If you’ve walked through the Gayborhood during the middle weeks of July, most likely you’ve noted the large GayFest banners flying from the lampposts that line the streets of Midtown Village.  However, the new flags advertising Philadelphia’s celebration of LGBTQ theater aren’t the only fresh things to expect from this year’s festival, which runs from August 6 through the 24, 2013.

“We are literally moving all over town,” states the festival’s producer, Rich Rubin.  The theatrical events, ranging from four fully-staged plays, three readings of new LGBT plays, and ten “One-Night Stands” of cabaret and performance, play spaces at the Plays and Players Theatre, the Adrienne Theatre, and Tabu’s upstairs bar.

GayFest, now in its third year, is considered by many to be a vital part of Philadelphia’s cultural and social commitment to excellence in the arts. Presenting LGBTQ theatre is a particularly unique task, especially given the economic hardships that many performing arts organizations are encountering.

“Major theatres are less willing to take a chance on GLBT work,” said Rubin.  “Small theatre companies are in the best position to do this [type of work].”

Nevertheless, Rubin states one of the most refreshing changes he’s seen is the “absolute willingness” of the actors, writers, and artists involved in the festival to engage in gay works.  The high return rate of theatre artists to the festival year after year proves Rubin’s theory.

“Ten years ago, this wouldn’t be the case.  It’s exciting to see that an actor doesn’t feel like his career is threatened by playing a gay character,” he said.

The festival’s opening gala features the award-winning gay theater troupe Cirque Du Gay on August 6 and 7.  The main stage repertory productions include the world premiere stagings of Sarah Pappalardo’s Cold, a funny and smart drama about a fading lesbian bar, and Daniel Talbott’s Someone Brought Me, a futuristic examination of socioeconomic gaps in culture.  Rubin, who directs the “bleak and beautiful” piece, says that the “ending is beautiful and sweet but you have to go through a journey to get there.”

Other productions that round out the repertory include two Philadelphia premieres: Paul Rudnick’s The New Century, a comedic series of monologues featuring three unforgettable characters whose paths unexpectedly cross, and Philip Dawkins’s The Homosexuals, a play that humorously explores gay friendship in the 21^st century.

In addition to the fully-staged productions, the festival will present three readings of new LGBT plays via “Bloody Mary Brunches” and a Happy Hour in Tabu’s upstairs lounge.  According to Rubin, “New work is important because it gives playwrights an opportunity to be seen.”  One of the featured readings, Outlook, is by New York author Kathleen Warnock.

To round out the festival, ten “One-Night Stands” that feature a wide spectrum of performance styles, ranging from cabaret to comedy, will be presented across numerous venues.  This year, Rubin is especially excited to have Philly Improv Theater, or PHIT, presenting an evening of GLBT improv comedy.  Other performances include Queer Magic: A Night of Gender Bending Experiments in Music and Movement, Alexander Kacala’s Lost Phone Diaries, a cabaret by Sean Thompson, Ben Storey’s Manic-Depressive Pixie Dreamboat, and Sebastian’s I am Because I Am.

For more information about GayFest, or to purchase tickets, visit www.quinceproductions.com.