2/27/2024 0 Comments Samuel steward valentinoWhile the lives of pre-Stonewall LGBT+ people have largely been undocumented, erased, or forgotten, what makes Steward unique is that he was an obsessive documenter, and his papers and other ephemera survive, providing a unique window into a gay man who lived his life authentically. Samuel Steward struggled during The Great Depression, outlived the McCarthy era and The Lavender Scare, took part in the strides that resulted in the Stonewall uprising, and witnessed the AIDS epidemic. With this work for 4 performers, Kelly virtuosically combines Steward’s actual words (culled from his letters, publications, and manuscripts) in tandem with extensive video projections (including digital animations of Steward’s tattoo designs and erotic illustrations) and ensemble movement into a kaleidoscopic series of dramatic vignettes that salute a queer rebel. An obsessive self-chronicler, he meticulously recorded his intimate encounters in his “Stud File,” and became an unofficial collaborator at The Kinsey Institute in the 1950s. He attracted the friendships of Gertrude Stein and Andre Gide, was lovers with Thornton Wilder, and had trysts with Rudolph Valentino, Lord Alfred Douglas, and Roy Fitzgerald (aka Rock Hudson). A promising novelist and gifted scholar, Steward left the world of academia to reinvent himself as one of the 20th century’s most influential tattoo artists (aka Philip Sparrow), and as a writer of gay erotic fiction (aka Phil Andros). UNDERNEATH THE SKIN is based on the fantastical life of Samuel Steward (1909-1993), a gay novelist, tattoo artist, author of erotic fiction, and unabashed carnal adventurer who lived a bold life pursuing his physical and erotic desires through his art. Previews begin December 1 at La MaMa with opening set for December 4. La MaMa presents a newly envisioned production of UNDERNEATH THE SKIN by renowned performance artist John Kelly. “Fabulous… Kelly acts, dances, and sings, making himself a triple threat to homophobes everywhere.” – Robert Johnson, The Dance Enthusiast Multiple Obie & Bessie winner John Kelly puts spotlight on unabashed gay carnal adventurer
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