217 Boxes of Dr. Henry Anonymous

Dates: May 5-7

Time: 8pm

Location: Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106

In the 1970s, a masked man risked his career and livelihood to stand up for LGBT rights - would you?

Until 1972, to be gay in the United States was to be considered sick. Prevailing medical opinion categorized homosexuality as a mental disorder, "curable" by lobotomy and electro-shock therapy. Until one man made a stand: Dr. John Ercel Fryer.

In 1972, Dr. Fryer dons an oversize tuxedo and rubber joke shop mask to become Dr. Henry Anonymous and confront the American Psychiatric Association with these words: “I am a homosexual, I am a psychiatrist.”

Explore the story of Fryer in 217 Boxes of Dr. Henry Anonymous, a new play by Obie Award-winning writer/director Ain Gordon. Performances take place on May 5, 6, and 7 at Painted Bride Art Center.

217 Boxes of Dr. Henry Anonymous unearths three figures from Fryer's life; asking each to draw a portrait of the man behind the mask.

Using HSP’s collections as source material and inspiration, Ain Gordon “embedded” himself in HSP's historic library and archive over the past two years while combing through Fryer’s 217-box archive.

Tickets are $20 General Admission, $15 for students and members of Painted Bride & HSP.

Attend opening night for a special reception sponsored by Equality Pennsylvania and William Way LGBT Community Center!

Purchase tickets here.

“Mr. Gordon conjures the sort of distant lives that don’t make it into textbooks, processed into oblivion by what he calls history’s “ruthless editing machine.” –The New York Times

Major support for An Artist Embedded has been provided by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.