Identity politics. Moral dilemmas. Who better to address the problems of America than Abraham Lincoln? Perhaps a group of dancing and controversially gay Abraham Lincolns.

Enter Abraham Lincoln's Big, Gay Dance Party, a gay-rights comedy by Aaron Loeb that’s currently enjoying an off-Broadway run after selling out the New York Fringe Festival in 2009.

The show tells the tale of an elementary school teacher in a small Illinois town whose lesson on a gay Abe Lincoln brings her trouble (and a trial!), as seen from the angles of three characters: a gay reporter, a conservative former congressman, and a fiery female prosecutor. In true Fringe fashion, the satire lets the audience vote on what order the show’s three acts will be performed in. “What could be more American than that?” asks one of the seven Abraham Lincolns. “Being pissed off at other people for their stupid ideas?”

Stray Cat Theatre stages the play starting on Friday, May 20, at the Tempe Performing Arts Center, 132 East Sixth Street. The production continues through June 11.
Fri., May 20, 8 p.m.; Sat., May 21, 8 p.m.; Sun., May 22, 2 p.m.; Thu., May 26, 8 p.m.; Fri., May 27, 8 p.m.; Sat., May 28, 8 p.m.; Sun., May 29, 2 p.m.; Thu., June 2, 8 p.m.; Fri., June 3, 8 p.m.; Sat., June 4, 8 p.m.; Sun., June 5, 2 p.m.; Thu., June 9, 8 p.m.; Fri., June 10, 8 p.m.; Sat., June 11, 8 p.m., 2011