Playwright Note -- Bay Street Theater Program

Note from the Playwright*

As I was being formally tried as a homosexual in the year 2000 by the church of my birth, I found the whole experience so bizarre and fantastical that I thought, “Someone should really write about all this.” About a year later, that’s what I started to do. Confessions of a Mormon Boy was born out of a need to artistically express what was happening to myself and my gay brothers and sisters in the Mormon Church at the Turn of the Millennium. I’m happy to report that excommunication is becoming less and less common, but spiritual abuse and religious violence still persists in all kinds of covert ways. The tactics today may be more subtle, but they are just as insidious. And it’s not just in Mormondom—it’s happening in churches, mosques, and synagogues here in America and all over the world. I wanted to share with others how I survived this psychological and spiritual trauma—and how I’m still surviving it—with the help of a very good psychotherapist!

Another reason I started writing was that I was afraid that if something were to happen to me there was no one I fully trusted to tell my young children who I was and how much I loved them. So, Confessions was born out of a need to leave a record for my children—a valentine if you will—from their dad.

As Confessions developed and I started telling my story I quickly realized I wasn’t alone. I have learned that we all have a story, and it’s all we really have to change the world. We may not all need to tell our story onstage—in fact, that can come with occupational hazards I wouldn’t inflict on anyone! But I believe that each of us will one day have an opportunity to share our story in a way that is powerful, appropriate, meaningful, and deeply personal. You’ll know when that time is and how to do it. It’s as if the storytelling gods touch you on the shoulder and say, “Tag, you’re it!” Maybe it will be to just one other person who needs it. Maybe it will be for your own children. My hope—and prayer—is that my story just helps you get in touch with your own.

I’ve also learned that each of our stories continues. I never intended to write an entire trilogy of solo plays, but life most certainly continued—just as bizarre and fantastical as before. I am honored to get to further develop this project here at Bay Street under the guidance of a masterful director, Scott Schwartz. He has this uncommon ability—a gift—to not only help you unlock your imagination as a writer and performer—igniting your creativity—but he gives you permission to write from the depths of your soul. Just when you thought you’d written it all, after a working session with Scott you find yourself going back to your desk and the tears flow, the laughter builds, the story deepens. I feel incredibly blessed to have Scott helping me tell my story in a way I think it was always meant to be told. Thank you for joining us on this journey as we work toward opening Mormon Boy Trilogy next year off Broadway. 

Keep smiling!

Steven Fales

*From the program at Bay Street Theater, Summer 2018