“Pretty Filthy,” a work-in-progress musical from Broadway composer and lyricist Michael Friedman will “take on” the adult industry with performances by Kathryn Hahn from the TV series "Hung" and Steven Weber of “Brothers & Sisters” among others.
The show's script was penned from interviews with adult performers and will include monologues, songs, porn charades acting out movie titles and an appearance by special guest, veteran star Ginger Lynn.
In an interview in the Los Angeles Times, Friedman said he did research by visiting the set of “Not the Bradys XXX” and even pitched in by holding a light. However, he noted that some of his fantasies were dashed.
“Porn stars are sexy. But the making of the product is like sausage. They stop and start over. You have to wait until the guy can start again. There’s a lot of down time,” Friedman said.
The composer was asked if anyone in adult discussed the Derrick Burts "Patient Zeta" HIV scare during the interviewing process. Friedman noted that the porn industry felt the story had been “wildly inflated” by the media and why the interviews were so important to the integrity of the show. He said the show’s performances will ask and answer the questions.
“People warned us early on. Everything everyone tells you is going to be a lie. We know we’re getting lied to a lot. We’re talking to performers; part of what’s fun about them is the performance,’ Friedman said and added, “There is no ‘truth’ about porn. Those gray areas are in the editing.”
Friedman is best known for his maverick Broadway show about politics, “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson” — a far cry from porn. But he maintained that musical theater is a lot like porn.
“It’s a fantasy about attractive people who do cool things. It’s a place you go to learn what you like. Porn knows more than you do about what you want,” Friedman said.
Pictured: Ginger Lynn.
