National tour of “Corpus Christi” play and documentary will begin in San Francisco next month!

This is very exciting news that actor Steve Callahan (East Side Story, Nine Lives) has just posted on his Facebook page: “I was a part of the International Tour of the brilliant Terrence McNally play CORPUS CHRISTI for four years. A documentary was made about our journey. Now, beginning April 28, we are embarking on a national tour of the play and documentary combined! For the first time, people can experience the play and documentary over the course of a single incredible weekend. Coming soon to a city near you! First stop……..San Francisco (April 28-30). Check out this new trailer (see below) and see what I have been a part of for the past six years!”

The trailer is part of a fundraising campaign that has just kicked off and will run through April 16. The more money raised, the more cities the production can play in. You can help make future tour cities happen by contributing today to the limited time online pledge drive.

Here is more background about the play and the documentary:

Terrence McNally’s Corpus Christi is a retelling of the Jesus story, with Jesus as a gay man living in 1950s Corpus Christi, Texas.  The show originally opened at the Manhattan Theatre Club in NYC, 1998 to intense protest and bomb threats. Deemed by religious zealots as “blasphemous,” the shock and controversy it created before it opened easily overshadowed McNally’s original intention in creating the piece: inclusive love for all people.

108 Productions has seen international acclaim since its revival tour of the play in 2006.  It continued to sell-out audiences for months at Los Angeles’ Zephyr Theatre and went on to tour across America. In Europe, the play was an Amnesty International Freedom of Expression nominee at the 2007 Edinburgh Fringe Festival and was awarded the Intercultural Dialogue Award at the International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival in 2008.  Following, the company celebrated the show’s 10th anniversary Off-Broadway at the Rattlestick Theatre, benefiting the Matthew Shepard Foundation and New York’s Gay Community Center.

In the feature documentary, Corpus Christi: Playing With Redemption, anti-gay religious groups meet “the gay Jesus play.” The film follows the troupe, playwright, and audiences across the U.S. and around the world on a 5-year journey of Terrence McNally’s passion play, where voices of protest and support collide on one of the central issues facing the LGBT community – religion based bias.  Challenging issues of civil rights, marriage equality and separation of church and state, this production has become a remarkable vehicle of positive change for a community struggling to find its voice.  Meanwhile, the company of actors finds itself on a journey that would forever change their lives.

Director Nic Arnzen states: Our mission is simple:  We aim to change the story on religious bullying and homophobia in all ages and walks of life, by first learning to love the Self.  As the Rick Santorums and Kirk Camerons of the world continue preaching ignorance and hate, our voices will get louder from a place of love.  Let your voice be heard today.  Join us in this movement and help us bring this film out into the world.  Just $5 will make a huge impact!

Here is a LINK to the site where you can purchase tickets and learn more.