Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. Santayana’s famous words float prophetically in the background of Jonathan Sheffer and Bruce Roberts latest endeavor Dirty Little Secret. Slayed.gay was privileged to attend an industry presentation of this stellar production. Sitting in a studio without staging or lighting, this bare bones performance still shined on the strength of its actors and well-crafted music.
Set at Harvard University in the (roaring) 1920s, Dirty Little Secret tells the true story of the esteemed college’s effort to rid itself of purpotedly homosexual students considered non-representative of true Crimson values. As the story unfolds, we encounter an exuberant student body including members of Harvard’s Hasty Pudding Theatricals, athletes, and plenty of BMoCs. Their free spirited ways were the perfect counterbalance to academic responsibilities. Unfortunately, rumors of underground parties and overtly gay behavior (gasp!), were more than the University’s worsted-wool elite could abide. Harvard launched an investigation yielding catastrophic results.
50 witnesses. 9 expelled. Lives destroyed. 3 suicides.
Echoes of our shared history run silently through the show as warning. From the McCarthy-esque threat of lists of undesirable students, to stiff-minded family value types blaming Harvard for making their child “that way,” Dirty Little Secret transcends the typical escapist musical and makes its statement without pontificating: conformity, in any way, isn’t a virtue. In our currently ridiculous political climate, it’s a message that needs to be heard.
Writers Jonathan Sheffer and Bruce Roberts bring impressive heft to the story. Jonathan Sheffer is a Grammy-nominated composer and conductor whose diverse career in music spans the worlds of classical, opera, dance, and film and television. Born in NYC, Sheffer graduated from Harvard University, where his teachers included Leonard Bernstein. As part of his activities in arts and culture, philanthropy, and political action, Sheffer has been an active political fundraiser and advocate for the arts in government. He has served on the boards of Directors of VH1 Save The Music, the New York City Opera, and was the appointee of the New York City Council to the Board of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
An eclectic writer with an extensive repertoire, Roberts became successful penning songs for movie soundtracks. He co-wrote “The Main Event/Fight,” a top-ten hit for Barbra Streisand. He followed with “No More Tears (Enough Is Enough),” which Streisand and Donna Summer took to number one. He has written songs for artists ranging from Dolly Parton to Alice Cooper to Elton John, and Roberts’ songs have been performed by everyone from Donna Summer to Cher. Bruce Roberts is also cofounder of the Stanford Warner Music Leadership Initiative, designed to develop and incubate top talent and ideas, and a lead advisor to Warner Bros. Records.
We can’t wait for the day when this Dirty Little Secret is shared with the world.
