“Street-life is sometimes like bad theater,
except there’s no intermission.”
(HOLLYWOOD PRESS CORPS) — Los Angeles, CA — Friday, October 7th, 2021 — QueerWise, the lauded LGBTQ spoken word performance collective, with the support of the City of West Hollywood, presents the World premiere docudrama The Ache For Home, screening online on Sunday, October 17, at 5:00pm. An assortment of voices illuminating the homeless crisis in West Hollywood grew out of a five-week spoken word workshop with those who have experienced homelessness for themselves. Under the artistic direction of artist-activist Michael Kearns, and with direction by Keida Mascaro, these citizens-turned-writers share inspirational stories from their time on the streets, ranging from narratives of soaring self-acceptance to confessions of truth-telling defeats. The show’s title is a reference to a quote by Maya Angelou, “The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.” For more information, please visit QueerWise’s site and FaceBook page. After the premiere, the video presentation will also be available on the QW YouTube channel.
Artistic Director Michael Kearns
The Ache For Home will feature the writing and storytelling from a number of individuals — Kayden, Larry, Lisa, Luckie, Tiger, and more— many of whom have a connection to West Hollywood. These mentees worked with six mentors to bring their stories to light. The storytellers are a diverse group ranging in age from 20 to 63 years-old who have dealt with the uncertainty of living on the streets and the specific challenges they faced day-to-day. That commonality is the one thing that they all share, while their stories are different, their humanity is universal and all encompassing.
Tiger 
Andy
Robin
This distinct group of narrators includes a young cis male with a passion for music and art, who finds joy “when I can put a smile on someone’s face and give back.” One of the mentees is a retired mixed race bisexual government worker who is a voracious reader and literacy advocate. Two trans males share their experiences of living on the street. And a former resident playwright, in Canada and the UK, and recipient of numerous grants and awards was homeless for 44 days and nights in the city.
Larry 
Luckie 
Dave
The mentee’s autobiographical stories emerge with the guidance of each of their mentors: Lucia Chappelle, the Social Justice Minister at Founders Metropolitan Community Church and Associate Producer of the LGBTQ syndicated radio program “This Way Out”; Jim Pentecost, who taught Drama at Santee Education Complex, produced Disney’s “Pocahontas,” and has worked on the Broadway productions of La Cage Aux Folles, Crimes of the Heart, and Gypsy; Rabbi Robin Podolsky who serves on the Board of Governors for the Sandra Caplan Community Bet Din, writes at TribeHerald and The Jewish Journal, and advises the Jewish Student Union at Occidental College; Andy Rollyson, a writer and entrepreneur; Corey Roskin, who has worked for the City of West Hollywood in social services for over 25 years and has also been programming, producing, participating in, and serving on planning committees for literary events for 20 years; and David Trudell, who has performed his solo shows, all directed by Michael Kearns, at venues around Los Angeles including The Skylight Theatre, Highways Performance Space, and Malibu Playhouse.
The Ache For Home has been made possible with the generous support of the City of West Hollywood.
Links:https://www.queerwise.netFB Event Pagehttps://www.instagram.com/queer.wisehttps://www.facebook.com/queer.wisehttps://www.weho.orghttps://www.facebook.com/wehocityhttp://michaelkearns.co# # #For more information, photos, to request a book, or to schedule an interview, please contact Green Galactic’s Lynn Tejada at 213-840-1201 or lynn@greengalactic.com. |
