An Actor’s Voice

It’s interesting, I have always believed in marriage equality but doing this piece has opened my eyes even wider. It’s the compilation of all the different reasons for allowing marriage for everyone, put into a 70 minute piece and laid out right in front of you that just makes a crystal clear picture. I think everyone is going to benefit that watches this show, it is going to educate with a mixture of hilarity and gut wrenching moments.

The piece that really grabs at my heartstrings for marriage equality is Sign Here. It is also going to be the most challenging piece for me to perform because of how honest, real, and unfair the scenario is that we’re delving into over rights of a straight couple vs. rights (as of now) of a gay/lesbian couple. I want to be able to portray the inequality and the injustice and I want more than anything to make people see the characters’ and realize this isn’t just this character going through this but this is really happening and needs to change, we are all humans with feelings and should be treated as such!

Overall, I want people to walk away from the show and go to a ballot and vote for human equality. Regardless, if they support gays and lesbians this is a bigger picture; I want to show we as humans are evolving and understand empathy and kindness and peace for everyone regardless of race, sexuality or beliefs—the passing of Ref. 74 is a part of that evolution towards complete humanity.

Words from a Jesus Freak

We asked our cast and crew to contribute posts on the subject of marriage equality and how they related. This is one of them.

–x–

Hi, I’m a Christian. I love Jesus, pray, take communion, lift up a joyful noise to the Lord in worship and abstain from drugs and premarital sex. I’m an Actor. I curse on stage and wear revealing costumes and I do kissing scenes with men who aren’t my fiancé.

I also believe in Marriage Equality.

Growing up, I was a Christian that I openly admit, am thoroughly embarrassed about now. I wore the Jesus t-shirts (some gems include “Jesus is my boyfriend!” “I’m not afraid to tell the world that I love Jesus.” “I sing for a reason, I sing for Jesus” and last but not least, “Abortion is homicide.”) I listened to strictly Christian music (I’m lookin’ at you, Rebecca St. James) and while others saved up for Warped Tour, I was saving up for CreationFest at the Gorge. I had the Jesus license plate frame that says “Got Jesus?” (Which ironically is still there-those suckers are difficult to get off!) I cringe when I think about my former self. I still love Jesus, but I understand Him a whole lot better now. My best friend from HS told me recently, “I just really have a heart for homosexuals.” My immediate reaction was “People. You mean PEOPLE, right? You have a heart for people.” It was in that moment that I realized we were different. We did everything in the world together, prayed and wept and laughed together. But it wasn’t until that particular moment that I realized: we were different Christians. I don’t think the goal is to get to Heaven, and have Jesus say to you, “You judged all the people I wanted you to hate, good job.” I hope He’ll say, “You loved all the people I wanted you to love, good job.”

I may cringe at the Christian I used to be, but Jesus Christ is still my Lord and Savior, so I often feel like a minority in the theater community. No I don’t live with my fiancé, yes that’s a purity ring on my finger, no I don’t want to smoke weed in the green room and lastly, I can’t rehearse on Easter Sunday. I have been excluded from cast parties, heard whispered insults, the epic backstage discussions as to how all religious people are prudes and bigots and hypocrites and liars—all in front of the one Christian in the room. Don’t they realize that there are different Christians?

I wanted to be a part of this piece because I want our community to realize that not all Christians are the enemy. There are some Christians, like myself, who are different. I’m not praying for you-I’m rooting for you.

How many poems can I write about marriage?

As a poet contributing to Lawfully Wedded, I admit I was daunted by the timeline. I’ve been known to spend more than 6 months refining and editing a single poem until it’s just right. To imagine producing 5 to 8 separate poems about marriage in under 8 weeks had me a little freaked out.

But the topic is so rich and so critical that I couldn’t say no. My process as a poet is to recognize my own emotional investment in a topic and to write through that reaction so that the result is personally important, which is usually pretty easy. But it’s also got to be important to an audience, which is not at all easy. Basically, it’s not enough that I care about what I write. The person hearing me also has to care or it doesn’t work. But this is how storytelling in any form works, right?

So the easy part was having an emotional reaction to marriage equality. For me, this is straightforward: I am gay + I am denied marriage rights = passionate reaction. This is a perfect equation! The problem for Lawfully Wedded was simply that I wasn’t sure how many ways I knew to creatively say that denying me (and other people like me) rights just sucks.

The key became rebounding off the other writers and seeing the stories they were telling. I always have to write from my own feelings and convictions, but I found that writing through (my vision of) someone else’s voice gave me a great deal more to say. In “Grandmother”, in addition to the idea that Danny provided, I literally thought about my own grandmother and how I see her adjust to the changing social climate she’s lived in. When I imagined my grandmother’s motivation for opposing gay marriage, the piece became easy to write.

“Marry Me”, in comparison, is written through my own voice but I’m writing a fantasy rather than reality. In removing the trappings of rights and benefits, I just thought about the reasons I would want to be married…me, personally. I wondered what the reasons could be for me to merge my life with someone else’s. The answer to that question became “Marry Me” and is the piece in Lawfully Wedded of which I’m most proud.

So it turned out that I had a lot to say about marriage. Some things came through different imagined voices, some came through my own voice. I chose to ignore the politics of marriage equality and found that what really moved me were the stories of people, so that’s what shows up in my contributions.

My 2 Cents

In a board meeting over the winter, Danny brought up the work that he had been doing in school, research on gay relationships and most interestingly interviews he conducted with people on both sides of the argument. Immediately the idea came about to create some type of play that would showcase the stories, and he had my full support.

Arouet was started with the purpose of presenting works that speak of civil rights. Our company name comes from Voltaire’s last name after all, well known for his works on civil rights and freedom of and from religion.

Marriage equality does not deny anyone’s rights. It allows you to keep your beliefs, have your intimate relationship the way you want it, and deal with your god(s) however you see fit. On the other hand, the current laws openly discriminate against me. They tell me I cannot, if I chose, get married and have all the civil benefits afforded to me by the government, based mostly on religious teachings.

The irony is that I don’t actually believe in marriage, for anyone. I do believe, however, that your relationship status should be your choice, and not someone else’s. To paraphrase Voltaire: “I may not agree with your decision to get married, but I will defend to the death your right to do it.”

The process of creating Lawfully Wedded has been exhilarating. A creative process like none I’ve been a part of before, collaborating with writers, actors, and fellow directors in a very limited time frame has taken us to new heights. I have grown tremendously as an artist, producer, and most important, as a person.

During the next few weeks you will see here the experience of others on our team. Stay tuned!

Cast And Crew of Lawfully Wedded

Cast and Crew

Roy Arauz (Director)

Roy ArauzRoy is a director, producer, and Artistic Director of Arouet. He has been thrilled about the project from the moment Danny brought the idea of “the marriage play” to the company, and is ecstatic to see it come to fruition with such a talented group of writers and actors. Most recently he directed Anna in the Tropics for Latino Theatre projects and produced and assistant-directed Arouet’s The House of Bernarda Alba. Next he’s directing The Music Man for Driftwood Players, the American premiere of The Hen Night Epiphany, a co-production of the Driftwood Players’ Theatre of Intriguing Possibilities and Arouet, and the Northwest premiere of The Temperamentals.

Mariajose Barrera (Production Assistant)

Mariajose BarreraI am a Guatemalan born and raised, have lived permanently in the U.S.A. for 12 years, a business manager and owner who came into theater by chance, when given the opportunity to write and perform a short monologue for the 2011 Latino Community fund.


Greg Bee (Poet)

Greg BeeGreg is a writer, performance poet and cat fancier who lives in Seattle. He has competed in five consecutive Seattle Poetry Slam Grand Slams, three consecutive Individual World Poetry Slams and was a member of the 2009 Seattle Poetry Slam team competing against teams from across North America. Greg has featured on stages across the U.S.A. and Canada and is the author of two chapbooks called One Lap Around and A Cautionary Tale, both of which he loves like precious kittens. When not on stage, Greg writes relationship advice through his alter ego: The Bitter Single Guy.


Jeremy Behrens (Actor)

Jeremy BehrensJeremy is thrilled to be a part of the Lawfully Wedded project. A Chicago native, Jeremy moved to Seattle in May 2011 to pursue a career as a teaching artist and actor. Currently, he works as a teaching artist for the Seattle Children’s Theatre. Previous Seattle credits include: Yellow Face (NWOAC, et al.) with ReAct Theatre; The Mormon Bird Play (Pipa) with Washington Ensemble Theatre; Trojan Women (Andromache) with quiet Productions. He also worked as properties designer for Bed Snake at Washington Ensemble Theatre. He would like to encourage everyone to vote “yes” on Referendum 74 this November in what will be a ground-breaking election, something Washingtonians should be proud of to say we are the first state to legally recognize marriage equality. Love to all his family and friends who have shown support in every decision he has made.


Everett Bowling (Director)

Everett returns to theater after an 8 year hiatus. He is pleased to be back working in theater, and to be working with such talented actors, directors, and writers. Prior to Everett’s self-imposed hiatus his work could be seen at local theater’s throughout the area. He was in Don’t Dress for Dinner and Hay Fever at Driftwood, Corpus Christi at NW Actor’s Studio, Torch Song Trilogy at Burien, The Philadelphia Story and Seven Keys to Baldpate at RCT, as well as stints at Lakewood, TLT, and New City Theater. When he was not acting he was busy running the after school drama program at Chief Sealth High School in West Seattle for 5 wonderful years. He is the Development Director for Arouet Theatre working with Daniel Cords, and Roy Aruaz to bring you new, and exciting works, as well as established pieces that have not seen the light of day in the Seattle area. He would like to thank the cast for their undying commitment to this piece! Without them, we would simply have words on pages. He would also like to give a huge shout out to Purr Cocktail Lounge, the entire staff of Purr (you now who you are!), and of course to Barbie Humphrey! Without the donation of the upstairs rehearsal space this piece would still be an idea in Danny’s head. One last shout out must go to all my friends who encouraged me to take the plunge, and get my ass back into theater! I love you all!!


Daniel Cords (Producer)

A native Seattle actor turned teacher, Daniel has a passion for education through the arts. He is excited to be a part of Arouet as it engages, challenges, and inspires audiences.


Alysha Curry (Actor)

Alysha CurryAlysha is honored to be working with Arouet for the first time. She was recently seen in Henry VIII with GreenStage, and in Amadeus and Tartuffe at SecondStory Rep. She can be seen next Spring performing in Stone Soup Theatre’s Festival of Tennessee Williams One-Act Plays. Alysha is enjoying her most exciting role to date: Bride-to-be! [Love to her fiancé, Geb.]


John Epperson (Sound Design)

John Epperson, SeattleJohn is a recording artist. His work appears on many albums, compilations and DVDs as well as television, film and video games. When not making weird noises with synthesizers, Epperson designs sound for theatre. He has previously worked with Arouet, ArtsWest, Driftwood Players, Latino Theatre Projects, Redwood Theatre and Theatre 9/12. John has a website.


Bruce Erickson (Actor)

Bruce EricksonBruce is pleased to once again be working with Roy, reunited together after his appearance in The Gene Pool for Arouet. Bruce has been most recently seen on the stage in Edmonds appearing in M*A*S*H 4077th, and Love, Sex and the IRS. He has appeared on stage in over 30 productions, up and down the I-5 corridor. “I am really pleased to be involved with this project. I believe keeping Marriage Equality front and center with help to educate and inform the voting public. It is important to stand up and be counted on such an important issue. I personally have been in a same-sex relationship going on 33 years.” Thank you to the cast and crew and eight little letters to Cliff and our son Noah!


Perry Fulfs (Musician)

Perry FulfsPerry has been playing and writing since college. Grew up in the Midwest & is founding member of Beef Curtans, which last performed at RAGBRAI bicycle rally in Omaha as the first local band (via Seattle) to play Omaha’s largest casino. In Seattle he kept writing and playing with friends just for fun. After a long hiatus, he was persuaded to return to his music for Lawfully Wedded as a songwriter/musician.


Caitlin Gilman (Playwright)

Caitlin GilmanCaitlin is delighted to be on the writing team for Lawfully Wedded. Productions include short plays J.D Salinger is My God, which won the audience favorite award at Stone Soup’s Outside the Box festival, and The Scottish Sketch, part of DramaQueen’s recent SWAN day performance. Full lengths include Pretty Girls (co-written with Opal Peachey and Elizabeth Tanner), and a staged reading of My Dear Miss Chancellor, with WET’s New Play Workshop. She is a graduate of Cornish College of the Arts, and a proud company member of Annex Theatre.


Addie Keller (Actor)

Addie KellerAddie is new to the Seattle theatre scene and is thrilled and grateful to be working with Arouet on Lawfully Wedded. She loves that she is able to pursue her passion of collaborative works of art with an amazing group of artists as well as delve into such a prevalent topic in our society today! Her previous experience includes the devised piece “US” with Western Washington U. and “The American Family” in conjunction with Tectonic Theatre Project. She also would like to thank her parents, her sister Katrina, and family and friends for their unlimited support and love in her creative endeavors.


Idalia Limón (Actor)

Idalia is grateful to be part of this project, loves to work again with Roy, Morgan and Addie. An artistic spiral. She studied drama at the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León in her native México, at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York and at Freehold Theatre in Seattle. Her recent projects (which she is very proud of) include: Anna in the Tropics and Timepieces. She also has participated on various projects with “eSe Teatro”, local commercials and independent movies. When not acting, Idalia enjoys contorting her body with yoga and old school roller skating. Idalia wants to thank the fabulous cast and crew for their support and trust.


Morgan Ludlow (Playwright)

Morgan is new to Seattle having moved here from San Francisco 2 years ago. His work was last seen at the Ethnic Cultural Center for the Seattle Playwrights’ Collective showcase Timepieces. Morgan founded Wily West Productions in 2008 and has produced more than 20 productions. Here in Seattle Morgan has founded the Pacific Play Company with Daniel Tarker which will be devoted to new plays by local writers. Morgan has had plays performed or read at the Eureka Theatre, the Phoenix Theatre, the Exit Theatre, Stage Werx, the Marsh in San Francisco, Berkeley Rep, Virago Theatre Company, Gaia Performing Arts Center in Berkeley, Ross Valley Players in Marin County, The Pegasus Theatre in Monte Rio, Theatre Works West, Center Stage and the University of Utah in Salt Lake City and at the Interborough Rep in New York City. Morgan’s play, Ruth and the Sea, was listed as one of the “top 10 Bay Area productions of 2010” by SF Bay Times and Bay Area Theatre Critics’ Circle chairman, Tom Kelly. His comedies, Nymph O’ Mania, Maidrid’s Bow and The Widow West have all received critical acclaim and played to sold-out houses in San Francisco. Morgan is a member of Theatre Bay Area, The Play Cafe, Theatre Puget Sound and The Dramatists Guild of America. He looks forward to seeing the Seattle premiere of Maidrid’s Bow in the spring of 2013!


Carissa Meisner Smit (Actor)

Carissa is pleased to play a part for such an important social issue. An actor, singer, and dancer, her recent credits include Chicago (Velma, Second Story Rep.), Christmas Belles (Patsy, The Phoenix Theater), Enchanted April (Rose, Adagio Players), Fuddy Meers, and The Vagina Monologues. An upcoming revue of Tom Lehrer songs, Poisoning Pigeons in the Park with Hit and Run productions promises to be a hoot! By day Carissa produces the “Theatre of Intriguing Possibilities” at The Driftwood Players. Love to my knurfjes.


Christine Mosere (Director)

Christine is a writer, actor and director and is thrilled to be working with such a talented cast and crew. She is honored to be directing this meaningful show along side Roy Arauz – whom she first met while performing with Theatre 9/12. Before moving to the lovely Pacific Northwest, she worked consistently in the New York Off and Off-Off Broadway stage with such great companies as Primary Stages, LaMaMa, Woman Seeking… a theatre company and Peccadillo. Her direction of Rachel Crothers’ Expressing Willie at The West End Theatre earned her a Best Directing OOBR award. She is proud to say that her direction has received both pans and RAVES in The Village Voice and The New York Times (and ironically she loved the pans most as reviewer’s writing seems to get much more creative when panning a show). In Seattle, her direction has be seen at The Richard Hugo House (with Woman Seeking…) and at The Phoenix Theatre in Edmonds.


Eric Olson (Actor)

Eric is proud to be a part of his first Arouet production. He’s previously worked with Arouet’s Artistic Director, Roy Arauz in These Walls Can Talk. Other local plays include Suddenly Last Summer, Everything in the Garden, and The Cherry Orchard — all at Theatre 9/12. He can also be seen in the upcoming film The Dregs. When not acting, Eric loves spending time with his beautiful wife Mary and rabidly supporting anything related to Washington State Cougar athletics.


Gabriel Sedgemore (Actor)

Gabriel SedgemoreGabriel is excited to be a part of such an enlightening and profound play. He hopes this play will help change and open hearts and minds by allowing everyone to take a glimpse into the trials and tribulations of our fellow human beings. It is an honor for him to be part of what he feels is one of the best plays he has had the privilege of being a part of. A big thank you to a wonderful dichotomy of talented directors and actors and his ever constant support group made up of Sharon Lorenzen, his Uncle Greg and brother Joel.


Lawfully Wedded is sponsored by Purr Cocktail Lounge
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Lawfully Wedded is presented as part of Arts Crush, the month-long arts festival in the Puget Sound area.
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Lawfully Wedded

New plays about marriage. Or not.

Conceived by Daniel Cords
Written by: Greg Bee (poet), Perry Fulfs (musician), Caitlin Gilman (playwright), and Morgan Ludlow (playwright)
Directed by: Roy Arauz, Everett Bowling, and Christine Mosere
Featuring: Jeremy Behrens, Alysha Curry, Bruce Erickson, Addie Keller, Idalia Limon, and Eric Olson. For full profiles, visit The Cast and Crew of Lawfully Wedded.

What is love? What is marriage? What does it all mean? People have widely differing views, and that is the subject we explore in this collaborative piece. Through personal interviews, theatre, poetry, and music we will explore the topic and challenge your preconceived notions. This collaborative production is sure to speak to your heart! Don’t miss this thought provoking and relevant production.

Lawfully Wedded is sponsored by Purr Cocktail Lounge
Purr Cocktail Lounge Logo

Lawfully Wedded is presented as part of Arts Crush, the month-long arts festival in the Puget Sound area.
artscrush red orange stacked logo