When I first moved to New York, I had some colleagues who said I should be my straightest self – whatever that means – when I went into casting offices, but I didn’t want to put on an act of what I thought was heterosexual. I just wanted to be myself, and I’m very grateful because I feel like I’ve been embraced for that.
It’s an experience I’d like to add to the chorus, that these blue-collar, macho men, like my older brother, had the capacity to say: ‘I don’t care, I love you anyway.’ There are young kids thinking: ‘I’ll never come out because it’s too hard in our communities.’ But I’m saying maybe your story can be similar to mine.
My brothers and sister and me grew up making fun of each other, the way we’d speak or move. When we get together, everyone’s funny, quick, loud, and speaks on top of each other. It was like a great comedy school; nothing is precious.
I hired a publicist once I got cast in ‘Passing Strange,’ and one of the first conversations we had was about how I wanted to handle talking about my sexuality. I said, ‘It’s never been an issue for me. I want to talk about my work, but if something about myself relates to my work, of course I’ll talk about it.’
I missed my entrance in a production of ‘Blade to the Heat’ at Thick Description in San Francisco. I came into the scene very late and hugged the punching bag. I had no idea what to do! Unfortunately, that mishap was recorded for archives at UC Berkeley. It goes down in history.
I had no inclination to perform as a kid. I was a shy child – I always had my nose in a library book. I didn’t start acting until I went to college. Once I started, it seemed to fit like a glove. I felt completely at home on stage. It was the perfect way for me to express myself, even better than writing.
I have been constantly shaping and reshaping my career. I laid a foundation by doing respectful work in all media. And I am happy with what I have done.
Other people can write grown-up, political plays about the troubles in the world. My plays deal with magic and hope.
Doing multiple character work is athletic in every way – vocally, physically, spiritually, and mentally. With a show like ‘Passing Strange,’ I usually lose about 12 pounds.
I can’t fall apart every time I mention that my mother’s gone. I actually laugh about stories or things or situations. Of course there’s a wound that will never be patched up, but I approach it with humor. Of course, I don’t overlook it and go straight for the humor, but I think we have to have humor to move forward.
I was nervous about doing ‘Scottsboro Boys’ because I’m not a trained dancer, and there is a lot of very athletic dancing involved.
Maybe what I’m trying to do is heal others. I think what we’re trying to do in theater is heal someone.
My only qualifications to be an actor were that I’m daring, and I’m a quick learner. I’ve always learnt by watching what other people do. It’s the same with my writing. I write what I know. Structurally, I write in a very undisciplined way.