108 Productions Kicks Off National I AM LOVE Campaign Tour Today in St. Louis

108 Productions has announced the kickoff to the national I AM Love Campaign Tour this weekend, September 25-28, 2014, in partnership with Webster University Moore's Auditorium and co-produced by Keith Thompson.

The I AM Love Campaign's mission is to promote the idea of love and equality for all, regardless of orientation, gender, religion or race, through artistic endeavors and educational outreach. By igniting a deeper understanding between local LGBT and faith communities, we can create social change to build a world more accepting of all.

The four-day event includes five components:

• Performances of 108 Productions' internationally acclaimed production of Terrence McNally's play CORPUS CHRISTI which depicts Jesus as a gay man living in modern- day Texas as a metaphor for how inclusive love for all people is not only right, but possible
• Screenings of a new documentary "Corpus Christi: Playing with Redemption," set for nationwide DVD/VOD release on October 14, which chronicles a five-year journey of the play met with both zealous protest and support on one of the central issues facing the LGBT community today-religion-based bias
• An open-forum Townhall Diversity Dialogue with local leaders to help heal the rift between LGBT and faith communities. Confirmed leaders include:
  • Rev. Wes Mullins, MCC/STL Church
  • Rev. Teresa Danieley, St. John's Episcopal Church
  • Rev. Marek Bozek, Saint Stanislaus Kostka Polish Catholic Parish
  • Kelly Hamilton, Editor-in-Chief/Co-founder of ALIVE magazine & Board President for PROMO
  • Christine Elbert, The LGBT Center of St. Louis
• The I AM Love Awards, which honor local advocates who promote diversity and acceptance within the community (a local host committee headed by Rev. Wes Mullins of MCC/STL will announce the official recipients of the awards on our website in early September)
• Cast-led workshops for local youth teaching self-empowerment skills through yoga, mediation, comedy and a talk addressing non-violent protest techniques

The I AM Love Campaign was co-founded by St. Louis-native James Brandon, who also co-founded 108 Productions and is featured as the "Jesus" character in the play.

"As the voices of intolerance around the world continue preaching ignorance and hate, we will keep raising our voices from a place of love," explains Brandon. "Since our tour began eight years ago, it has been a dream of mine to bring this important dialogue about faith and LGBT equality back to my hometown of St. Louis, since it didn't exist for me growing up."

"Sixteen years after CORPUS CHRISTI premiered in New York, I am thrilled that 108 Productions continues to perform the piece all over the world," said Terrence McNally, a four-time Tony Award-winner who was nominated for this year's Best Play award for MOTHERS AND SONS. "The I AM Love Campaign and [documentary] add a new dimension to the conversation that my play continues to provoke, and I look forward to "Corpus Christi" starting many more conversations around the country."

For tickets and more information on the event, visit www.iamlovecampaign.org.

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