Which Way To The Stage, By Ana Nogueira A+B: I need the object of my desire to validate

the art that I've been made to create.

Icon: THE APPEAL C: because If not, then everything everyone has said
about my work is true and every strereotype has more
value than myself.

what the fuck is

MARK this guy on about?
Hmm. I feel the opposite actually. Not to like...I get it. I get that I’m lucky and that in the
world at large I’m very privileged, which is a word I feel like I use fifty times a day now.
Privilege. Did we ever use it before? And like - no no no no, I get that it’s important and
I totally admit that I can be complacent sometimes. But the thing is, I feel pretty left out
in this business. I can’t keep up. It isn’t made for me. It’s made for you.

JEFF about to clock this guy

Mmm.

MARK huh???
No?

JEFF put him in his place

No. Sorry.

MARK
oh so NOW you're backing out?
Well alright then. I’ll stop talking.

JEFF yeah, how

Just. Okay: how many gay characters are there in musicals? Gay leads. Good, meaty many? do you
know what
roles. you're talking
about?
MARK
A lot? dumbass

JEFF
give me a number
Name them.

MARK
Well - RENT. Maureen is a lesbian - of course he said RENT

JEFF you're on
Questionable lesbian but sure. And, sorry. I’m talking about for gay men. Parts for me. the wrong
side of the
MARK spectrum
I SAID LEADS idiot
Well, Collins and Angel.

JEFF
Supporting. you're just not thinking are you?
 81.

MARK did you watch the show?

Supporting but arguably the best love story in the show.

JEFF
Until one of them dies of AIDS. it's inevitable

MARK
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Oh. Yeah. Uhhhh ok ok ok Falsettos.

JEFF
Yes. Until - uh huhhhh, keep going

MARK
One of them dies of AIDS. THERE YOU GO

JEFF got you there

Yup.

MARK i was waiting for him to mention this one

La Cage! No one dies of AIDS in La Cage.

JEFF
Absolutely La Cage. But still. Drag queens. cmon, like, did you put it together

MARK
What’s wrong with drag queens? You’re a drag queen. you couldn't tell?

JEFF
Because that’s where all the great parts are. For me. i feel so stuck

MARK
you're telling me no? i'm confused
No way.

JEFF
Don’t test me on this. You’ll lose. I’ve been having this debate with a blank wall for
about ten years, and you only just got here. i've been through it guy,
don't play with me
MARK
Maybe I see something in you that you don’t see. do you really see me?

JEFF
Look, I paid $150,000 for an education that’s main directive was “please try to hide
everything about yourself, thankssomuch.” And when they realized that was impossible
they basically just said “okay, be blessed” and turned their backs while I went off to teach
myself to perform the only way anyone would let me: in heels and a lace front. And I
can’t even blame them! They were just trying to prepare me for an industry where
musicals are By Us, For Them. By the Queers.

i've tried for so long,

i can't do this anymore
i'm tired
 82.

For the Tourists. And, sure we’re holding the pen, but we think they hate us. And maybe
they do! So we end up telling other people’s stories. And leave each other with the
dregs.