One of our all time fav queer films is about to have its World Premiere as TRICK THE MUSICAL’

They have been Broadway Musicals adapted from successful movies for years, often with mixed results, and it’s not a trend Queerguru has actually liked.  Until now, that is.  As the new announcement that one of our all-time-favorite-queer rom-coms is about to make its World Premiere on stage is making us rethink.

Trick premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 1999 and became both a critical and commercial success. It was the heartwarming story of Gabriel (Christian Campbell) an office temp by day and aspiring Broadway composer by night, who makes eye contact with Mark (John Paul Pitoc)  a go-go dancer at a gay bar. The two meet again in the subway the same night, and go back to Gabriel’s place to have sex. They are thwarted in the attempt first by Gabriel’s aspiring actress friend Katherine, who is obsessed with her role in an adaptation of Salomé set in a women’s prison, and then by Gabriel’s roommate Rich, who returns home with his girlfriend Judy and has similar (and conflicting) plans for the apartment. 

Their one-night stand turns into a series of complications. Amidst the chaos, they plunge into a vibrant world of dancers, piano bars, surprise therapy sessions, and fierce drag queens (i.e Miss Coco Peru) , all while questioning if love can outshine today’s hookup culture.

Trick The Musical is be produced by OUT FRONT THEATRE COMPANY  which is Georgia’s professional, award-winning, and only LGBTQIA+ theatre company with the book and lyrics of this new musical written by the original screenwriter, Jason Schafer,  and with music composed by Arthur Lafrentz Bacon. Directed by Out Front’s Founder and Producing Artistic Director, Paul Conroy who shared with Queerguru : “Trick was the first queer movie I remember seeing that had a 100% positive message and portrayal of the LGBTQIA+ community and to now be a part of the World Premiere stage version truly feels like a dream. I’m beyond thankful that Jason has given us the gift to take the story he created over 25 years ago, and that he has brilliantly reimagined as a musical, and bring it to life on stage. With Art’s infectious music and one of the most talented casts that I have ever had the honor to work with, I know that everyone who sees ‘Trick!’ is going to fall in love with the story just like I did when I sat in a dark movie theater in 1999.”

Jason Schafer added “When Paul Conroy inquired about ‘Trick’ as a stage musical, the stars aligned,” says Jason Schafer, who wrote the book and lyrics for this stage adaptation, and also wrote the original screenplay for the 1999 film. Picturing this show on the stages of companies like Out Front Theatre unlocked for me a creative approach that has guided me during my collaboration on this adaptation.. Musical theater was my first love. I’ve had a blast revisiting the story of ‘Trick’ and reimagining it as the tuneful, queer, romantic stage musical of its hero’s dreams… with a little tap dancing.“

The cast is led by Aavyn Lee as Gabriel and Will-Franklin Eller as Mark. They are joined by Leah Keelan as Kathryn, Kayce Denise as Terri, Chase Graham as Rich, Jahari Franklin as Joe, Jessica Hill as Judy, and Tugboat the Queen and Yutoya Leon as alternating drag superstars.

‘Trick! The Musical’ runs on stage from May 1-17, 2025.