‘Voices from Stonewall’ at CAMP Rehoboth June 22

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, CAMP Rehoboth Community Center will host two performances of the show “Voices from Stonewall,” at 4 and 7 p.m., Saturday, June 22.

The show will present the words and emotions of people involved in the uprising that harnessed the energy for the gay rights revolution. The stories of the accidental gay rights pioneers, the police who clashed with them, and the reporters who covered the uprising 50 years ago, June 28, 1969, will bring the incident back to life.

Attendees willl hear the words of the people who were there when bottles flew, paddy wagons arrived and young drag queens, homeless kids, transgender youth, some butch lesbians and a collection of gay people surprised the police and fought back.

The police fled to barricade themselves inside the Stonewall Inn; the building was set on fire and doused just in time to save it. Reporters from the Village Voice were on the scene inside the bar.

The show was conceived and written by Michael Gilles, and directed by Fay Jacobs. Tickets are $20. For more information, go to www.camprehoboth.com. Proceeds benefit CAMP Rehoboth.

The production features the words of the brave, angry, impetuous drag queens and closeted men and women at the bar that had been raided one time too many; the tales of reporters who witnessed the initial riot and following four-night protest; and the stories of the police officers, neighbors and passersby who were swept up into history.

In addition to the words of the participants in the historic four-day event, the show includes a short and moving work of fiction by author Stefani Deoul, tying the lessons of 1940s Germany to the Stonewall uprising. Deoul, a TV producer and award-winning author, wrote the commemorative piece in 2016 and it has been previously published, but this will be the first time it is produced on stage.

Actors Michael and Sally Gilles, Eloise Ullman and Max Dick will bring audiences the words of the people who fought back on that terrible night in June a half-century ago.

Michael Gilles compiled and organized the script, adding narration and context to the collected words of the Stonewall riot participants. Gilles is the author of a host of produced plays, including “Late Nights in Cars,” “Kate’s Requiem,” and “The Talent Machine.” He acts and directs, and founded Theatre 11 in Annapolis, Md.

Sally Gilles, an actor, singer and musical director, has performed leading roles in numerous musicals, including “Bye Bye Birdie,” “Anything Goes” and “Singin’ in the Rain.” She has been onstage in Rehoboth with Jerry’s Girls and currently sings with the CAMP Rehoboth Chorus.

Max Dick also has a long theatrical history, performing in or directing more than 50 musicals, plays and benefits, first with the Altoona Community Theatre in Pennsylvania, then moving to Rehoboth where he has worked with Clear Space Theatre Company, Possum Point Players and more. He sings with the CAMP Rehoboth Chorus and serves as a CAMP Rehoboth board member.

Eloise Ullman is an actor, singer and director, She’s performed lead roles in “The Music Man,” “The Sound of Music” and “A Little Night Music,” among others. In Rehoboth, she’s been seen in “The Vagina Monologues,” “Nunsense” and “I Do! I Do!” and as a visiting performer with the CAMP Rehoboth Chorus.