Suck your Sidekick; Sing a Showtune

As one gay bathhouse in Portland (that's Club Portland on Stark Street, kids) is on its way out of business, another gay bathhouse is in the process of being born.

As a musical comedy.

Word is out today that meta-impresario Don Horn's ever-enterprising Triangle Productions—producers of such lauded entertainments as “Pageant” and “Bark, The Musical!” (which WW theatre critic Ben Waterhouse decried as “one stinking turd of a show”)—will be staging the Northwest premiere of a new show called “BATHHOUSE: The Musical,” playing June 14 through 30, to coincide with Portland's Gay Pride festivities, at a venue to be announced.

In an audition announcement released today, Triangle says they're looking for four men between the ages of 21 and 40 who “must be able to sing/dance/act,” and that the show “celebrates the gay life and also takes place in a bathhouse. Most of the show is performed in a towel and there is a possibility that you will be asked to be nude for a portion of the show.”

For those of you needing a refresher course on contemporary gay history, bathhouses— where men go to meet and "get friendly" with other men—were all the rage through the 1970's and early 80's, until HIV/AIDS struck. Many bathhouses have been shuttered since, usually in the name of public health and to help curb HIV/AIDS in the gay male community. But old-school Portland has two ‘houses still kickin' around—the dilapidated Club Portland, rumored to be closing as soon as this summer, and the ultra-slick Steam Portland which, according to sources, is going nowhere soon.

If you've always dreamed of doing a time step in a skimpy towel or providing your oral services (singing or otherwise) for the community, this is your shot, studs. Bonus: it's a paid position. To be considered for an audition, email trianglepro@juno.com or call 503-239-5919 leaving your name and the best time to be reached.

(photo above: Triangle Productions' head honcho, Don Horn)