History Main / AllGaysLoveTheater

As one can imagine, this trope extends all around. If a man is a stage actor or is in any way employed by a theater company, or simply enjoys watching plays and/or listening to showtunes, questions of [[AmbiguouslyGay his sexuality]] will rise quickly. This can be a PetPeeveTrope, though the degree of which varies. Most heterosexual stage actors and fans are secure enough that this sort of thing doesn't bother them (unless they're [[BillyElliotPlot teenagers]]), but gay men who don't enjoy theater tend to [[StopBeingStereotypical chafe]] at being grouped with [[CampGay screaming queens]] who argue over whether Jennifer Holiday or Jennifer Hudson played a better Effie in ''{{Theatre/Dreamgirls}}''.

-->'''Blanche''': A gay theater director, did you ever hear of such a thing?
-->'''[[DeadpanSnarker Dorothy]]''': That's absolutely shocking. The next thing you know, they'll have black basketball players in the NBA.

* ''Series/TheGoldenGirls'': Sophia figures out Blanche's brother is gay because he sings in the shower and knows all the words to [[Theatre/ALittleNightMusic "Send In The Clowns"]]. Although, it may have also been a reference to him being a fan of Music/BarbraStreisand (who has a large [[LGBTFanbase gay male following]]) as it is one of her more well-known songs.

There is ''some'' element of TruthInTelevision, as a good portion of stage actors and fans are indeed gay; however, this only really means that men who enjoy theater are more likely to be gay compared to other media, not so much that every gay person enjoys theater or that every person who enjoys theater is gay. Interestingly enough, this trope is completely averted when it comes to most big name male movie stars, as the moment one becomes famous there is not an automatic assumption of homosexuality, even though a good portion of movie stars enjoy theater. That is, unless a male film star still does stage plays between film projects or even expresses a preference for Broadway over Hollywood, in which case the gay rumors ''fly''.

The stereotype that if a man is gay, he ''must'' love theater, especially musical theater. He'll know every play worth knowing in a given season, will be familiar with every Broadway leading lady (living and dead), and owns the soundtracks to his favorite musicals that he sings with gusto. When he's not onstage himself, he'll religiously attend the plays in his hometown's biggest theater or theater district.

There is ''some'' element of TruthInTelevision, as a good portion of stage actors and fans are indeed gay; however, this only really means that men who enjoy theater are more likely to be gay compared to other media, not so much that every gay person enjoys theater or that every person who enjoys theater is gay. Interestingly enough, this trope completely averted when it comes to most big name male movie stars, as the moment one becomes famous there is not an automatic assumption of homosexuality, even though a good portion of movie stars enjoy theater. That is, unless a male film star still does stage plays between film projects or even expresses a preference for Broadway over Hollywood, in which case the gay rumors ''fly''.

** On "I Dated A Robot", the EducationalShort shown to Fry argues that all of mankind's endeavours (Art, Politics, War) were attempts to impress members of the opposite sex... "and sometimes members of the same sex" (Drama).

* In the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' fics of Creator/AAPessimal, André, the undercover copper from ''Discworld/{{Maskerade}}'', comes out as StraightGay. There are ambiguous hints in the original canon; they come out into the open here and rely on his passion for musical theatre and his status as [[Series/WillAndGrace Gay Best Friend]] for many female characters.

* Brenden Fraser's character in ''Film/{{Bedazzled 2000}}'' when he is loudly denying he is gay (deal with the devil 4th wish), the guy he lives with gives him a quick quiz ending with "What was the original Broadway cast of ''Pillow Talk''?" He names off 3-4 characters in as many seconds before catching himself "Oh crap, I AM gay!"

* Crope and Tibbett from ''Literature/{{Wicked}}'' are both [[AmbiguouslyGay heavily implied]] to be CampGay. They love theater work.

* Michael in ''Film/Camp'' certainly loves the theater. But then so do the straight boys (and straight girls), it is after all a theater camp.

* Parodied as part of a DiscriminateAndSwitch joke in ''WebAnimation/FiftyPercentOff''

''And yo, I kinda like the musical Theatre/{{Rent}} (NO HOMO!)''

* ''Series/SchittsCreek'': Averted with CampGay David Rose, who shows little to no interest in his mother's community theatre production of ''Theatre/{{Cabaret}} beyond supporting Stevie and Patrick and being proud of them when they do well. StraightGay Patrick works hard at the role of the Emcee and enjoys being a part of the show, even though he isn't a natural dancer.

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* Subverted with StraightGay [[TheAllAmericanBoy All-American Boy]] Kevin Keller from ''ComicBook/ArchieComics''. He can't stand musicals, which astonishes Veronica. When he gets mad at her for believing that all gay guys like musicals, she apologizes.

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* Michael in ''Film/Camp'' certainly loves the theater. But then so do the straight boys (and straight girls0; it is after all a theater camp.

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* Maxxie from ''Series/{{Skins}}'' is a variant of this, as he is more interested in dancing than theatre, but wants to try out for musicals in London. Otherwise fairly StraightGay.
* Tom from ''Series/GimmeGimmeGimme'' is able to give Linda loads of trivia about many theatre shows -- whether musicals or independent productions. This is mostly through a ReasonYouSuckSpeech or a WhatTheHellHero reaction.
* Jack from ''Series/WillAndGrace'', who is also a PerformanceArtist [[NewJobAsThePlotDemands sometimes.]]
* Referenced in the first episode of ''Series/NorthernExposure'', when Maurice tells Joel about his love for musicals - "But I'm no fruit if that's what you're thinkin'."
* Played for laughs in ''Series/{{The IT Crowd}}'', which features a gay musical called "Gay!" ("That's ''quite'' gay..."). Jen's TransparentCloset boyfriend takes her to see it on a date.

-->'''Cam''': Oh really? What part is she playing?
-->'''Mitch''': The ''city'' of Chicago, Cam.
* Referenced in the ''Series/DoctorWho'' episode "Daleks in Manhattan", where a minor character uses "into musical theater" as a euphemistic suggestion for why the Doctor might not be interested in Martha. It is a bit of an ironic euphemism for that character, seeing how she is herself an actress at a musical theater and her boyfriend shows up every night to watch her shows.
* ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'':
--> '''Tobias''': What an adventure, gang! I thought that the homosexuals were pirates, but it turns out that most of them are actors in the local theater!
* On ''Series/BarneyMiller'' Inspector Luger once opines that everyone who is now or ever has been a Hollywood actor is gay - "except [[Creator/JohnWayne the Duke]] of course."
* ''Series/TheGoldenGirls'': Sophia figures out Blanche's brother is gay because he sings in the shower and knows all the words to [[Theatre/ALittleNightMusic "Send In The Clowns"]]. Although, it may have also been a reference to him being a fan of Music/BarbraStreisand (who has a large [[LGBTFanbase gay male following]]) as it is one of her more well-known songs.
* The theater stereotype was [[ParodiedTrope parodied]] by Creator/NeilPatrickHarris in the opening number of the 2011 Tony Awards: "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6S5caRGpK4 It's Not Just for Gays Anymore!]]"

* In ''Series/LifeInPieces'', the local school theater teacher (played by Andy Richter) was made the head of the school's LGBT club. He's well aware and very unamused that this trope is why.

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* Used in ''Music/TheLonelyIsland'' song "[[HaveIMentionedIAmHeterosexualToday No Homo]]"
--> ''And yo, I kinda like your natural scent (NO HOMO!)''
--> ''And yo, I kinda like the musical Theatre/{{Rent}} (NO HOMO!)''

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* Creator/RussellPeters has a joke where his father asks if he knows some random gay people they saw on TV.
-->'''Russell''': "Dad, why would you ask me that?"\\
'''Mr. Peters''': "Well, they are gay, and you are in the entertainment business!"

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* In ''Theatre/AvenueQ'' this is used as an early hint that Rod is gay.
--> '''Rod:''' Ah, an afternoon alone with my favourite book. "Broadway Musicals of the 1940s"!
* Surprisingly averted in ''Theatre/{{Spamalot}}'': the knight who ends up loving musical theater, Sir Robin, is ''not'' gay (that would be Lancelot and Herbert). Even the song "You Won't Succeed On Broadway (If You Don't Have Any Jews)" only takes one potshot at the relationship between homosexuality and musical theater.

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** It's invoked quite frequently. "The Musical Man" in the second season has Cam directing Luke and Manny's school musical. In another episode, Mitchell says someone can't come to an event because they're in Chicago:

* In the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' fics of Creator/AAPessimal, André, the undercover copper from ''Literature/{{Maskerade}}'', comes out as StraightGay. There are ambiguous hints in the original canon; they come out into the open here and rely on his passion for musical theatre and his status as [[Series/WillAndGrace Gay Best Friend]] for many female characters.

* In ''Theatre/AvenueQ'' used as an early hint that Rod is gay, as noted in the page quote.
* Surprisingly averted in ''Theatre/{{Spamalot}'': the knight who ends up loving musical theater, Sir Robin, is ''not'' gay (that would be Lancelot and Herbert). Even the song "You Won't Succeed On Broadway (If You Don't Have Any Jews)" only takes one potshot at the relationship between homosexuality and musical theater.

[[folder: Comic Book]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

[[folder: Comic Books ]]

* Subverted with StraightGay [[TheAllAmericanBoy All-American Boy]] Kevin Keller from ''Franchise/ArchieComics''. He can't stand musicals, which astonishes Veronica. When he gets mad at her for believing all gay guys like musicals, she apologies.

->''"Homer, anyone who ever acted in, written, or ever even seen a play is gay."''

There is ''some'' element of TruthInTelevision, as a good portion of stage actors and fans are indeed gay, however this only really means that men who enjoy theater are more likely to be gay compared to other media, not so much that every gay person enjoys theater or every person who enjoys theater is gay. Interestingly enough, this trope completely averted when it comes to most big name male movie stars, as the moment one becomes famous there is not an automatic assumption of homosexuality, even though a good portion of movie stars enjoy theater. That is, unless a male film star still does stage plays between film projects or even expresses a preference for Broadway over Hollywood, in which case the gay rumors ''fly''.

->"Homer, anyone who ever acted in, written, or ever even seen a play is gay."