DANCER ANGEL ABCEDE’S AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL MUSICAL THE SEMEN TREE HAS N.Y. PREMIERE AT FRINGE FESTIVAL, AUGUST 15-22

The Semen Tree, an original musical created by Chicago artist and writer Angel Abcede, will have its New York premiere at the New York International Fringe Festival from August 15 to 22, 2003. Mr. Abcede, a longtime member of Chicago’s Joel Hall Dancers, performs the solo show, for which he wrote the script and lyrics. The Semen Tree is directed by Byron Stewart.

Mixing serious moments with lighthearted recollections of growing up in Honolulu in the disco-crazed ’70s, The Semen Tree explores the volatile topics of teenage sexuality and physical relations between adolescents and adults. Based on Mr. Abcede’s own sexual experiences, starting at age 10, the show forwards the premise that young people play an active role in the discovery of their own sexuality. It also dramatizes issues of race and sexuality from the perspective of a gay Asian American.

While The Semen Tree takes on weighty societal taboos, it tells a coming-of-age story with whimsy and musical numbers. One ballad ruminates on where the power lies in relationships between teenagers and adults, while a song with a ’50s-style rock and roll beat recalls an encounter with a flasher. The humorously salacious finale, “You See, Men!” is a Sinatra-style tune that Frank Sinatra never would have sung.

Music in The Semen Tree was composed by Robin D’aniel, whose credits include several jazz and funk accompaniments for dance companies in the Chicago area as well as the musical Africa Plumbbridge, which was produced by Chicago-based Big Planet Productions and is preparing for a New York opening.

Angel Abcede performed The Semen Tree this spring as part of Chicago’s “Solo Homo” series of gay-themed one-person plays. He debuted the show last November in Chicago as a benefit for the School Street Movement, a performance group he founded in 1991 to promote AIDS awareness to youth through theater and dance. Mr. Abcede has been a member of Chicago’s Joel Hall Dancers for 17 years. His choreography for the company includes a jazz piece called “Driven” and a portion of “The Crossing,” which was set to ragtime music. He has also been a frequent choreographer for the annual Dance Chicago festival and has appeared in regional productions of Chicago, Godspell and Anything Goes. Mr. Abcede wrote for Gay Chicago magazine from 1994 to 1998. His often-racy column detailed his exploits on the city’s club scene and his dalliances with clergymen, firefighters and Elvis impersonators. At times controversial, Mr. Abcede’s columns inspired gay men to safely enjoy their sexuality in an era of AIDS.

Director Byron Stewart was artistic director of School Street Movement for two years and now runs the human resources company Dramatic Diversity, which uses theater to teach workplace diversity and conflict-resolution issues; clients include McDonald’s Corp. and Hyatt Hotels. As an actor, Mr. Stewart has received a Citation Award from the Jeff Awards (Chicago’s version of the Tonys) for his performance in Slow Dance on the Killing Ground and a Black Theatre Alliance Award for Conversation With a Diva.

The Semen Tree will be presented at Fat Chance Productions Ground Floor Theatre, 312 West 11th Street (between Greenwich and Hudson streets). Admission is $15. Running time is 1 hour and 20 minutes. To purchase tickets, visit www.FringeNYC.org or call 212-279-4488 (in New York) or 888-FRINGENYC (outside New York). For further information about the play, go to www.SemenTree.com.

Performance dates and times for The Semen Tree are:
Friday, August 15 at 11:30pm Wednesday, August 20 at 7:15pm
Saturday, August 16 at 7:00pm Thursday, August 21 at 11:15pm
Sunday, August 17 at 3:45pm Friday, August 22 at 9:30pm

Questions? Email gwangung@u.washington.edu