stage
ALLISON SPRATT PEARCE THE LONELIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD
by lisa lipsey Maybe you recall the October 14,1977 press conference when
Anita Bryant, Florida’s “Save Our Children” founder, spoke out against homosexuals and sought to overturn an ordinance that prohibited discrimination in housing and employment? How about the famous moment, when gay rights activist Tom Higgins threw a strawberry-rhubarb pie in Bryant’s face…on national television?
Though they won the battle years later, in the Bryant story, as in
real life, Florida’s LGBTQ community lost the initial ordinance fight. They retaliated by boycotting Florida orange juice because Bryant was their brand ambassador. Gay bars stopped selling screwdrivers and instead sold “Anita Bryants” made with vodka and apple juice, offering up the proceeds to fund equality efforts. In the midst of so much controversy, Bryant lost her contract with
the Florida Citrus Commission, her marriage failed, and ultimately the fundamentalist audience began to shun her because divorce was another taboo hot button—and just as much of a sin as homosexual- ity—essentially making Anita BryantThe Loneliest Girl in the World. Fast-forward to 2018 and Diversionary Theatre is taking on a new musical of the same name by playwriting team, Gordon Leary and Julia Meinwald. Both of which are 2007 alumni of the N.Y.U. Graduate School Musical Theatre Writing Program. The show follows the life and evolution of Anita Bryant, and the rise of the modern gay-rights movement. Matt Morrow, Artistic Director at Diversionary notes, “The Loneliest
Girl in The World takes on the iconic Anita Bryant in a way that humanizes her journey while parsing through the devastating effects of her actions. This sweet and tart new musical is a tribute to an era when our movement galvanized and the courage of our community dared to infiltrate the mainstream.” The Loneliest Girl in the World made its first staging appearance at
the National Alliance for Musical Theatre’s Festival of New Musicals in the Fall of 2016. Morrow heard about the script and not long after he was introduced to the lovely and talented Allison Spratt Pearce, whom he knew would make an excellent Anita Bryant. Spratt Pearce has played a number of incredible roles here in San Diego including the role of Susannah in San Diego Repertory Theatre’s recent production ofBlack Pearl Sings. Over at the Cygnet she was Eliza inMy Fair Lady, and Louise inGypsy (for which she received the 2017 Craig Noel Award). Back in early 2017, when Morrow asked Spratt Pearce to play the
THIS SWEET AND TART NEW MUSICAL IS A TRIBUTE TO AN ERA WHEN OUR MOVEMENT GALVANIZED AND THE COURAGE OF OUR COMMUNITY DARED TO INFILTRATE THE MAIN- STREAM.”
role, she had no idea who Anita Bryant was. “I can’t believe I didn’t know who she was... It was lost in a news cycle for this generation. I hope this story will, if even for a moment, touch someone. Anita Bryant is a villain in so many people’s eyes, which means she holds a place in our lives. It was terrible, but she gave people a reason to join in the fight for equal rights, a reason to be seen, loved, respected and appreciated.” Spratt Pearce says she has been dying to work with
Morrow. “I had heard great things, so I told him ‘Yes, I was interested,’ not having read the music or seen the script. Six months later the Diversionary held a workshop and we had a week to throw up the show, it was then that I learned this musical is a beast! The music is the most challenging I have worked with, the script and story incredible. Each cast member, other than the roles of Anita and Tommy, plays five or six different characters. Fortunately, everybody in the room are lovers of making a story work, we respect each other and will carry us forward to a successful production. The show has a special balance of humor, of heart, of truth.” During the original workshop, one audience member chatted with Spratt Pearce after the show, “He said to me, ‘I never thought it possible…you made her human.’ This show has a special way of sharing two sides, of sharing how LGBTQ activism evolved, and how the community came together. I am proud to be a part of it.”
The Loneliest Girl in the World runsthrough Sunday June 24 at Diversionary Theatre. For tickets and more information, call 619.220.0097 or go
todiversionary.org.
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RAGE monthly | JUNE 2018
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