Brava Participates in the National Commemoration of Stonewall's 40th Anniversary 9/17

Brava Theater is honored to produce a series of short works called Come As You Are, in a celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. In collaboration with Theatre Offensive (Boston, MA), project leaders on this national endeavor (including cities as large as New York and as small as Burlington, VT), Brava will produce 13 short works that discuss sex and gay sexuality in an upfront, joyful manner. The pieces written by playwrights nationally, comment on cyber sex, fantasy, love and the eccentricity of gay sex that should be expressed in our mainstream society. "What makes the commemoration of Stonewall so important, is the dynamics of a movement that has changed in society from polite apology for being gay to saying ‘if you don't like that I'm gay, get over yourself'." says Artistic Director, Raelle Myrick Hodges who vied for the San Francisco slot last season.

The Stonewall Riots, which took place in 1969, has entered the vocabulary of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgender (LGBT) people everywhere as a potent emblem of the gay community making a stand against oppression and demanding full equality in every area of life. What made Stonewall such an intriguing protest was that it is rumored to have all started with a wink to an officer or a drag queen standing in a doorway proudly displaying her physical wares. Apparently, the riot police were more threatened by the physical act of ‘gayness' on that particular day.

"What I find most interesting is that though it is now 2010 and I can wake up and watch heterosexual couple ‘love' each other from dawn till dusk, there is not a the same range of emotional/sexual attraction, sex, love for the LGBT community in society as a whole. It seems very confusing to be bombarded with one sexual identity - straight folks - and to completely ignore the sexuality of our LGBT community." Raelle continues when asked to explain, "I figured, if we can still make one sit through two teen-agers who have major hormone issues kill themselves (Romeo and Juliet), it seems timely to continue to present LGBT sexuality as more than deviant, dangerous and a side show curiosity. It's time we allow everyone to have ownership of their personal sexuality."

Come As You Are works are written by Chris Meffert, Caroline Prugh, Xray Aims, Tobias K. Davis, David J. Miller, Toni Amato, Adam Sussman, A Street Theater Named Desire, André St. Clair, Renita Martin, Leo Cabranes-Grant, Abe Rybeck and Dana Moser. Proposals are being accepted now until August 20th for artists to participate. For more information, please contact Ellery Schaar at ellery@brava.org

Come As You Are is for ONE NIGHT ONLY at Brava on September 17, 2010. With live music, great performances, it's an event you don't wish to miss. To be made affordable to our entire community, tickets are ONLY $10 Suggested Donation on a sliding scale. "We are making work for all people to experience. Work at Brava is not marginalized by race, gender or money. We wanted everyone to see everything and we make an effort to present theater at an affordable cost." says Managing Director Hetal Patel.

Come As You Are Brava
Sept 17, 2010, 7pm-11pm
Curated Directoraly by Ellery Schaar
Tickets: Suggested Donation $10

List of Skits
MY IDEA OF A COPING MECHANISM, Written by Chris Meffert

GOOD CHRISTIAN WIFE, Written by Caroline Prugh

I CONSENT, Xray Aims

RADICAL, Tobias K. Davis

CRISCO, David J. Miller

A GIRL LIKE THAT, Toni Amato

UNSCRIPTED, Adam Sussman

GRAND OLD FAG, A Street Theater Named Desire

THE SEX WORKER, André St. Clair

THE ONLY TIME, A Street Theater Named Desire

UNDER ARREST, Renita Martin

THE SKIN OF INTROSPECTION, Leo Cabranes-Grant

IT'S RISKY, Abe Rybeck & Dana Moser

Cities participating in Come As You Are include:
Burlington
Boston
New York
Miami
Chicago
Minneapolis
Houston
Cedar Rapids
Orange County
Santa Monica
San Francisco
Anchorage