In what way/s are you involved with THE NAKED I: SELF-DEFINED?
I’m both a performer and author.
Why is it important to tell the stories in THE NAKED I?
With my piece in particular, I want to make someone feel less alone in their relationship struggles being trans/queer, and that it’s alright to be gentle and forgiving with the choices we make to combat loneliness, and make do with our bodies.
What aspects of your identity do you hope to express through your involvement with THE NAKED I?
Most of my life is not lived in a queer space. The Naked I provides a refreshing chance for me to give a strong voice to my queer/trans identity in a very unapologetic manner.
Talk about your background as an artist. What sort of artistic experience are you bringing to this production?
I have never acted or written professionally before. My artistic outlet has always been musical in nature; so I am a bit nervous about sharing such an intimate piece of myself with strangers and friends. I am sure it will go fine though; nice to stretch boundaries and all of that.
What social issues are important to you and how do they inform your work?
Probably the Black Lives Matter movement is the one I pay the most attention to these days, and the importance of not letting the short attention span of the American media hurt the important work people are doing. Regarding the queer community more specifically I think it is deeply important for us to explore and pay attention to our interactions with each other. I hope we can remember to treat one another, and ourselves with greater intention and remember that we are all just trying to make it work out here.
What other artists or shows have inspired you?
I always fall back on jazz artists for inspiration. Especially those artists who use/d their talents to fight for social issues including the stigma surrounding mental illness. Listening to the beautiful and unexpected harmonies created by Thelonious Monk never fail to bring me inspiration.
What is your favorite hangout spot and why?
Anyplace that serves a warm cup of coffee. Café South Side and Bob’s Java Hut are definite faves.
When not involved in this production, how do you spend your time? What are some of your hobbies?
My day job takes up more of my time and energy than I would like it to. When I do have the time I love spending it outdoors, or playing some music.
Tell us about your pets, real or imaginary.
My 3/4 wife has a wonderful service dog named Chestnut. She is a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever and is a real sweetheart (most of the time).
What other projects are you working on or hope to work on?
I would really love to get involved with mentor/tutoring programs that are free and target queer youth, and queer adults re-entering the workforce. I am always amazed at the amount of talent the individuals in our community process, and would really like to see us help one another decrease our unemployment rate through support and informal training.