Stephen Kocis and Carl D announced that BASH'd! has been awarded this year's GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding NY Theater – Off-Off-Broadway. Kocis and White will present the Off-Broadway Premiere of BASH'd!, the acclaimed Gay Rap Opera, this summer at a theater to be announced. Featured in the cast are creators Chris Craddock and Nathan Cuckow as T-BAG and FEMINEM, respectively. BASH'd! has music by Aaron Macri and is directed by Ron Jenkins.
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. The GLAAD Media Awards recognize and honor media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and the issues that affect their lives. GLAAD Media Award nominees were presented between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2007.
BASH'd! was named Outstanding Musical of the 2007 NY International Fringe Festival, and was Patron's Pick Award winner and Now Magazine's 'Pick Of The Fringe' at the 2007 Toronto Fringe Festival. It also received the 2007 Sterling Award for Outstanding Independent Production.
Variety declared BASH'd! is "ready for a transfer! One of the Festival's most potent and artistically satisfying!" (August 27, 2007). Theatremania.com named BASH'd! as one of the Top NYC Productions of 2007. Backstage acclaimed BASH'd! as one of the top "Performances to Remember" in NYC for 2007 and Gay City News honored BASH'd! with an "Aggie Award" for Best Live Performance of 2007 (10 awards were given out, other recipients included Mary J Blige and Usher!)
BASH'd! chronicles the tale of Jack and Dillon; two young lovers who must cope with the reality of hatred when one is brutally beaten. It is told entirely through rap, spoken word and poetry, turning the often-homophobic musical genre on its ear. BASH'd! is loosely based on the spike in hate crimes during the national debate on civil rights for gays and lesbians and explores the effect of violence and the emotions associated with being marginalized. Though the topic is serious, the play itself is fast-paced, high energy and full of laughs.
Stephen Kocis is currently represented Off-Broadway by Altar Boyz, winner of the 2005 Outer Critics Circle Award. Carl D. White is one of the producers of Naked Boys Singing!, now in its ninth year. For more information, contact Martian Entertainment at 212/302-4848 or Aged in Wood at 212/295-1600.
