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OUR HISTORY
1974
Off-Off-Broadway veteran playwright Doric Wilson, cabaret star Billy Blackwell and director Peter del Valle started the first professional gay theater company in NYC. It was called The Other Side of Silence or TOSOS, for short.
2002
Directors Mark Finley and Barry Childs and Wilson (the only surviving founder) resurrected the company, which had gone into hibernation in 1979.
2004
TOSOS was honored by inclusion in the new permanent theater exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York. In 2007, founder Doric Wilson received the New York Innovative Theatre Award for Artistic Achievement.
2011
Founder Doric Wilson passed away.
2017
A Board of Directors, with Michael Zegarski as its first president, was formed in response to the increasing undermining of LGBTQIA+ rights by policies implemented by governing authorities, both nationally and locally. The new working board helped to establish operational stability for the company.
2018
Entered into an anchor partnership with The Flea Theatre that finally gave TOSOS a steady home for productions.
2019
TOSOS was awarded the prestigious Caffe Cino Fellowship Award by the New York Innovative Theatre Foundation, recognizing TOSOS’ consistently strong work in Off-Off-Broadway.
2020
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, TOSOS suspended activities after their award-winning production of Jewelle Gomez's, Leaving The Blues.
The very first production of TOSOS' signature show, Street Theater, at the Mineshaft Bar. NYC, 1983.
L to R: Casey Wayne, Peter Boruchowitz, Robert Patrick, Carol Nelson, Julia Dares, and Philip Blackwell.
AWARDS & NOMINATIONS
AWARDS
Outstanding Leadership - Michael Zegarski, Executive Director
Caffe Cino Fellowship Award - TOSOS
Outstanding Revival of a Play - "Street Theater"
FringeNYC Encore Series Award for Excellence Ensemble - "The Secretaries"
Career Achievement Award for Professional Theatre
Doric Wilson, Founder and General Director, TOSOS
Artistic Achievement - Doric Wilson Founder, The Other Side of Silence (TOSOS)
Award for Theatre Excellence - "Hollywood at Sunset"
Award for Theatre Excellence - "A Perfect Relationship"