'Pray the Gay Away' a must see

Wow: A world premiere musical, “Pray the Gay Away,” opened at the Lincoln Theatre last week and runs through Nov. 24. For that reason, go. Minnesotans must go, you betcha! The play, set in suburban Minneapolis in 1982, offers a time capsule of church-based anti-gay prejudice at a time when almost all churches were anti-gay. It also is sadly current, even with the gains forced upon mainstream society by gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgendered and queer individuals and organizations.

By definition world premieres are ambitious. This one is audacious: three ensembles, 26 songs, a rock band and a...