EXPENDABLE
By steven | February 5, 2010
Topics: Steven Fales | No Comments »
Metropolitan Community Church
By steven | January 30, 2010
I could go on and on and on about my spiritual journey since being excommunicated in 2000. But suffice it to say that I’ve been attending MCC Los Angeles and have found the spiritual community and message I have been looking for. Thank you, Rev. Neil for your powerful sermons each week.
Topics: Steven Fales | 1 Comment »
The Smile — Note from the Playwright
By steven | January 29, 2010
The Mormon Smile is made by first thinking how deeply grateful and blessed you are to belong to “the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth.” As one of the chosen, this thought brings you incomparable glee that just can’t be contained. Your smile’s size is proportionate to just how many Mormon pioneer ancestors you had sweat and freeze across the Plains. If you are truly Mormon royalty, your smile will be enormous! Imagine your favorite hymn or Disney’s “It’s a Small World” playing over and over in your head as you compulsively smile your charming, wholesome, flashy, adorably irresistible perky Osmond smile.
The smile comes through the eyes, not just the teeth—they twinkle and sparkle, eyebrows raised high. As you smile, your head is cocked a little to the right to show the world just how cute and sincere you are. There’s maybe a little shrug and a giggle of delight—perhaps an unconscious condescending wink. There’s a spring in your step. You want to have the best smile possible, so brush and floss your teeth after every meal. Teeth-whitening is rarely necessary because, as a good member of the Church, you don’t drink wine or coffee or use tobacco in the first place. The most precious and righteous Mormons do not need braces. Many find that their smiles help them read in the dark. They also find it hard to kiss, as puckering is difficult with overdeveloped smiling muscles.
Your smile can be used for many things, but its official purpose is to attract others to the Church (and other multilevel marketing schemes—think Amway). You smile all the time because you never know how or when your smile might convert another to the source of true happiness—“mainstream” Mormonism. (Just one smile can metastasize the world!) If you’re ever caught not smiling, you will be held responsible for all the souls who would have been saved had you been smiling as you should have been. Some of your salvation may be deducted in the next life if you’re not careful. You must avoid this and any guilt with every fiber of your being. As it says in the bible, “Let your light so shine.” So smile brightly! Sing an hymn: “Scatter sunshine all along your way . . .” or “Jesus wants me for a sunbeam to shine for him each day . . .”
Remember, in the end it’s all about who wins. . . er . . .can be the nicest. And nice winners smile. Even when crying, continue smiling at all times—even when you are alone. (Someone may be watching!) And if you ever feel like swearing, smile instead. (Kill ’em with kindness!)
But don’t think because Mormons smile ad nauseum they don’t know what pain and suffering is. They do. It’s just that they have a hope and uncompromising optimism that comes from their faith—and their proud pioneer legacy. They can endure all things, including any tragedy, because one day they will live eternally with their “elect” loved ones again in paradise. They live into a glorious future (they believe that they will one-day become gods themselves) that transforms their present, making them extraordinary neighbors. (And they live an average of ten years longer than you will—having the last laugh. They will be re-writing herstory.) Their burdens are lighter than others because they alone lay claim to the gift of the Holy Ghost—sent to comfort them in their times of need. But only if they are worthy of such blessings. And, as luck would have it, they usually are. Well, most of them are–the straight ones.
Topics: Confessions of a Mormon Boy, Steven Fales | No Comments »
Foreward to CONFESSIONS OF A MORMON BOY by Jack Hofsiss
By steven | January 29, 2010
Foreward by Jack Hofsiss
Anyplace. Two People. One speaks; one listens. Theatre at its most essential. Whether gathering around a campfire to hear those first stories centuries ago or gathering around the electric light of the most modern playhouse, it is theatre.
These thoughts were on my mind one summer afternoon not too long ago when, at the invitation of a producer, a young actor came to meet me to discuss my directing his play. As we went through the civilities of getting to know each other we discussed how best to talk about this play which I had not seen or read. Organically the actor began to speak the play to me. It was a solo piece, so it easily lent itself to this casual performance. It was anyplace (my living room), there was one person speaking (the storyteller) and one person listening (the audience). Without realizing it we were in the throes of a theatrical performance. This was my first experience of Confessions of a Mormon Boy.
As I worked with the playwright-actor on it over these last number of years, every production has been an attempt to capture for the audience the experience I had in my living room that day. This ferociously honest tale needs no excessive embellishment to make its powerful points. We all come from some community (religious or otherwise) with which we must make our peace as we gain our own beliefs and value systems. Steven’s struggle to incorporate Mormonism into his life as a gay American is metaphoric for any journey to become whole with your traditions and faith. I have always been particularly struck by the play’s refusal to disparage religion. Instead it speaks toward the inclusion of different sensibilities inside the whole.
This is a tale of faith, this is a tale of tradition, this is a tale of self-identification, this is a tale of love. Come gather around our literary campfire and hear this tale we tell.
JACK HOFSISS won his Tony Award for directing the original Broadway production of THE ELEPHANT MAN.
Steven Fales, Ken Daigle, and Jack Hofsiss (front center)
Topics: Steven Fales | No Comments »
Mormon American Princess
By admin | July 5, 2009
The Art House and UU Theatre
presents
STEVEN FALES
in
MORMON AMERICAN PRINCESS
A Cabaret Confection
“Fales knows how to sell it!” – New York Times
“Fales boasts a kick-ass tenor voice . . . a charming stage presence, sharp wit, irreverent sense of humor, and a beaming smile that makes Fales a favorite!”
– Backstage West
The Art House and UU Theatre is proud to present Steven Fales’ the extension of his all new cabaret confection MORMON AMERICAN PRINCESS in Provincetown:
Art House dates:
- Sun, July 5 9:00 PM
- Mon, July 6 7:30 PM
- Tues, July 7 9:00 PM
- Sat, July 18 8:00 PM
- Sun, July 19 9:00 PM
- Mon, July 20 7:30 PM
- Tues, July 21 9:00 PM
UU Theatre dates:
- Mon, July 13, 10:00 PM
- Tues, July 14, 7:15 PM
- Mon, July 27, 10 PM
- Tues, July 28, 7:15 PM
Tickets for the Art House can be purchased online at www.PTownArtHouse.com or by calling (866) 811-4111 or at the Box Office (opens at noon) at 214 Commercial St.
Tickets for the UU Theatre can be purchased at the Box Office at 236 Commercial St.
Fales is the creator of the off-Broadway hit, Confessions of a Mormon Boy which has played nationally and internationally including Boston and Provincetown. He has been featured on Tyra Banks, Logo, and Hollywood Extra!
An Oxy-Mormon, Fales confesses “I’m 100% Mormon White Trash! God has seen me through excommunication, divorce, prostitution and drugs, now we’re working on narcissism—and it’s not going well!”
Mormon American Princess is an exploration of our self-absorbed society using the multi-talented Fales as a microcosm. But with the help of his new Higher Power (She’s fabulous!), he’s beginning to see the light as he continues to put Utah on the MAP!
This hilarious and touching cabaret confection includes original songs like “The Excommunication Polka”, “Narcissus”, “Cult Rap”, and “You and Utah.” And such standards as “I Don’t Know How To Love Him”, “Fifty Percent”, “Son of a Preacher Man” and outrageous medleys and parodies of your favorite Broadway show tunes including Steven’s popular “Mormon Broadway Medley” and his signature “Mormon American Princess.”
The cabaret act has received critical acclaim at Upright Cabaret in Los Angeles and Joe’s Pub in New York as well as engagements in San Diego, San Francisco, and Salt Lake City and will play the Metropolitan Room in New York this fall.
Steven Fales’ acclaimed one-man play Confessions of a Mormon Boy has played major cities across the country and internationally. A break-out hit at the New York Fringe Festival (Overall Excellence Award for Solo Show) and directed by Tony Award-winner Jack Hofsiss, the play went on to a highly acclaimed Off-Broadway run at the SoHo Playhouse (Outer Critics Circle Award Nomination for Outstanding Solo Performance). The play was performed as a sold-out benefit for The Point Foundation at Lincoln Center and was nominated for the Oscar Wilde Award for Outstanding New Writing for the Theatre at the International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival. Fales’ book Confessions of a Mormon Boy (Alyson Books) was a Lambda Literary Award Finalist.
A classically trained actor with numerous regional stage credits from around the country, Fales received his M.F.A. in acting from the University of Connecticut. He trained on Scholarship to the Boston Conservatory and received his B.F.A. from Brigham Young University. An excommunicated Mormon, he currently lives in New York City where he flies his kids in from Salt Lake City via jetBlue every chance he can get!
“Fales possesses a beautiful lyric tenor, perfectly suited to his very theatrical delivery. The musical numbers matched his narrative with great dramatic effect . . . a confident self-realized cabaret performer.” – Cabaret Scenes Magazine
“Stevens voice commands and dominates . . . . flawless and engaging. His stage presence and delivery transcend the self-centered pleadings . . . the humor in his compositions is clever and incisive.” – San Francisco Bay Times
“Steven Fales is a dream come true for gay rights advocates: provocative in his work, articulate and humorous onstage, and appealingly handsome in person. MAP is a crowning moment.” – EDGE.com
“Showtime, Broadway, and HBO all rolled up into one great big evening of song and laughter. MAP is exuberant and supremely entertaining.” – BeyondChron.org
“It’s quite an achievement to showcase an ego that is larger than Carol Channing’s in such a small room.” – Goldstar Audience Review – Four Stars!
Topics: Mormon American Princess | No Comments »
Mormon Boy “Utard” Moves to New York!
By steven | March 25, 2009
I was born in Utah. That makes me a “Utard”. But I am not from Utah. I was raised in California (Los Angeles and Sacramento areas) and Las Vegas. I have lived in Salt Lake City these past few years to be near my children. But the time has come to return to my beloved New York. I’m a New Yorker. I lived there through 9/11 and I can’t resist being there. So I am moving there full-time on Friday. There is much to say, but I need to go back to packing! See you in New York soon. Goodbye, Utah!
I’m also finally learning to use newsletters, facebook, myspace, blogs, and all the other technological wonders that keep us connected. So we’ll see if this blog posts! Smiles! Steven
Oxy-Mormon Steven Fales
Topics: Steven Fales | 1 Comment »
Missionary Position Extended – Reviews Coming In!
By admin | January 31, 2009
By popular demand “Missionary Position” has been extended from Feb 8th to Feb 22nd at the Celebration Theatre. Reviews of Steven Fales performance in Missionary are starting to come in and we have posted some of those in the website. Go to Mormonboy.com and under “Press” and “Reviews” click on “Missionary Position” or better still Just click the word Missionary Position Reviews and we’ll take you right there. Tickets are now on sales so don’t wait and get left out in the cold.
“Fales is at his best in MISSIONARY POSITION. It’s better than CONFESSIONS OF A MORMON BOY. He’s quicksilver as ever. An important piece of theatre that all should see as he continues to shed light on Mormon fundamentalism. When I watched him do the Mormon temple ceremony in the temle garb, I didn’t know whether to laugh or weep. It was so stunning it took my breath away.”
–Leslie Jordan, Emmy Award Winner (Sordid Lives, Will & Grace, My Trip Down the Pink Carpet)
Topics: Missionary Position, Steven Fales | No Comments »
Missionary Position – Solo Performance by Steven Fales at Celebration Theatre
By admin | January 13, 2009
Tickets are now on sale for Missionary Position playing at Celebration Theatre. Missionary Position runs Jan. 9th – Feb. 8th 2009.
From the creator of the off-Broadway hit, Confessions of a Mormon Boy, comes Steven Fales’ new solo play based on his many adventures as a Mormon missionary in Portugal. Anyone who has ever felt the agony, ecstasy and insanity of turning their will and their life over to a socio-economic, political, tax-exempt, multi-national corporation posing as the Kingdom of God on Earth will appreciate this smart and sexy look at extreme religious devotion.
Celebration Theatre is a company of artists dedicated to creating a dynamic outlet for progressive gay and lesbian voices in contemporary theater and performance in Los Angeles. They intend to create a broader involvement in their community, conduct a rigorous exploration of society’s changing sentiments and values, and share these explorations with a wider audience.
Topics: Missionary Position, Steven Fales | 1 Comment »
Technorati Profile
By admin | December 20, 2008
Topics: Steven Fales | 1 Comment »
Steven Fales launches new web site.
By admin | December 20, 2008
Steven Fales, actor, writer, producer, comedian, author, songwriter and the most famous gay oxy-mormon just launched a new website. The new website focuses on the breadth and depth of Steven Fales abilities and experiences. Steven is most widely know for his one-person play,”Confessions of a Mormon Boy”, which has played from New York to Los Angeles and in England as well. While this new web site continues to focus on his ongoing success with “Confessions of a Mormon Boy”, it also offers information of other one-person plays such as, “Missionary Position” which debuts in Los Angeles in January at the Celebration Theatre. Missionary Position tickets are already on sale for that performance run from January 9 – February 8 2009. Steven Fales Will also be performing his cabaret style production “Mormon America Princess” at the Upright Cabaret in Losangeles for a benefit for Equality Califormia for one night only on January 27, 2009. Information and tickets for “Mormon American Princess” are available at the Upright Caberet website.
Topics: Confessions of a Mormon Boy, Missionary Position, Mormon American Princess, Steven Fales, Upcoming Performances | 2 Comments »