Norway

One of my best friends from high school, Kristine Berg, flew in from Norway today just to see the show. She flies back tomorrow. Kristine was a foreign exchange student who lived with a Mormon family in our neighborhood growing up in Las Vegas. We took many acting and dancing classes together. We've been having the best time catching up! She has two kids and is an attorney there in Norway. She looks like a beautiful Russian spy out of a James Bond movie. Lucky for her husband, I'm gay!

I've had the most incredible week. My kids left on Tuesday. It was one of the best visits we've ever had. The pictures we took in Central Park with the daffodils are priceless. So much to say...but I have to get to bed. I could and should write more about the visit with the kids. I'm the luckiest dad in the world.

The Lizzard

"The Lizzard" was on the front row Friday night. My play is a true story told onstage by the man who lived the story. But what makes for the most bizarre reality theatre is to have others from my story there watching me portray them and relive the experience. Especially people you never thought you'd see again. I have had the "dirty blonde", my father, my ex-wife, my former mother-in-law, and clients including the UN Ambassador and now the Lizzard. It makes for an extremely honest show when you have those kinds of guests. But sitting next to the Lizzard was my former escort "boyfriend" I mention in the play who I never thought would see the show. Now that that has happened, I believe in miracles for better or worse even stronger. The original cowbow from the Village People was there Friday night, but he is not in my play!

The Lizzard was wearing his kimono and gave me flowers at the curtain call. Life is stranger than fiction and that is why I write autobiographically.

My children came to New York Saturday morning so I am juggling being daddy and work. I love it!!!!!

There is a group called "Straight Spouse Network" that came to the show yesterday matinee. It was wonderful talking with them. I will post information about their organization on my site soon.

Here's to going to the Episcopal Church today with my kids, sending them to Altar Boyz, and then my two shows. The kids saw "Wicked" last night. So glad to see Eden Espinoza doing so well. We played opposite each other in a musical at the York Theatre years ago.

I can't believe I get to live this full life. If a former escort can get his life back, so much is possible. By the way, I am still working on getting "Possibilities" up and going. It will be a support group to help sex-workers transition out of the sex industry.

"Finding Your Own Voice"

I often have mail waiting for me in my dressing room when I get to the SoHo Playhouse each night. Last night there was a letter from "Theatre and Media Arts" at Brigham Young University. BYU is the church-owned University where I earned my BFA in musical theatre. I was intrigued and surprised to still be on their mailing list. Not only am I an excommunicated Mormon, but I'm not the proper example of what a BYU Theatre Alumnus should be--an openly gay Mormon doing a show about it all Off-Broadway. Nevertheless and notwithstanding, I was kinda excited to open the letter and see what was inside. Inside there was a colorful flyer about an upcoming lecture by a famous documentary filmaker and author with the title: "Finding Your Voice: Where Stories Come From." The irony that as I am finding my voice it has absolutely no place at Brigham Young University where the entrance to the campus has a statement: "The World Is Our Campus." I am hoping that someday I might get to do my show at BYU (as I was asked to do at the University of Connecticut where I was a student also)! Just pointing out a few paradoxes in the life of an Oxy-Mormon. Again, I am very impressed with how many active and "jack" Mormons come to see my show even in New York City.

Again, a wonderful audience last night. Hoping some of the boys in town for the Black Party will take some time out to see the play.

For the record, my hair is by Alfieri Salon here in NYC. www.alfieri.com

Whirlwind

What a whirlwind of shows and promotions lately! I'm sorry I haven't been able to write more in my blog. I'm currently getting ready for my kids to come to town...on top of 8 shows a week and producer duties. I've been meeting the most wonderful people lately after the show. I'm so moved by the stories I hear. Met an Amish man who was totally disowned by his family and community for being gay.

Gay Singles Night

Last night's Gay Singles Night was a huge success! I couldn't believe how many beautiful men came to the show. Beautiful inside and out. It was a brilliant audience, just the right amount of laughter and listening. I felt very free to just tell my story to such a warm and responsive crowd.

The Mixer afterwards (sponsered by the Village Voice) was the best part. Everyone who bought a ticket received a free cocktail (or soft drink!). I enjoyed mingling with so many friends and fans--hearing their stories of reclamation. So many gay dads were there. We also had a birthday cake as we celebrated my birthday which is today! Look for pictures soon. We intend to do this many, many more times with more and more sponsors and celebrities. We couldn't believe the response. Hope folks enjoyed the door and raffle prizes. I love giving away the Mormon Boy magnets. I collect magnets...so it's fun to have one of my own. We are giving them out in all kinds of gift bags (GLAAD) coming up. Look for us at the Gay Expo next weekend.

My friend Scott Briathewaite came all the way from Delaware to see the show. Thank you Scott! It was so good to see you, my fellow gay Mormon friend. I never could have done San Francisco without you!

I just spoke with my kids on the phone. They are visiting Emily's cousin in Orlando, FL. Em's cousin works for Disney so they are getting into all the parks for free. They are going to Epcot Center today and were at the Magic Kingdom yesterday. We took them there when they were 3 and 1. Now they are 10 and 8! My birthday is always complete after talking with my kids. I can't wait to have them come next weekend.

I'm taking it easy today...I might go shopping for a new pair of cowboy boots--black. It's something I've been wanting for a while.

"Faith and Fairness"

Wednesday night I was a greeter at the "Faith and Fairness" event hosted by Empire State Pride Agenda (Pride in the Pulpit) and HRC. It was such a pleasure meeting with some of the leaders of the Queer Spiritual Community. I got to talk with Rev. Gene Robinson, the first openly elected Episcopal Bishop. What an honor. What a beautiful, open soul. You just feel love and compassion coming from him. He told me he had heard that I was the "Brokeback Mormon" and said he will see the show the next time he comes to town. Also got to speak with Joe Salmonese and Harry Knox of HRC among others. The work we need to be doing is on the spiritual battlefront. Equality most begin in our churches and then we will see them start to change in the laws! I had to leave the event at 7:00pm, barely making it in time to do the show. It was a fantastic audience. It's nice to see the houses filling as the weather gets warmer!

My dad is doing the Landmark Forum in San Francisco this weekend. So many of my friends and family have done this amazing course offered by LandmarkEducation.com. I highly recommend it. It's the course I mention in my play. It really started me on the road to reclaiming my life. There are many roads and paths leading to transformation. This is what worked for me. May we all find the tools necessary to have lives we love. Lives that are powerful and fully self-expressed and that help us make a difference in the world.

Key West

My friend, Chuck, from San Diego was just on a cruise that took him to Key West. There I was on the cover of the local gay rag. I would LOVE to play Key West.

Another full day of emailing, calls, working out (David Barton Gym) and more meetings. Off to greet folks in the Queer Spiritual Community at the HRC "Faith and Fairness" event tonight before doing the Wednesday night show.

I also want to apologize for not being able to respond to the many wonderful emails I've been getting about the show. It is my hope to be able to have the time and energy to respond soon.

Hope to see many friends tomorrow night at our "Gay Singles Night." I will be celebrating my birthday then, too. So come by!

Page Six

I guess I've arrived. I was on "Page Six" of the New York Post yesterday--Sunday...

Hope to see everyone tonight at the talk-back after the show for "Non-traditional Family Night." BYU Brownies will be served!

Publishing the Script

I love to write more than anything these days. I have to steal the time, however. I've been spending all my free time getting the script of CONFESSIONS OF A MORMON BOY ready for publishing. It will be a special "Behind the Scenes" edition. The play will be expanded to include all the material from previous runs that had been cut for the Off-Broadway production. I think it will make for a much more satisfying read. There is about 45 minutes of material that had to be cut to get the show down to 90 minutes without intermission. This edition will also include an introduction and afterward that will spell out the artisitc journey of the play...which in some ways has just as much drama! (Can you imagine that the "Japenese Lizard" saw my show twice at the Fringe Festival. Also my dad came to the Opening Night at the SoHo Playhouse. Fun details like that!) There will be production photos and other bells and whistles. The play is being published by Allyson Books and will be available in the fall. I've also been spending time working on my new show MORMON AMERICAN PRINCESS.

Meanwhile, I was on NY1 this weekend...hope you got to see my interview on "Onstage."

Another wonderful weekend of shows. I do 5 shows in 48 hour period Friday night thru Sunday night.

I'm looking forward to my kids coming out at the end of the Month.

Also looking forward to Gay Singles Night at the SoHo Playhouse on Thursday, March 16. A free cocktail comes with the show. We will be gathering downstairs at the Huron Club. I will be having my seltzer water!

My birthday is Friday, March 17th. I think it is so wonderful that they will be having a parade that day for me here in the city. They really don't have to do that. But I'm glad they will. You mean the parade isn't just for me?

Wednesday, March 8, 2006

Yesterday was my day off. My day off is filled with "producer" meetings, etc. I love our "Mormon Boy Team." This is the day we meet to discuss the producing end of things--there is so much to do behind the scenes so that I can even DO eight shows a week. But last night I had a very relaxing evening. I stayed HOME! Imagine, no promoting! I watched a DVD in bed and ate popcorn. I finally got to see "Million Dollar Baby." It exceeded my expectations--so poignant, so moving, so well-acted. My father told me he saw the movie a year ago, so I've been eager to see why he liked it so much. What is so cool is that my father looks A LOT like Clint Eastwood! (Actually, more like Rumsfeld!)

Today I was on OutQ on Sirius Satellite Radio. I was broadcast in an interview live at 4:30pm EST. It was a lot of fun. Great questions were asked. The interview mostly focused on religion and homosexuality...

I will be on NY1 TV's "Onstage" this weekend starting Friday. The interview (with Patrick Pachecco) was taped last week. "Onstage" is a brilliant theatre news magazine covering New York Theatre.

Tonight's show went very well. I felt very rested. A very appreciative crowd. I love greeting the audience after the show in the lobby as they leave the SoHo Playhouse. I get to hear such amazing stories. We all have a story. And it is good that we share them.

Monday, March 6, 2006

Tonight was "Non-traditional Family Night" at the SoHo Playhouse. In Mormonism we have "Family Night" every Monday. Monday night is set aside by the Church for families to get together, have a lesson, discussion, and then refreshments. In that tradition, every Monday night we do the show at 7:00pm and it is followed by a post-show discussion with me (playwright/performer).

The discussions are always edifying. I've been amazed by how many Mormons come--orthodox Mormons! The other night we had a Mormon couple come from Florida. Their oldest son had just come out of the closet. The whole room rallied around them--lots of tears were shed by all as this Mormon couple told us how much they loved their gay son. Tonight I had an old friend from BYU (theatre department) come.

Special thanks to OneSpirit Interfaith Ministries for coming tonight as a group. The laughter in the audience was especially sparkling as I could tell so many from the group got unique references and nuances specifically related to the "spiritual" aspects of the show.

Monday is a great night to come. We always have BYU brownies and red punch afterwards. Just like in Utah! I'm looking forward to Monday, March 20th when the New York Gay Men's Chorus is coming to the show. It is a special benefit night for them. If you know their special code, use it! Because a good-size portion of the ticket price goes to benefit the chorus.

Special side note: My former father-in-law, Gerald Pearson, helped make the first national tour of the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus happen. That first tour helped launch Gay Men's Choruses across the country.

"Brokeback Mormon"

My very first blog entry! Tonight's performance will be called "Brokeback Mormon" in honor of the Oscars. Sure hoping that "Brokeback Mountain" sweeps the Oscars. I'm very grateful for those audience members who have chosen to spend their Sunday night at the SoHo Playhouse. We should be done in time to catch part of the Oscars. A very special thank you to members of Affirmation (GLBT Mormons) and Gamofites (Gay Mormon Fathers) who drove all the way from Virginia and Washington, D.C. to see today's matinee. It was also a pleasure speaking at St. Bart's Episcopal Church earlier today. I met with their GLBT Fellowship after a very moving worship service. I'm always inspired by how loving and inclussive the Episcopalian Church is (not to mention progressive!). I had an Episcopalian boy friend and we would attend Grace Cathedral in San Francisco whenever I visited him there. Thank you to the Episcopalian Church for always making me feel "worthy" of God's love. Happy Oscar Night to all!