Curio Theatre Company to Open Season with THE MATTER OF FRANK SCHAEFER Next Month

Curio Theatre Company begins its 10th Anniversary season with a bang. The company is debuting a newly created work, The Matter of Frank Schaefer, this November. This world premiere runs November 12-December 6. Opening night is Friday, November 14 at 8 p.m. The show will be performed at Curio's home space at the Calvary Center for Culture and Community, 4740 Baltimore Avenue. Tickets cost $15-$25 and are available online at www.curiotheatrecompany.org or by phone at 215-525-1350.

Curio is creating a groundbreaking new play about the Rev. Frank Schaefer, who was defrocked for officiating his son's gay wedding. Then, he was refrocked on appeal and is currently threatened with another defrocking. Frank Schaefer was a Methodist Minister in Lebanon, PA who officiated his son's same sex wedding in Cohasset, Massachusetts. Six years later, after much division in his church, a complaint was filed against him and a trial was held to determine if he would lose his credentials as a Minister. He was given an opportunity to maintain his credentials if he agreed to uphold the Discipline of the United Methodist Church in it's entirety and not to perform a wedding of this nature again. But with two of his other children being gay and what he felt was an injustice to the LGBT community he could not make this promise. As a result, Frank Schaefer was defrocked and the community of Lebanon and the United Methodist Church were divided. The national and international attention Schaefer drew from this courageous act put a spotlight on the small city of Lebanon, the Methodist Church, and on Schaefer himself.

"What grabbed us right away with the story of Frank Schaefer is that it felt like a civil rights movement was starting right in front of us. When we started this project gay marriage had not been legalized in Pennsylvania and Frank Schaefer had not yet been defrocked," said Curio Artistic Director Paul Kuhn. "Witnessing the changes over a year has been nothing short of a thrill ride for us and it has been an honor to be able to write this story."

The Matter of Frank Schaefer follows the journey of Lebanon County pastor Rev. Frank Schaefer from April 28, 2007-when he performs the marriage of his son to another man-through the 2013 trial in which the church finds him guilty of disobedience and removes him from service. In the course of his dynamic and influential response to the trial, Schaefer challenges the Church "to stop treating gays as second-class Christians." The play asks the questions, What makes a Christian? And Who sets the rules of proper Christianity?

"What is religion in the 21st century? This is a topic that we are confronted with every day now. Wars are being waged abroad and here at home smaller battles are being fought on the grounds of the interpretations of religious texts. The Matter of Frank Schaefer puts this under a microscope and in your face," added Kuhn.

Curio interviewed Rev. Schaefer multiple times as well as many of people associated with the story. Prior to its Philadelphia premiere, the show will have a one-night performance in Lebanon on November 8. The next decision in the Reverend's case could come down as the show is opening too. The cast includes Curio Artistic Director Paul Kuhn as the Reverend Frank Schaefer and Steve Carpenter, Colleen Hughes, Aetna Gallagher, Ken Opdenaker, and Tina Giovanne.

Curio Managing Director Gay Carducci directs the piece. Kuhn is designing the set. Tim Martin is the Lighting Designer, Gallagher is designing costumes and Dan Ison is the Sound Designer.

"The challenges have been to keep the work universal. The Matter of Frank Schaefer isn't just about the United Methodist Church. People of all faiths will be gripped by this story because they have either gone through or are going through this revolution in their place of worship," finished Kuhn.

To post a comment, you must register and login.