Rick Fonté’s direction of the controversial ‘gay jesus’ play garnered much and awards in Austin in the summer of 2001.  He originally intended to produce the play in CHicago but lost the rights to a ‘real theater’ so he just went to Austin where he had next to no contacts, assembled a production team and  a cast 13 men, and put a critically praised and highly profitable show up.

 

“This was the most fulfilling experience I’ve ever had in theatre.  I actually felt like I was doing God’s work to bring this (to some) highly blasphemous play to a place that was liberal enough to appreciate it.  A few of our cast members even came-out during the rehearsal process and one used it as an excuse to talk to his estranged parents.  I am very proud of that.”