Celebration Announces The Extension Of MISSIONARY POSITION

Celebration Theatre announces that its critically-acclaimed, smash-hit World Premiere production of MISSIONARY POSITION, written and performed by Steven Fales, the creator of the smash-hit Confessions of a Mormon Boy, and directed by Celebration Theatre's Artistic Director Michael A. Shepperd, is EXTENDING through SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22 at Celebration Theatre, 7051B Santa Monica Blvd in Hollywood.

Steven Fales's new solo play is based on his journals and adventures as a Mormon missionary in Portugal. Anyone who has ever felt the agony, ecstasy, and insanity of turning their will and their life over to a socio-economic-political-tax-exempt-multinational corporation posing as the kingdom of god on earth (and over-run by hot young men in white shirts and ties) will appreciate this smart, sexy, and funny look at extreme religious devotion. "A mission is the best kept secret in the Mormon Church!"

The play celebrates the altruism necessary to complete traditional rites of passage as it castigates the oppression and corruption within the institutions it inspires. This solo play is the second part in the Mormon Boy Trilogy which includes: Confessions of a Mormon Boy; Missionary Position and Who's Your Daddy?

Steven Fales (Actor/Playwright) is best known for his critically-acclaimed autobiographical one-man play Confessions of a Mormon Boy which played Off Broadway (NY Outer Critics Circle Award Nomination for Outstanding Solo Performance), at the NY International Fringe Festival (Overall Excellence Award) and at the Mitzi Newhouse Theatre at Lincoln Center (as a sold-out benefit for The Point Foundation) directed by Tony Award-winner Jack Hofsiss. The play has toured extensively in major cities across the country including a four-month engagement at the Coast Playhouse in Los Angeles in 2007 (LA Times Critics' Choice: "An exceptional achievement to rank beside the best of the solo genre. Wrenchingly honest, hilariously jubilant, utterly clear eyed.") and most recently at the Dublin International Gay Theatre Festival (Oscar Wilde Award Nomination for Outstanding New Writing in the Theatre). The London run is currently in development as well as the documentary film. The book of the play (Alyson Books) was a Lambda Literary Award Finalist.

Fales has performed his cabaret act Mormon American Princess at Joe's Pub in New York and across the country. He's developing a stand-up show called Mormon White Trash. Other plays and musicals in various stages of development include Conversations with Heavenly Mother: An Uncommon Diva; gEVERYMAN; Sacred Strain; Saltair; Atlantis. In all his spare time he works on his "Oxy-Mormon Memoirs."

Fales trained at the Boston Conservatory and received his BFA in musical theatre from Brigham Young University followed by an MFA in acting from the University of Connecticut. He has worked at Utah Shakespeare Festival, Pioneer Theatre Company, Judith Shakespeare Company, Connecticut Repertory Theatre, Stages St. Louis, New Harmony Theatre, Sundance Summer Theatre, among others. Television credits include "Touched by an Angel"; "Perfect Murder, Perfect Town," among others. Fales has studied acting with Larry Moss and at the American Comedy Institute. He teaches workshops called "Flying Solo: How to Create and Perform Your Own Solo Work".

Steven currently splits his time between New York and Salt Lake City where enjoys hiking and raising his two children with actor/writer Emily Pearson. www.mormonboy.com

ABOUT THE PLAY

Steven Fales comments, "The timing of this play and what has just happened in California with Prop 8 is fortuitous. However, this play is not about Prop 8. It does however, illuminate the Mormon mind-set that makes the Mormon Machine run on all cylinders. From MISSIONARY POSITION, one can see how extraordinary it is that blind obedience to a prophet in Utah can make thousands of young men and women volunteer two years of their lives to serve as full-time, volunteer missionaries, and can also make Mormon families around the world donate millions from their already heavily tithed incomes to win their political and so-called moral agendas.

Also, you will not see the Mormon Church picketing against the gay agenda. They are above that. They use dignity and class to politically exterminate their enemies. They use their greatest weapons: their money, their votes, their smiles. That is the Mormon way."

MISSIONARY POSITION is directed and produced by Celebration Theatre's Artistic Director Michael A. Shepperd. Celebration's Managing Director is Michael Kricfalusi.

MISSIONARY POSITION is EXTENDING through SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22! Performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sunday matinees at 3pm. Ticket prices are $25.00 for all performances.

MISSIONARY POSITION performs at Celebration Theatre, 7051B Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood. For Tickets, please call 323-957-1884.

Celebration Theatre is a community of artists dedicated to presenting innovative, provocative and relevant work that examines the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer experience. We endeavor to challenge society's perception of this community and give a vibrant voice to its evolving identity.

The theatre is located at 7051B Santa Monica Blvd. (1/2 block east of LaBrea) in Hollywood. For more information, please visit www.celebrationtheatre.com.

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