Written by and featuring Brigham Young University alumnus Steven Fales, with direction by Tony Award winner Jack Hofsiss (The Elephant Man), the play tells Fales' autobiographical story — about his "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.'"
In its development, the play was once called X'd: Confessions of a Mormon Boy.
Performances play the newly renovated Soho Playhouse on Vandam Street, south of Houston in Manhattan.
Confessions includes song, monologue, a fleshy costume change and one climactic moment that has been shocking theatregoers — and prompting discussion about pop and gay culture's cosmetic expectations of straight men, gay men, showfolk and more.
* A sixth-generation Mormon from Utah, Steven Fales "could have been the poster child" for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormon Church), according to production notes. He was an Eagle Scout, international missionary, Brigham Young University graduate, a husband married in the Salt Lake Temple, and father of a son and daughter.
The play "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."
Boasting a big musical comedy smile, Fales trained at the Boston Conservatory before completing his two-year mission for the Mormon Church in Portugal. He earned a BFA and an MFA in acting and musical theatre. His New York stage credits (in addition to a New York International Fringe Festival run of Mormon Boy) 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, Stages St. Louis and others.
Confessions of a Mormon Boy has set and lighting design by Tim Saternow and costume design by Ellis Tillman.
The production is presented Off-Broadway by MB Productions, and is being general managed by Seth A. Goldstein of The Splinter Group.
Performances are Mondays at 7 PM (with Monday Night Talk-Backs starting on Feb. 13 immediately following the performance), Wednesdays through Fridays at 8 PM, Saturdays at 2 and 8 PM and Sundays at 3 and 7 PM. 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 (15 Vandam Street just west of Sixth Ave. and Macdougal St.) at (212) 691-1555 or online at www.sohoplayhouse.com.
For additional information, please visit www.mormonboy.com.
*
Confessions of a Mormon Boy started as a stand-up comedy routine in Manhattan. The full play first premiered to sold-out crowds in Salt Lake City in 2001.
Developmental stagings of the work have played San Francisco's New Conservatory Theatre, Miami's Coconut Grove Playhouse, Chicago's Bailiwick Repertory Theatre, San Diego's Diversionary Theatre (where it broke box office records) and the Connecticut Repertory Theatre. The production received an Overall Excellence Award at the 2004 New York International Fringe Festival.
