed to share their stories and perform songs with titles like “In My Drag” and “Jazz Is a Special Taste.”