LITMIR.BIZ

      Book by Karson Parker Taylor

      Score & Musical Direction by Sindee Van Sant

      Choreography by Dale Mabrey

      Costumes by Cheri Boone-Blume

      Production Stage Manager Blair Borden

      Assistant Stage Manager David Castrato

      Production Directed by Addison Taylor

      prologue

      Too much Ecstasy and Viagra, too many drinks, not enough men. It was almost the perfect ending to a less than perfect day.

      Eugene looked at his watch. The numbers were scrambled at first, making no sense at all. Eugene continued to stare at them until they gradually aligned themselves correctly.

      Three in the morning.

      He had called for a ride over twenty minutes ago. He was too inebriated to try to drive himself home. Eugene was still glowing and tingling from the effects of the drugs and alcohol and sex. He was pleasantly stoned and exhausted.

      He looked around the parking area. Except for his, all the other cars were gone.

      Eugene was very often the last to leave. This place was great for men who wanted anonymous sex. With his good looks, Eugene always got every man he wanted. But he always left wanting more. He frequented this rest stop off the Garden State Parkway at least three times a week. He couldn’t get his fill.

      Normally he would have stayed even longer, but the winter weather and the holidays had kept a lot of men away.

      Eugene knew he spent too much time here. He had made a New Year’s resolution to cut back. But it was already days into January and he still hadn’t altered his behavior in the least.

      Oh, well. So much for resolve.

      Maybe next year.

      He pulled his coat collar up and over the scarf underneath. He had to protect his throat from the cold night air. No matter how cavalier Eugene may have been with his sex life, he was always very protective of his singing voice. He was in a show now, and he had to be at rehearsal later. Even though it was only community theater, Eugene took his responsibility very seriously.

      He figured he could kill some time waiting for his ride by going over his script. It would probably help him sober up, too.

      Eugene closed his eyes and forced himself to concentrate. Then he started saying his lines and singing softly.

      Sotto voce.

      He had a wonderful voice. He had some formal training, but that had been done merely to enhance his resume and impress everyone who read it. Singing beautifully just came effortlessly to Eugene.

      He walked around the dark, quiet, empty lot, acting and singing to himself, getting into his character as if he were on the stage. The only other sound breaking the late night stillness was the sound of the thin layer of snow crisply crunching beneath his footsteps. He strode up and down, reciting his lines theatrically, even measuring out his blocking and attempting a few of the dance numbers.