Video Excerpts from "BEHOLD THE BRIDEGROOMS REVISITED"

Check out 4 different video clips from the June 21 production of "Behold the Bridegrooms Revisited" presented as part of The City of West Hollywood's One City, One Pride LGBTQ Arts Festival.


"Wondrous the Merge" with David Mergen on cello and dance by Atasiea
http://youtu.be/DGuF7ByICJA
"This Wonder: A Hymn to Herm" with guest performer Mountaine Jonas
http://youtu.be/u0YxpHFWD_w
"Little Sermons of Big Joy" with David Mergen on cello
http://youtu.be/asXtX8AUgFg
and the title performance - a reading of James Broughton & Joel Singer's 1978 wedding ceremony: "Behold the Bridegrooms"
http://youtu.be/XhFQFaT0VZo

Special thanks to videographer Ian MacKinnon!



with
Rich Yap 
Atasiea
Jason Jenn
Clint Steinhauser
Bill Mayer
David Parke Epstein
Queer David Lawrence
Blu Richard Donald Blues as Joel Singer
&
Robert Patrick Playwright as James Broughton

http://youtu.be/XhFQFaT0VZo 

Sublime Summer Solstice Experience!

Colorful cast takes a bow! All photos by Tony Coehlo/One City One Pride - click to enlarge

Vibrating with the weekend's performance thrillride. Gratitude abounds and fresh possibilities and ideas are flowering from the nourishment of a profound experience. 

It began with a fab afternoon in the hot sun listening & watching the hot fun festivities dreamed up by Apt 3F and PLANET QUEER's "A Midsummer Afternoon's Queer Wedding Reception" while helping guide audience in putting glitter make-up on. I mostly glittered up a lot of children who attended, girls who could not get enough and kept coming back for, more much to their parents bemusement (fortunately they could wash up in the venue's bathroom). A couple of them became my helpers and "knew" a lot more about make-up than I could imagine (such teachers they be in their free expression).  I even let one girl paint my head (she asked if she could, and I said, "Yes you may, it is a canvas.") 

And then the 7pm program, "Behold the Bridegrooms Revisited"...so much to say. Deep appreciation for the opportunity presented by West Hollywood's One City One Pride LGBTQ Arts Festival. There is so much value in connecting with our ancestors as an ongoing part of our community and the importance of creating sacred, creative space for honoring their cultural contributions by presenting their artful contributions to contemporary audiences. The exploration of James Broughton has profound gifts for everyone and deserves wider recognition. Getting to “play” with his words and do so in new ways involving friends utilizing their talents is so priceless an experience to participate in and share with others. Since the festival theme was "I Do" in celebration of one year of marriage equality, I focused the show on the loving relationship and marriage of James Broughton to his partner Joel Singer.

There was so much magic there - James Broughton himself was orchestrating from beyond (he has indeed been busy at work all over the world with the various celebrations which have conjured up his arts). I was thrilled to meet visiting guest artist Mountaine Jonas, whose arrival in LA was most assuredly lined up by James so that Moutaine and I could perform the duet poem “This Wonder” in front of a slideshow of James & Joel. A stranger before this event, Mountaine simply said the “magic words” (befitting a man who online manifests as Merlin) -- he also just so happened to choose the very poem that I had hoped to perform (and still will someday) with my Alien Sister Sky Palkowitz, who unfortunately had to be out of town during the show (but was indeed present that evening with her wishes and previous acting coaching). I didn't think I would get to do it as part of the program, and at the last minute, magic happened. Mountaine’s expertise in James Broughton’s work guided me in the delivery of the poem in ways I could never have realized without his splendid knowledge. 

And then, OH - the dream come true of blending words with beautiful music and gorgeous dance with talented friends. James & Joel used Bach cello suites in one of their film collaborations, and I’ve used a Bach cello suite in my performance piece “ASH - Axis Mundi” - so I relished the connection and love for Bach by performing once more with the great mastermind’s music supporting James Broughton’s loving tribute to origins of his life with Joel: “Wondrous the Merge”. Having live cello played by a most talented friend, David Mergen, is a lifetime treasure. Add to that mix the remarkable dance talents and genius of Atasiea Kenneth L. Ferguson, and you have a goldmine of the soul. I had merely to create an outline and blocking, and he magically filled it with the most sublime movement and interpretation. Such a blessing to bring these gifts together and play, and, as James says himself in the poem, “Yes Yes Yes!” I definitely see more of this particular collaboration manifesting as a necessity.

Next, there was the poem, “Little Sermons of Big Joy” accompanied once again with  David on cello, because why not do one more while at it?! As indicated by the arrangement and playfulness of the text, I got to “busk and bounce” upon the stage while sharing James’s benediction to “inseminate with light, the wombs of mankind.” 

Finally, we shared the good fun and lyric beauty of James & Joel’s connubial masque with a staged reading  of their 1978 nuptials “Behold the Bridegrooms”.  Weddings are most definitely works of theatre, and the script of theirs is such a rich banquet of wondrous words. With the help of colorfully adorned friends, Clint Qlint Steinhauser, David Parke Epstein, David Lawrence, Rich Yap, Bill Mayer Atasiea (once more on stage this time as the puckish figure Hermeros in the prologue and epilogue), Blu Donald Richard Blues (as Joel Singer) and that cardinal co-progenitor of gay theatre Robert Patrick Playwright as James Broughton. Some have proclaimed we look like a Dr. Seuss book come to life —  indeed we had great fun with it and indeed James (while being a champion of bare flesh) was a lover of festive and outrageous regalia (as sublimely realized in his mock funeral procession in the 1974 film “Testament” and in his associations with the Radical Faeries and Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence). 

Such an honor and a Big Joy to “Behold the Bridegrooms Revisited” in this way - thanks to all of those involved and all those who have supported the journey from afar or in person as audiences. Major thanks to all the people involved in the documentary film “Big Joy: The Adventures of James Broughton”, most particularly Stephen Silha and the movement to spread James Broughton’s “frisky gospel” to others by encouraging such performance events to occur. Special thanks to Mike Che, Andrew Campbell, and the City of West Hollywood’s One City One Pride for making this opportunity possible and to perform in the historic Fiesta Hall. The programs all month long have been so incredible and so important in supporting the arts and bringing various artist’s works to light. Very importantly, thanks to Joel Singer for his open heart both for inspiring the great genius of James to continue creating such beautiful works and in cheering on all these tributes. And of course, thank you James! 

I shall be posting more photos and video in time - and shall continue singing the praises of BIG JOY James Broughton. Your support as audience for these endeavors is appreciated and vital in fueling more to come! 

BLISSINGS

Jason

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

My Valentine to James Broughton & Poetry

This week marks the opening of the full length one-act production of "ECSTASY FOR EVERYONE: A Theatrical Celebration of the Poetry & Art of James Broughton"and I am indeed feeling ecstatic for it! James, I am ready to "beguile the rest of the world with the seductions of your frisky gospel"

It's been quite a year. It was last February when "Kitten" & David, the Radical Faeries from SF came to LA to promote the upcoming documentary film "BIG JOY: The Adventures of James Broughton". I knew I wanted to be involved in honoring James, but I didn't quite know just what I was getting into. But once I started reading his poetry, I knew there was a powerful piece of poetic theatre to be made. The blessing of James's partner Joel Singer, the guidance of Mark Thompson, the championing of filmmaker Stephen Silha, the coaching of Sky Palkowitz, and many others have come in to give this piece such loving wings.

So, February 14th may be Valentine's Day, but come February 15th I'll be sending up a vibration of love into the cosmos with the theatrically staged reciting of James Broughton's exquisite poetry.

Get your tickets NOW to experience the ECSTASY!
http://ecstasyforeveryone.brownpapertickets.com/

Saturday, February 15, 22, & March 1 @ 8pm
Sunday, February 16 & 23 @ 6pm 

Spirit Studio in Silverlake
3711 Evans Street (off Hyperion)
Los Angeles, CA 90027

"Come! Convalesce with me in the clarity of wonder 
Together we can dawdle in the hotbeds of heaven
And dance untrammeled in the palaces of wisdom!"

Ecstatic Alignment in ECSTASY FOR EVERYONE

“Bring your orbits into harmony - time to plant starseed in one another’s eyes”

5 performances begin Feb 15 - more info hiveworld.org

Counting down. 2 weeks until the opening of the show. Yesterday I had one of those “aha” moments as if my inner being had suddenly moved into some sort of cosmic alignment. I felt the harmony of my actions, saw the bigger picture of my life in play, and gained an appreciation for what already has been and an excitement for what is yet to be. I’m feeling the ecstatic bliss of working on ECSTASY FOR EVERYONE. Sure, there is a lot of work to do yet, but I’m feeling great about the show and my connection to the material. The more I rehearse, the more the words are taking root inside of me, and I feel that my life thus far has created a fertile landscape for its growth.

I have been swimming lately, and enjoying the way the movement in the water is making me feel. Admittedly I have been out of shape - enticed by many festive feast indulgences and using my busy busy activities as an excuse for not having enough regular exercise. But this show has activated me. I am indeed in a process of training, both the body at the gym and yoga mat, and in mind with the rehearsing and memorization. Creating a full length show of this scale is putting forth a good challenge to reach for. I think about the athletes training for the upcoming Olympics and the extreme amount of focus and discipline they manifest. Their dedication is why so many will be watching them in awe. Then of course my mind goes out to those who don’t have access or ability to the level of support and skill that Olympians do, and to all the people in Russia and other countries where being queer/gay has dire consequences. I feel very privileged in my life to live as open and free as I do. The community in LA is full of gay cultural riches. It may in fact, be too much and overwhelming at times, but right now I am in sincere appreciation for all those gifts. I feel that my creation and process of putting on ECSTASY FOR EVERYONE is making good on the opportunities I am granted.

from Arboretum/Ash 2006

And this show fits in so perfectly with the body of work I have already been doing over the past 13 years as a performance artist and 26 years as a multimedia artist (counting since age 13 when I got my first videocamera and made movies). I’m 39 years old and aware that the time is flowing by. I’m not a youngster anymore - there are certain things as a performer I just can’t do anymore (or at least not without aches and pains or other consequences). But this is exactly why I love working with James Broughton’s material - he is an eternally young trickster and his poetry is so utterly vibrant it brings out the inner child to frolic. In this piece I get to take all the years and various experiences of creating lush, sensual, homoerotic, fantastical, magical performance art and put it to use with the exquisite body of work that James Broughton brought forth into this world. It makes so much sense - the arc of my work over the years and now this piece of the cosmic puzzle allows me to appreciate and see the bigger picture.

from Cavafy's Caress 2011

I see connections to the show I did called “Cavafy’s Caress” - about the gay poet Cavafy. In fact it was because I did that show, that I recognized one could be created from James’s poetry. I see connections to my unorthodox spiritual cabarets - soulful singing and storytelling plays well with Broughton’s wise words - and I’ve even crafted three songs out of his poems. I see connections to my days in the Invisible Theater were we created some rather wildly amazing archetypal performances ranging from profound to campy for an intimate and mostly gay audience. I see connections to the various productions for Rachel Rosenthal or at Planet Queer/Queer Mondays/Phyllis’ Garage. It’s making sense to me, and I am in sublime appreciation of that.

from Confessional 2009

Sometimes I feel that I “should” be doing more for human rights around the world. It pains me to sit by while the world continues to mistreat and/or demonizes gay people. There are indeed amazing strides that have been made, but the battle is far from over. But I don’t feel I’m sitting by casually - I am incredibly active, and truly feel that I am doing my small part by creating a show like this, if nothing else because I can. And because it brings to life the words of a great man who deserves greater recognition in this day and age. And because it is so free and expressive of a show that celebrates sexuality and life, and will leave people feeling uplifted. My rehearsals for it are certainly bringing me to a euphoric state - it takes a lot out of me, but if it can be a fraction of as thrilling for those to see it as it is to perform, then hooray - that’s my little part to play in this crazy world we live in. I feel so utterly grateful for the opportunity to create and share this work.
Ok, back to work - only two more weeks - training, training!

“This is an alleluia of life - This is the humming of humansong.”

from Red Lights 2006

from Invisible Theatre Dreams & Desires 2006

from The Myth of Snowflakes 2005

A Taste of ECSTASY FOR EVERYONE from The Palm Springs International Film Festival

The richness of James Broughton’s poetry and films continues to surprise and delight me. It is now just three weeks to go before the LA opening of “ECSTASY FOR EVERYONE: A Theatrical Celebration of the Poetry & Art of James Broughton”.

I’m of course excited and nervous for presenting this new work and tribute to a fascinating figure, that the documentary “Big Joy: The Adventures of James Broughton” does so wonderfully in examining in depth. I was invited to perform a 10 minute excerpt from the show after screenings of the film at the Palm Springs International Film Festival and had a marvelous time. It was very energizing and encouraging to present a short section of the show to rapt and attentive audiences who just freshly witnessed James’s unique life on screen.

You can purchase your tickets for the show in advance at this link here:
http://ecstasyforeveryone.bpt.me/
Tickets in advance are just $13 for regular seats and $20 for VIP treatment, which includes reserved seats & a complimentary drink

with Stephen Silha co-director and producer of BIG JOY

Happy ReBegin 2014 Blissings!

Greetings!
Best wishes to you in this brand new 2014! Here’s hoping that the turn of another year finds you well and full of blissings in body, mind, spirit, and soul.

We always end the year with a flurry of activity (also known as the holidaze). In recent years I’ve found myself really desiring to turn within around this time of year, responding to the natural winter cycle and need to "hibernate".

January is one of the most fabulous months for carving out some personal space to ground oneself with intentions for the year ahead. Of course we can create resolutions, but it’s also a wonderful time to honor the previous year’s accomplishments and lessons learned from any set-backs or unfinished goals.



January is named after the Roman deity Janus, and you don’t have to believe in any kind of two-headed god, to contemplate the archetypal concepts and relevance that fresh beginnings have to our modern lives. Here is a link to a video I created last year about Janus Geminus for anyone who isn’t familiar with January’s historical roots.

What always fascinates me the most is how the month of January (and February) were once considered outside the measure of calendar months, a span of time in between the 1st month of March and 10th month of December, where people could cleanse themselves from the past year and prepare for the future. A time to stretch out, take care of our inner needs, and reflect upon the sunlight growing gradually longer each day (for the Northern hemisphere at least). It truly fascinates me how our modern societies measure of time is still based upon long gone cultures and evolved customs.

But now is the time for ReBegin. Renewal and rejuvenation. I wish you all generous amounts of time to cultivate and connect with your inner personal needs.

I took some time to cast reflection upon the year that was. For those who would like to join me on the journey of review, you can find me sharing some highlights here.

I took some time to gaze into the possibilities of the year ahead. Several exciting creative projects are in development and I look forward to sharing more about them over the course of the year.

The most immediate upcoming event that I am eager to share is the premiere of a brand new full length one-man, one-act show called “Ecstasy For Everyone: A Theatrical Celebration of the Poetry & Art of James Broughton.” I had no idea of the adventure I was in for when I set about creating a 10 minute piece for the after party of the “Big Joy: The Adventures of James Broughton” documentary premiere in San Francisco last June.

I became entranced by James’ poetry and knew that I had to bring an hour long performance of his words to life on stage somehow. The last two weekends of February and first one of March will bring the first incarnation of the show in Los Angeles as I prepare it for a gigs in San Francisco and beyond. More details about the show can be found here or in blogs to come!

FAETOPIA - The Big Joy San Francisco Adventure Part 1

 

Performing a piece celebrating the work of James Broughton aka Big Joy

During the week leading up to gay pride weekend in San Francisco, I participated in FAETOPIA, a pop-up queer arts, ecology, theater and community center that ran June 21st – June 28th 2013 organized by members of the SF Radical Faerie community (in particular Kyle DeVries, Zac Benfield, & William Stewart). I was honored to perform 3 different performance pieces on 3 different nights in Faetopia and as a result get to connect with and view the work of many wonderful creative people. Faetopia coincided with The Frameline Film Festival, so I managed to also view 3 great documentaries on queer subject matter. Then to cap off this fabulously festive week, the Supreme Court made their ruling on Marriage Equality! It was a thrilling time to be in SF.

Part of my excitement for attending Faetopia was for the opportunity to perform a piece honoring the work of James Broughton. This year the documentary about him called BIG JOY was released in festival circuits, giving audiences a glimpse into the fascinating life of this most unusual filmmaker and poet. I had previously only known a mere sliver of his work, but thankfully the creation of this film brought more of his words and visuals to my attention. I had no idea just how powerfully his poetry would resonate with my being until I started researching his body of work. Mark Thompson, the gay activist-author and friend of James, urged me to focus my attention on a section of his writing titled "Hymns To Hermes." 

Broughton gave up the opportunity to be a Hollywood film director (offered to him after he won the 1954 Cannes Film Festival's Award for Experimental Film, which was handed to him by none other than my favorite artiste Jean Cocteau - I love that connection), and moved to San Francisco to be part of the beat generation of poets. Broughton's poetry is a feast of the senses and a expression of a joyous, witty, free spirit.

I was quickly able to find 5 poems that I felt could be constructed into a short performance piece that had it's own built in story-arc of sorts. I had just a week to work on staging and memorizing the poems I selected from "Hymns to Hermes." I was inspired by the visuals of one of his films, "Dreamwood" and so used images from the film to inform my performance. I made the performance a bit like a ritual, in which I sacrifice a bird that symbolizes my body. I then reach into the bird and pull out strands of colored beads and pearls instead of guts. I then ripped the wings off the bird, turned them inside out to reveal rainbow feathers and placed them upon my feet like the wings of Hermes. I then hoisted my legs into the air and invoked Hermes to make love to me (as Broughton's poem so aptly describes). Finally I rose back to my feet and recited Broughton's passionate piece urging Hermes to "relight our blithe birthright."

The performance went extremely well. I was so lost in the moment, only afterwards in talking with friends did I recognize how much "hissing" there was throughout the performance. Hissing, by the way, is a very good thing for the Radical Faeries, it's a way of subtle cheering without interrupting the flow of energy that clapping would. I also meet Broughton's partner, Joel Singer, whom greatly enjoyed the performance and gave me permission to create a full-length show based on Broughton's works. I had not intended to create a show, but after reading many of his works, I found that they inspired me to create an hour long performance. In the same way that I created "Cavafy's Caress" based on the poetry of Constantine P. Cavafy, I am now excited to develop a piece utilizing Broughton's words and imagery to create a one-man show - a delicious feast of words and visuals. And thus, a new mission is underway to do just that!

with Joel Singer & Mark Thompson backstage after the performance