The Queer Theatre Blog

Gays and Levi Johnston

2009-08-14T19:39:00.002-04:00

Remember when the gays dismissed Levi Johnston as a right wing homophobe when he described himself as a "f***ing redneck" on his facebook profile?

Well, now apparently the gays are obsessed. Following his Teen Choice Appearance with Kathy Griffin and his interview with her on Larry King Live, he has now confirmed that he loves his gay fans in an interview with Bravo's endlessly self-promoting Andy Cohen.

I'm sick and overloaded with work, but had to take time to blog about this one... I'm not going to be able to analyze the cultural implications of all this in a few minutes but maybe I'll start with a question: Are gays ironically interested in Levi? or now genuinely obsessed because Kathy made him her date? or just want to screw him? or hate themselves so much that they need this redneck jock's attention to feel good about themselves? or like Levi, or just looking to get attention anyway they can get it?

My Idol Crush

2009-08-04T23:05:00.002-04:00

My American Idol crush Adam Lambert is talking about S/M to the mainstream press... this is getting GOOD people!

Fun photos from my show!

2009-07-28T23:56:00.006-04:00

Where's the Queer Theatre?

2009-07-28T23:40:00.003-04:00

It occurs to me now that since my show is over I have to start writing about other queer theatre... you know... other than my own.

I did see a show at the Capital Fringe Festival that I wanted to tell you about... Flagboy written and performed by a fantastic, lovely, friendly, New York-based solo performer I met named Cornelius Jones Jr. The piece has a fantastic physical life, some great character sketches, and a very moving moment when he discovers he has HIV.

And of course, I'll be on the look out for other things in DC and elsewhere.

This caught my eye from the show listings for the NYC Fringe Festival.

Hate GLAAD, not Bruno

2009-07-26T05:02:00.002-04:00

I'm obsessed with Bruno. Entertainment with explicit gay sex just isn't getting enough attention these days!

Steven Milioti offers his take on the movie and GLAAD's response to it here at Advocate.com. The money quote:

As it stands, though, for GLAAD to go after a fictional flamboyant fashion director as a possible reason for gays not gaining acceptance shows a markedly socially conservative tone right now in the gay rights movement. The historic cry of, "We’re here, we’re queer, get used to it" -- which relied on gays going just a little too far, to be a little too shocking, in order to be heard -- is now, We’re here, we’re queer, and we do not want to offend you in any way.

That's not comforting, especially for gay outsiders who put on a little lip gloss.

The article is a little muddled in its argument, but I think the thesis/conclusion is spot on.

Thank You Thank You!

2009-07-24T00:21:00.003-04:00

Well, it's over... the fat tranny has sung... My Fabulous Sex Life has closed.

Thank you so much to all of those who made it to see it! I am truly grateful.

Now I must take some time to weigh my options for what comes next... perhaps I self-produce a run in September or October? Any one with a space I can use for cheap? Anyone with money looking to produce some queer theatre in a recession?

Meanwhile... check out this nice review from Hunter Styles at DCTheatreScene.com (Just wish he gave me a 5... I mean, it reads like a 5... :-) and wish it came earlier to sell tickets... but alas... maybe it isn't too late to sell some tickets in the future).

Only 3 more performances of My Fabulous Sex Life!

2009-07-13T23:19:00.003-04:00

Catch the Fringe show EVERYONE is talking about before it’s too late!

See what The Washington Post calls “one of the riskiest new works at Fringe.”

Washington City Paper Fringe and Purge Blog says “Funny; Brash; almost inconceivably explicit.”

Trey Graham, reviewing for Washington City Paper says “…blunt… and rather brave.”

DC Fringe Guide says “Fringearrific… lots of good buzz about this one.”

My Fabulous Sex Life has been featured by Advocate.com, Washingtonian.com, The Washington Blade, and Metro Weekly.

Buy a ticket today at www.capitalfringe.org. Tickets are selling quickly, so buy NOW!

Performance Times:
Thursday July 16 @ 5:15pm
Sunday July 19 @ 9:30pm
Thursday July 23 @ 7:45pm

The Venue:
The Shop - at Fort Fringe
610 L Street NW, Washington DC
20001

Directed by Jenny Lynn Towns

All tickets are $15 (plus a one time purchase of a $5 Fringe button).
Purchase at www.capitalfringe.org or call 866-811-4111

Adult language and content.

This production presented as a part of the 2009 Capital Fringe Festival.

And join me at JR’s this Wednesday, July 15th at 5:30 pm to promote the show!

Advocate.com!

2009-07-13T22:27:00.003-04:00

My Fabulous Sex Life is featured by The Advocate! We're on their Hot Sheet as something "hot" to do in July!

Check it out here.

Only 3 Performances left! Including THIS Thursday at 5:15 pm.

Buy tickets here.

My Fabulous Sex Life featured as "curious to see" at Washingtonian.com

2009-07-13T22:21:00.002-04:00

Buy tickets now for My Fabulous Sex Life in the Capital Fringe Festival.

Only 3 performances left!
This Thursday, July 16th @ 5:15PM
Sunday, July 19th @ 9:30PM
Thursday, July @ 7:45PM

Tickets are selling fast!

Check out the shout out at Washingtonian.com!

Great review in by Trey Graham at The Washington City Paper Fringe and Purge Blog

2009-07-09T23:53:00.001-04:00

Buy tickets here for My Fabulous Sex Life! Only 4 performances left! Tickets are selling quickly. Buy yours today!

Read the review by Trey Graham at Washington City Paper here or read below:

My Fabulous Sex Life
The Shop at Fort Fringe

Remaining Performances:
Sunday, July 12 at 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 16 at 5:15 p.m.
Sunday, July 19 at 9:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 23 at 7:45 p.m.

They say: “Funny. Obscene. Dangerous. Welcome to My Fabulous Sex Life, the story of one gay man’s sexual adventures in DC. Think you know how far you’d go? Think again.”

Trey’s take: “This,” drawls Brent Stansell midway through his jaw-droppingly frank bedroom confessional, “isn’t the first time I’ve tried to get attention.” And you think: Well, duh. (The man’s an actor, after all, and if there’s a closer synonym for exhibitionist, I’ve yet to encounter it.)

Like many solo shows, this one’s a a coming-of-age story, and despite its explicit language — no, really, it’s explicit, so don’t say you weren’t warned — it’s also the story of a boy looking for love. That he’s looking for it in what some would call the wrong places (bedrooms, bathrooms, hotel rooms, balconies, the grounds of the Washington Monument) only adds to the tang of an evening that rings truest when it’s most blunt: After a mildly stunned recap of one especially outré encounter, Stansell cops to the shame and the self-loathing that can accompany the memory of such moments, even for a man who’s since come to terms with an exuberant sense of his sexuality. Then he takes his tales one level deeper, daring the audience to measure its own memories and mores against his own — and that’s when what might have been a naughty bit of fluff becomes something more serious, and rather brave.

A secret-ballot sex quiz, a draw-from-a-hat glossary of singularly, ahem, intimate behaviors, and a 12-part, audience-performed version of our hero’s coming-out story are clever touches that add a lighthearted sort of interactivity to a show with more than one seriously sober moment. And if the script could use a structural tweak or two — Stansell’s tale peaks early, which leaves his New York adventures (eye-opening though they are) feeling a touch anticlimactic — maybe that just means it’s a proper first-day Fringe property.

See it if: You’ve ever been driven slightly mad by your hormones, or your insecurities, or any human impulse at all.

Skip it if: The idea of confessing the oddest place you’ve had sex — even anonymously, in writing — just made your shoulders inch toward your ears.

Funny Pictures from Rehearsal

2009-07-08T01:44:00.003-04:00

Buy tickets now to My Fabulous Sex Life and you will see these funny rehearsal photos come to life on stage!

My Fabulous Sex Life opens Thursday @ 7PM!

Read The Washington Blade feature HERE!

Read The Washington Post feature HERE!

My Fabulous Sex Life in The Washington Blade!

2009-07-03T07:33:00.002-04:00

A great feature in The Washington Blade today... thanks Patrick! Read the entire article here.

Here's an excerpt:

In his 75 minute solo show, “My Fabulous Sex Life,” Brent Stansell covers a lot of personal sexual terrain including kissing guys for the first time in college, assorted “fuck buddies,” and risky behavior in New York City sex clubs.

“Since I came out at 18,” says Stansell, 26, “I’ve had all kinds of sex with all kinds of people and my intention with the show is to take the audience on a journey through it all — pleasurable, scary and questionable.”

“I haven’t had a lot of relationships, but I’ve had a lot of gay sex,” Stansell says, and now he’s prepared to share those experiences with anyone who is willing to pony up the $15 and listen.

“My close friends won’t be shocked at what they’re going to hear at the show. It’s the more peripheral acquaintances in attendance I’m concerned about. They might be a little surprised.”

Featured in The Washington Post today!

2009-07-01T22:43:00.002-04:00

Big thanks to Jane Horwitz for writing up such a lovely description of the piece!

Read the excerpt below and check out the entire article here:

"In terms of romantic connections, Brent Stansell's very adult solo piece, "My Fabulous Sex Life" (July 9-23), might be one of the riskiest new works at Fringe. A dramaturge and theater educator who moved from California to attend George Washington University and just stayed here (with an interruption to get an MFA at Brooklyn College), Stansell wrote the play for academic credit.

"Rather than chronicle adolescent sexual awakenings or how he came out as gay to his family, he chose to write about his dangerous sexual liaisons as an adult. Stansell is quick to add that safe sex is a given for him, and that the liaisons demonstrate his need for romantic risk. "Even though they're all unified by sex, all these stories are so different. Some of them are just really hilarious. Some of them are situations that were really scary. Some of them were depressing. Some of them were thrilling," he says.

"But the scariest part might be performing the piece in front of audiences. "There are moments when I slip into performing the stories themselves, but there's a lot of looking into the eyes of the people staring back at me . . . definitely a scary prospect," Stansell says. He's hoping adventurous straight audiences will give him a listen. "For gay audiences, there'll probably be no problem. It's probably mild. But for a mixed audience . . . it'll probably push some buttons," he says."
Buy tickets NOW!

Check out another great press photo!

2009-07-01T22:40:00.001-04:00

Photo by Ritchie Rozzelle.

Check out this great press photo!

2009-07-01T22:36:00.003-04:00

Photo by Ritchie Rozzelle.

Come see the Fringe Festival Preview Wednesday, July 1

2009-06-30T21:21:00.003-04:00

Come see me perform the opening monologue from My Fabulous Sex Life at approximately 9PM this Wednesday, July 1!

Buy tickets now! Tickets selling fast! Guarantee your seat in this very small house!

09' FRINGE FESTIVAL
PREVIEW

Get your sample dosage of DC's annual celebration of the preforming arts this
Wednesday, July 1st!

RFD - BACK ROOM
810 7th Street, NW
7-10pm

FREE & OPEN TO ALL*
*you have to be 21

FEATURED FRINGE PRODUCING GROUPS
Ravishing Rose Music, Let's Sing Gospel 101!
Shark Tank Players, Uncorseted
Zehra Fazal, Headscarf and the Angry Bitch
I Like Nuts!, Captain Squishy's Yee Haw Jamboree
Jayanitka Dance Company, Lila: The Love Song of Radha and Krishna
John Feffer, Krapp's Last Power Point
Riot Actors of Washington, Riding the Bull
Polly MacIntyre, She Moved Through The Fair
J.T. Burian Theatricals, Irish Authors Held Hostage
Nu Sass Productions, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead
Trio, SOUP!
11:11 Productions, May 39th/40th
Open Drawer Theatre Company, Please Listen: A Musical Chaos
Dog & Pony DC, Bare Breasted Women Swordfighting
Brent Stansell, My Fabulous Sex Life
4&9 Productions, Slow News Day
Doorway Arts Ensemble, Herbie: Poet of the Wild West
21st Century Productions, 2 Shorts in Black and White
Patricia Krauss, The Escapades of Farty Johnson
Starving Artist Theatre, Thou Shalt Not Kill: A Collection of One Acts
Mixrun Productions, The Real Adventures of Tom Mix
Georgetown Theatre Company, Jack the Ticket Ripper
Mather Theatricals, Pepe! The Mail Order Monkey Musical

My Fabulous Sex Life featured by Theatermania!

2009-06-28T00:20:00.001-04:00

I forgot to post that my fringe show was featured in an article at Theatermania.com!

Yay!

Thanks Dan Bacalzo!

Bruno and Transwomen on Conan

2009-06-26T20:40:00.002-04:00

I admit that I've been obsessed with Bruno (Sasha Baron Cohen's fictional gay Austrian) lately... it's one of those subjects I wish I was back in American Studies class for, so I can write a paper exploring how this movie in this moment perfectly captures our view of gay people in America... I don't have any profound thoughts yet, but there are certainly some to be had.

I'm also obsessed because his press coincides with the press I'm doing for my show (wish I could dance on Conan's desk to promote My Fabulous Sex Life). Check on Bruno on Conan.

Checking out Conan clips brought me to a clip of Kerry Washington (an alum of my alma mater GWU) talking about her portrayal of a transwoman in the upcoming film Life is Hot in Cracktown. From the clip, it looks like a pretty gripping performance. Shout out to Kerry for bringing the queer to Conan!

Oh, Patti!

2009-06-25T21:45:00.002-04:00

Patti "who do you think you are?" LuPone just loves to speak her mind and she's doing it again... this time in the NY Times about another talking to she gave an audience member taking pictures of her in performance.

My favorite line is certainly the closing:

This has been going on in my career for 30 years since I starred in “Evita,” and, you’re surprised I stop shows now?

Sincerely,
Patti LuPone

Performing at the Washington Monument

2009-06-25T21:28:00.002-04:00

Anyone who has seen publicity for my show might have guessed that the Washington Monument makes an appearance in one of my stories...

Well, today I did a photo shoot for press photos, using the monument in the background, which had me sharing one of my sexual adventures on DC's national park grounds for all to hear... I had to hush my voice for the graphic parts when families of tourists walked by.

And speaking of censoring myself... I'm not quite sure what the proper etiquette is about using four letter words on the Internet. Since I didn't put an adult content disclaimer on my blog, does that mean no four letter words? Seems a little silly when just a click away I can see a lot worse and when for just $15 you can come hear all of the most inappropriate words about sex you want to at my show.

Tickets Now on Sale!

2009-06-22T23:57:00.002-04:00

Tickets are now on sale for My Fabulous Sex Life! Purchase HERE.

Jenny and I had a great rehearsal today.... the piece is growing and growing... you're not going to want to miss it.

Hank's Oyster Bar

2009-06-20T23:48:00.002-04:00

Turns out postcards for My Fabulous Sex Life are super popular in the bathroom at Hank's Oyster Bar.... over 30 gone over the course of 5 hours... come get more tomorrow (Sunday, June 21) before tickets go on sale Monday at www.capitalfringe.org.

I also had a fantastic rehearsal today which made me even more excited about the piece than I was before... we found a great way to include a little audience interaction... and now, if you come to the show, you might even win a prize! As Dina Martina would say, come see my show and I'll "give you a gift" (g's are soft).

Oh, Dustin Lance Black...

2009-06-19T22:53:00.001-04:00

Does he really think THIS (talking to closeted Mr. Cooper) will distract us from THIS (hot naughty pics)?

Cooper and Simmons, together at last!

2009-06-19T22:35:00.003-04:00

America knows that these two are gay, right?

Postcards!

2009-06-19T22:17:00.002-04:00

Look for postcards for My Fabulous Sex Life (see side bar to right) around DC... and buy tickets on Monday at www.capitalfringe.org. I just walked around pushing my cards on businesses for almost three hours.

Some bartenders were a little confused.... I don't think they quite understood what I meant when I said "theatre" or "capital fringe."

The man at The Crew Club was extremely nice.... I hope a get a lot of patrons to The Shop at Fort Fringe!

Do the gays "get" Brüno?

2009-06-16T21:08:00.003-04:00

I'm really not sure the gays understand Sasha Baron Cohen's satire. Do they get that he's telling us to re-examine ourselves?

I mean... it's ridiculously hilarious... the love the pictures of leatherboy Brüno the best.

Patty C!

2009-06-16T20:27:00.002-04:00

As if I couldn't love Patty C. more than I already do for appearing on the best tv show ever, giving amazing performances in fantastic film choices, and making that hilarious mother-luvers video... she writes this amazingly feisty speech for an HRC gala in New Orleans... she quotes Tennessee Williams and says if Jesus was a quality carpenter, he probably knew every gay in Nazareth...

But my favorite line:

"All the violets--gay Americans, lesbian Americans, Bi-sexual Americans, transgender Americans, people of color, and the people of this city forgotten by Washington in hurricane Katrina--we are all are starting to break through the mountain of straight, white, male lawmakers in Washington.

"Their time is over. And they know it. Which is why they are looking increasingly ridiculous and beleaguered. To me those guys look like one, big casting-call for the lead role in a very bad production of Death of Salesmen."

AMAZING! Is she the coolest person right or what? Richard Greenberg has been obsessed with her for years... Woody Allen just caught the Patty C. bug... and you should too!

Srsly?

2009-06-15T18:03:00.004-04:00

I think we should be horrified.... the 2009 Teen Choice Award Nominees were just announced and THIS is a category:

Choice TV: Fab-u-lous
Perez Hilton
Carson Kressley, "How to Look Good Naked"
Rex Lee as Lloyd, "Entougage"
Miss Jay, "America's Next Top Model"
Michael Urie as Marc St. James, "Ugly Betty"

What does this mean exactly? Teens will be voting on who is most fab-u-lous? which actually means who is most gay? which actually has nothing to do with what is actually gay at all... just commodified, non-sexual camp.

Glambert is nominated in the reality show category (along side Kris Allen)... guess he's not "fab-u-lous" (sorry Adam)

I'll be voting for Dustin Lance Black in protest!

Queer Fashion Theatre

2009-06-14T19:46:00.001-04:00

Less Than Four Weeks to Go!

2009-06-13T04:24:00.003-04:00

My Fabulous Sex Life opens in less than four weeks! I have a lot of work ahead of me, but feel good about what I've done. My director Jenny and I are working and blocking beat by beat this week and I'm memorizing like a mad man.

Today I found myself unable to really memorize on the bus like I might do with any other play I'm working on.... it didn't seem appropriate to be mouthing "masturbation," or "cock" in public. But I guess that's one of the reasons I'm doing this piece.

Tickets go on sale on the 22nd! Come see it!

Design for Living at The Shakespeare Theatre

2009-06-13T04:08:00.002-04:00

I saw Design for Living by Noel Coward at the Shakespeare Theatre Wednesday night starring my friend Tom Story... it closes June 28th.

There are fabulous performances all around; watching Tom and Robert Sella become gayer and gayer as they get drunker and drunker is especially enjoyable.

One clearly queer thing about this play is the structure; Coward seems to be playing with and rejecting many different formulaic plots and character types. The play starts as realistic melodrama, moves into pure farce, and also maintains Coward's signature wit. The characters change drastically over the course of the story, from honest artists/bohemians to comic fops in the liking of Oscar Wilde. This production and Kahn's direction certainly pushing the gay subtext, but the bare bones of the script must have been wildly sophisticated for a 1930's audience... or maybe I'm just not giving my great grandparents enough credit.

A lot of great dramaturgy in the program and supplemental publication about Coward's life, but not much about its unique structure, critical reception, or audience response to its homosexual themes. I guess I need to do some research.

It's certainly worthy of your time if you can afford a ticket.

See this show!

2009-06-13T04:02:00.002-04:00

I saw my friend John Kevin Boggs in an evening of storytelling on Thursday and your last chance to see it is tonight... so GO! It's called The Truth About 3-Ways and you can buy tickets here.

John Kevin tells a really funny story about a 3-way in college that's definitely queer... but not only is the content queer... John Kevin has such polished queer wit and delivery.

My Fabulous Sex Life

2009-05-14T22:16:00.000-04:00

My Fabulous Sex Life

Written and Performed by Brent Stansell

Funny. Obscene. Dangerous. Welcome to My Fabulous Sex Life, the story of one gay man’s sexual adventures in DC. Think you know how far you’d go? Think again.

Performance Times:

Thursday July 9 @ 7pm

Sunday July 12 @ 8pm

Thursday July 16 @ 5:15pm

Sunday July 19 @ 9:30pm

Thursday July 23 @ 7:45pm

The Venue:

The Shop - at Fort Fringe

610 L Street NW

Washington, DC 20001

Directed by Jenny Lynn Towns

All tickets are $15 (plus a one time purchase of a $5 Fringe button).

Purchase at www.capitalfringe.org or call 866-811-4111

(beginning Monday, June 22, 2009)

Purchase in person at the Fort Fringe Festival Box Office at 607 New York Ave, NW (beginning Tuesday, July 7, 2009)

Adult language and content.

This production presented as a part of the 2009 Capital Fringe Festival.

Like the logo? Check out www.womdesigns.com