Wilson, Doric (1939-2011), was an American playwright who played an important role in establishing gay theater in the United States. In 1974, he cofounded TOSOS (The Other Side of Silence), perhaps the first theater dedicated to gay subject matter. TOSOS ceased operating in 1979 but was revived in 2002 as TOSOS II. It became TOSOS again in 2009.
Wilson also was a major contributor to the experimental off-off-Broadway theater movement in New York City in the early 1960’s. He was one of the first playwrights to have his works performed at the Caffe Cino, a New York City coffee house considered the first off-off-Broadway performance space. Wilson’s first four produced plays were performed at Caffe Cino in 1961—And He Made a Her; Babel, Babel, Little Tower; Now She Dances!; and Pretty People. Wilson’s other plays include In Absence (1968), The West Street Gang (1977), A Perfect Relationship (1979), Forever After (1980), and Street Theater (1982). Wilson’s plays, often exploring gay themes, were noted for their wisecracking humor and their satire.
Alan Doric Wilson was born on Feb. 24, 1939, in Los Angeles and grew up in Plymouth, Washington, and nearby Kennewick. After some early training in the theater in Washington, he moved to New York City in 1959. In addition to being a playwright, Wilson was also a director, producer, and stage designer. He died on May 7, 2011.
