Sunshine Quest

It's the year of our Lord 1999. Retired gay men flock to the Sunshine QUEST Club in Fort Lauderdale, FL for dancing, companionship, and nonstop fun. But not everyone is waiting for them with open arms. In this comedy in two acts, William Fowkes presents a group of colorful characters grappling with issues of sexual identity, oppression, the journey to authenticity, and the need to forge meaningful relationships, whatever your age or sexual orientation. Al Getz, a local real estate broker—and former closeted movie star, Todd Hammond—deals with his attraction to the club’s young but homophobic assistant manager, Brad Hall. Brad, meanwhile, is struggling with the lingering effects of his religious upbringing in North Carolina and the growing realization that he, too, is gay. When Brad turns to Al for help, they embark on a rocky inter-generational relationship. Retired company man, John Strathmore—an openly gay man who retreated from the gay scene during the AIDS crisis—gingerly re-enters the social scene after the recent death of his wife. Retired agent, Robby Smirnoff, juggles his need for companionship and love with his inability to control his sharp tongue. Ballroom dance instructor, Mary King, seeks love but keeps settling for the comfort of friendship with gay men. Most members think Sunshine QUEST is heaven on earth until their lives are thrown off track when the club’s survival is threatened. SUNSHINE QUEST had its world premiere at the 2014 Fresh Fruit Festival at the Wild Project in New York City.