
SMYRC, the Sexual Minority Youth Resource Center, in Portland Oregon has had the ultimate pleasure not once, but twice now, of being blessed with the presence and performance of Peterson Toscano. I’ve worked with this population for over 10 years, and very few things captivate their attention for more than 30 minutes, and make them howl with laughter to boot. Peterson had them focused and cackling away in their seats for over an hour each time.
-Zan Gibbs, Founder of SMYRC
It was a pleasure sharing the stage with Peterson
Toscano! He is a wonderful actor, moving easily
from one character to another in an intricately
woven set of monologues that show, rather than
tell the audience about the vital social justice
themes he explores. The characters are humorous,
but believable and the message is hopeful. He
doesn't dwell in the pain of oppression, but rather
uses the emotional and funny vignettes to help
the audience members to forge their own action
toward a more just world. I look forward to the
chance to work with him again.
-Kimberly Dark, performance artist and
sociologist.
www.kimberlydark.com
The play is intelligently written, hysterical
at times, poignant, and most of all, deeply spiritual
because of its underlying themes of self-examination
and self acceptance...Toscano’s acting skills
as well as the format of the piece recall the
one-woman shows of Lily Tomlin and Whoopi Goldberg
whose character studies unearth the neurotic complications
in all of us.
-John W. Sykes, in newsweekly
Looking for self-pity? Victimhood? Shrieks of
blame? A ruined psyche in agonizingly slow recovery?
You’ll have to look elsewhere.The play doesn’t
preach and doesn’t judge. It demonstrates
one guy’s approach for surviving the Ex-gay
movement...
-Steve B, Ex-Gay Watch
...the show plumbs the extent to which coming
out means more than just being honest with oneself,
and that honesty has communal repercussions,
-John Adamian, The Hartford Advocate
"Doin' Time" is unique
in that, while it's very funny and you find yourself
laughing almost uncomfortably at how blatantly
honest it is, you can tell how much affection
he feels for his fellow ex-inmates. Rather than
ridiculing these deeply sincere people, something
that's too easy and has been seen too often,
"Doin'
Time" sticks with you because you
end up wanting to grab every last one of them
and love them back into the wholeness they will
never find a place where being yourself is proof
of some kind of
"brokenness." Peterson
is a skillful performer, but what gives this piece
its power is the fact that it's embued with so
much compassion and love for the many characters
he brings to achingly, resonant perfection.
- Steve Schalchlin, composer/lyricist
of
The Last Session
and
The
Big Voice: God or Merman? and author
of
Living In The Bonus Round.
It is not a diatribe against the ex-gay movement.
Toscano plays multiple characters during the performance,
characters he cares about.
-Chuck Cleary, Metroline
Peterson Toscano's 'Homo No Mo' is consistently,
hilariously funny, but it is also deeply thoughtful--without
for a moment being 'preachy.' By poking fun at
our human foibles, Toscano reminds us of our human
dignity.
-Dr. John Corvino, philosophy professor
at Wayne State University and member of the Independent
Gay Forum
I am SOOOOO glad to hear of someone who chooses
to fight fire not with fire but with water (i.e.,
loving, not beating to death, those who are homophobic
or prejudiced against gays)
-an audience member
Right before our eyes, Peterson Toscano, with the snap of a finger, brilliantly transformed himself into the many faces and personalities that most of us have encountered along our journey of reconciliation. Through the laughs and tears that his characters evoke from you, Peterson's message rings victorious in the hearts of those whom have been set free.
-Jason & deMarco
It's brilliant and wonderful! It should be required
viewing for anyone even thinking misguided thoughts
about "ex-gay" programs.
-Rev. Candace Chellew-Hodge, editor of
Whosoever.org
If you have a church group, or an LBGT group,
or a civic group, or basically any large enough
group of people who would enjoy seeing a hysterically
funny yet heartbreakingly poignant story about
how one man miraculously found who he was while
trying like hell to be someone else, go get him.
Peterson's a sweetheart, funny and friendly and
so accomodating.
-Lady Sisyphus' Live Journal
Drew U student and LBGT campus leader
I've been fortunate to see Peterson Toscano and
"Doin' Time in the Homo No Mo Halfway
House" two times now. Each time I have walked
away with an amazing experience... Every time
I have seen this play I have been better for it,
and I highly recommend it to those on all sides
of the debate.
-Michael Gibson-Faith, Program Director
of the LGBT Issues Program in Michigan for the
American Friends Service Committee
Often times, the GLBT community has been
damaged by society's oppressive and often times
sterotypical portrayals. Peterson's theatrical
performance, 'Doin' Time in the Homo No Mo
Halfway House', does an excellent job at demystifying
some of these sterotypes and helps to bring to
life some of the struggles faced by many individuals
within the GLBT community.
-Marc A. Campos, MSW, ASW, Psychiatric
Social Worker, Oakland, CA
In a time when controversies rage over gay marriage,
ordination of homosexuals in the church and the
nature of sexuality, Toscano’s unique storytelling
neither attacks nor forcibly instructs, but rather
invites audiences to sift through various accounts
and move beyond issues to the underlying human
stories.
-Peggy Campolo, Christian writer and lecturer
It was fabulous...truly a highlight here
in D.C. It brought out every GLBT group in the
city.
-Rev. Ruth Hamilton, Washington, D.C.
The staff at our agency had overwhelmingly
positive comments and remarks to make about your
performance, comments afterwards, and the group
discussion which you led. As an agency, we have
many didactic fact filled presentations throughout
the year. Your performance set a new standard
for our agency, and one we will be hard pressed
to match in our coming year.
-Carl Shields, MS, NCC, LPC, Director, Recovery
& Community Integration, Capitol Region Mental
Health Center, Hartford, CT