Father Figure James Broughton

at Fiesta Hall in Plummer Park,  7377 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90046

I’m really looking forward to presenting “Behold the Bridegrooms Revisited” on Summer Solstice! It’s truly a pleasure and honor to create a second show of James Broughton material for audiences - things I couldn’t include in the recent “ECSTASY FOR EVERYONE” because I wanted to keep that show under an hour. Now I get to fulfill a longtime dream of reciting luscious poetry over live cello music and work with a colorful cast of friends in presenting the lyrical beauty of wedding text to his partner Joel Singer. Saturday June 21 is going to be a fun time all day long, with a queer music festival produced by Apt 3F and Planet Queer outside Fiesta Hall during the day from 2:30-6:30pm, followed by the Bridegrooms show at 7pm. We’re even going to screen James & Joel’s film collaboration “Devotions” around 6:45pm as a warm up to the live presentation. And there will be delicious cupcakes to enjoy afterwards!

Performed live on June 12 in the Spielberg Theatre at the iconic Egyptian Theatre!

If you have not seen the documentary film yet - “BIG JOY: The Adventures of James Broughton” is now available streaming video on demand (www.kinolorber.com) and on Netflix.  Seeing the film is essential viewing to truly understand the story and journey of this remarkable artist who deserves greater recognition. I think sharing the film going experience with audiences for this film takes the journey to another level, but just see it whenever you can. And see it more than once. I’ve now seen the film 8 times and find new elements that inspire me each time.  I’ve enjoyed performing live alongside the screenings 7 times (as of this writing) in Palm Springs, New York City, and Los Angeles and look forward to more whenever the opportunities arise. I have a lot more stories to share about those experiences and the various synchronicities and “aha” moments that have come along with the journey. It has been so great to see the audiences react to both my poetry recital and his story in the film. 

In performance before the One City One Pride LGBTQ Arts Festival screening on June 10

I am so grateful for the creators of the documentary film “BIG JOY: The Adventures of James Broughton” (particularly for Stephen Silha’s passion behind the project)  - for it is helping to bring James Broughton back into the light and sharing his amazing life and spirit with new audiences. I’m one of his new greatest fans as a result! While I had heard of him before, it wasn’t until the film that I dove into this body of work - and what a swim in gloriously fascinating waters it has been!

James Broughton has become a mentor and guide to me from the stars, he is a kindred spirit and father figure. While he may not have been a very present father to his birth children (the film covers the family issues quite well), he certainly has been a great father of gay spirit to many that have since been inspired by his wit, wisdom, humor, and fascinating history. I know that his words sing to me from the page, calling for me to perform them in various ways, and his films inspire me to delve back into my own background in film production. While he isn't physically around, his presence is definitely felt through the power of his art he's left behind and in the loving recollections of friends who knew him well. I still haven’t read all of his works, and am constantly being presented with new delicacies of writing and film to savor - which is great, because it means there are more grand surprises to come. The journey continues. As James says: FOLLOW YOUR OWN WEIRD!

Holding James's golden flying phallus recreation with artist manager, Marc Arranaga,
and film producer/co-director Stephen Silha after the One City One Pride screening