Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Confessions of a Mormon Boy


Previews Begin Tonight for Confessions of a Mormon Boy
by BWW News Desk

CONFESSIONS OF A MORMON BOY -- a new solo play written and performed
by Steven Fales, and directed by Tony Award winner Jack Hofsiss ("The
Elephant Man") -- will have its Off-Broadway premiere, with preview
performances starting January 27, 2006 prior to the play's official
opening night on February 5 at the newly renovated Soho Playhouse (15
Vandam St.) in Manhattan.

A breakout hit during the 2004 NY International Fringe Festival -- for
which the play received a coveted Overall Excellence Award --
CONFESSIONS OF A MORMON BOY has been performed to popular and critical
acclaim, as well, during engagments in San Diego (twice!). San
Francisco, Chicago, Salt Lake City (thrice!), Miami and at the
Connecticut Repertory Theatre. Mr. Fales recently performed the play
to a sold out - star-studded audience at Lincoln Center, raising half
a million dollars for The Point Foundation, a nationwide organization
that provides support and services to outstanding lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgender students.

CONFESSIONS OF A MORMON BOY -- a compelling and inspiring true story
told with humor, song and the Book of Mormon -- concerns a young gay
man's captivating journey through excommunication from the Mormon
church, divorce, male prostitution and drug abuse, as he struggles to
reclaim himself, his children and his "Donny Osmond smile."

A sixth-generation Mormon from Utah, Steven Fales could have been the
poster child for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
(Mormon Church): Eagle Scout, international missionary, BYU graduate,
married in the Salt Lake Temple, and father of a beautiful boy and
girl. CONFESSIONS OF A MORMON BOY recounts the arresting story of Mr.
Fales' failed attempt to overcome his "same-sex attraction" through
"reparative therapy," which resulted in his divorce and
excommunication from the Mormon Church. After his perfect Mormon world
fell apart, Mr. Fales moved to New York City where he quickly
descended into the gay underworld of escorting and drugs. How he
maneuvered those dark passages of his life is one of the reasons the
Chicago Sun-Times wrote, "CONFESSIONS OF A MORMON BOY hits us between
the eyes like a shot with a two-by-four." Robert Hurwitt of the San
Francisco Chronicle said, "The story couldn't be more timely."

Among the many compelling aspects of Mr. Fale's story concerns his
marriage to Emily Pearson. Emily is the daughter of the celebrated
Mormon poet Carol Lynn Pearson, whose autobiography, "Good-bye, I Love
You" (Random House, 1986), poignantly recounts her relationship with
her gay ex-husband who died of AIDS in her home.

Steven Fales trained at the Boston Conservatory before completing his
2-year mission for the Mormon Church in Portugal, and going on to a
BFA and MFA in acting and musical theatre. His New York stage credits
-- in addition to NY Fringe -- include the musical BLOOD AND FIRE
opposite Eden Espinoza at the York Theatre, THE TEMPEST at Judith
Shakespeare Festival, and his stand up act, "Oxy Mormon" at Caroline's
on Broadway, Stand Up New York and Don't Tell Mama. His regional
theatre credits include Utah Shakespeare Festival, Connecticut
Repertory, Robert Redford's Sundance Theatre, Stages St. Louis and
others. TV credits include the CBS mini series "Perfect Murder,
Perfect Town," "Touched by an Angel" and "Miracles and Other Wonders."

Director Jack Hofsiss won the 1979 Tony Award for Best Direction of a
Play for THE ELEPHANT MAN. His other Broadway directing credits
include a 1995 revival of THE SHADOW BOX, and the play TOTAL ABANDON.

CONFESSIONS OF A MORMON BOY has set and lighting design by Tim
Saternow and costume design by Ellis Tillman.

CONFESSIONS OF A MORMON BOY is presented Off-Broadway by MB
Productions, and is being general managed by Seth A. Goldstein of The
Splinter Group.

The play will perform Mondays at 7pm (with Monday Night Talk-Backs
starting on February 13 immediately following the performance),
Wednesdays through Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m. and
Sundays at 3 and 7 p.m. Tickets on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays &
Thursdays are $50, and Tickets on Fridays and Saturdays are $55 and
can be reserved by calling the Soho Playhouse box office at
212-691-1555 or online at www.sohoplayhouse.com. For Groups of 10 or
more please call GROUPTIX at 888-523-5056.

For additional information, please visit www.mormonboy.com.

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