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‘The Boys in the Band’ playwright Mart Crowley has died at the age of 84

The Broadway show is considered one of the first plays to portray gay life

By Steve Brown

Words: Steve Brown

The author of The Boys in the Band, Mart Crowley, has died at the age of 84.

The famed playwright wrote the acclaimed 1968 play, which is considered one of the first plays to portray gay life and was groundbreaking at the time.

The hit off-Broadway show was adapted into a movie back in 1970 and is considered among the first major American motion pictures to revolve around gay characters and is often cited as a milestone in the history of queer cinema.

Now, journalist Michael Musto announced that Crowley has sadly passed away at the age of 84.

Writing on social media, Musto said: “I hear Matt had a heart attack, went for surgery and died a few days after the surgery.”

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the play and Ryan Murphy announced he will be producing a new movie adaptation for Netflix.

Directed by Joe Mantello – who helmed the revised Broadway production in 2018 – will be back in the director’s seat for the new movie and all the cast will be returning.

Andrew Rannells, Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, Matt Bomer, and more will all be returning for the movie adaptation.

The production won a Tony for Best Revival of a Play, and Netflix is making a movie of it with the Broadway cast.

 
 
 
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