Previews Begin Tonight for Confessions of a Mormon Boy

CONFESSIONS OF A MORMON BOY -- a new solo play written and performed by Steven Fales, and directed by Tony Award winner Jack Hofsiss ("The Elephant Man") -- will have its Off-Broadway premiere, with preview performances starting January 27, 2006 prior to the play's official opening night on February 5 at the newly renovated Soho Playhouse (15 Vandam St.) in Manhattan.

A breakout hit during the 2004 NY International Fringe Festival -- for which the play received a coveted Overall Excellence Award -- CONFESSIONS OF A MORMON BOY has been performed to popular and critical acclaim, as well, during engagments in San Diego (twice!). San Francisco, Chicago, Salt Lake City (thrice!), Miami and at the Connecticut Repertory Theatre. Mr. Fales recently performed the play to a sold out - star-studded audience at Lincoln Center, raising half a million dollars for The Point Foundation, a nationwide organization that provides support and services to outstanding lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students.

CONFESSIONS OF A MORMON BOY -- a compelling and inspiring true story told with humor, song and the Book of Mormon -- concerns a young gay man's captivating journey through excommunication from the Mormon church, divorce, male prostitution and drug abuse, as he struggles to reclaim himself, his children and his "Donny Osmond smile."

A sixth-generation Mormon from Utah, Steven Fales could have been the poster child for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church): Eagle Scout, international missionary, BYU graduate, married in the Salt Lake Temple, and father of a beautiful boy and girl. CONFESSIONS OF A MORMON BOY recounts the arresting story of Mr. Fales' failed attempt to overcome his "same-sex attraction" through "reparative therapy," which resulted in his divorce and excommunication from the Mormon Church. After his perfect Mormon world fell apart, Mr. Fales moved to New York City where he quickly descended into the gay underworld of escorting and drugs. How he maneuvered those dark passages of his life is one of the reasons the Chicago Sun-Times wrote, "CONFESSIONS OF A MORMON BOY hits us between the eyes like a shot with a two-by-four." Robert Hurwitt of the San Francisco Chronicle said, "The story couldn't be more timely."

Among the many compelling aspects of Mr. Fale's story concerns his marriage to Emily Pearson. Emily is the daughter of the celebrated Mormon poet Carol Lynn Pearson, whose autobiography, "Good-bye, I Love You" (Random House, 1986), poignantly recounts her relationship with her gay ex-husband who died of AIDS in her home.

Steven Fales trained at the Boston Conservatory before completing his 2-year mission for the Mormon Church in Portugal, and going on to a BFA and MFA in acting and musical theatre. His New York stage credits -- in addition to NY Fringe -- include the musical BLOOD AND FIRE opposite Eden Espinoza at the York Theatre, THE TEMPEST at Judith Shakespeare Festival, and his stand up act, "Oxy Mormon" at Caroline's on Broadway, Stand Up New York and Don't Tell Mama. His regional theatre credits include Utah Shakespeare Festival, Connecticut Repertory, Robert Redford's Sundance Theatre, Stages St. Louis and others. TV credits include the CBS mini series "Perfect Murder, Perfect Town," "Touched by an Angel" and "Miracles and Other Wonders."

Director Jack Hofsiss won the 1979 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play for THE ELEPHANT MAN. His other Broadway directing credits include a 1995 revival of THE SHADOW BOX, and the play TOTAL ABANDON.

CONFESSIONS OF A MORMON BOY has set and lighting design by Tim Saternow and costume design by Ellis Tillman.

CONFESSIONS OF A MORMON BOY is presented Off-Broadway by MB Productions, and is being general managed by Seth A. Goldstein of The Splinter Group.

The play will perform Mondays at 7pm (with Monday Night Talk-Backs starting on February 13 immediately following the performance), Wednesdays through Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 and 7 p.m. Tickets on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays & Thursdays are $50, and Tickets on Fridays and Saturdays are $55 and can be reserved by calling the Soho Playhouse box office at 212-691-1555 or online at www.sohoplayhouse.com. For Groups of 10 or more please call GROUPTIX at 888-523-5056.

For additional information, please visit www.mormonboy.com.