COMBATING HOMOPHOBIA & CREATING A MORE INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9TH, 1:00 P.M. TO 2:30 P.M.

IPJ CONFERENCE ROOMS E & F

JEFFREY SOLOMON WILL PERFORM BRIEF EXCERPTS FROM HIS ACCLAIMED SOLO PLAY

“MOTHER/SON,” DIALOGUE WITH PARENTS FROM THE GROUP PFLAG SAN DIEGO ABOUT THEIR

JOURNEY TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR LGBT CHILDREN, AND THEN FACILITATE A

DISCUSSION WITH WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS ABOUT HOW HOMOPHOBIA MANIFESTS ITSELF IN THE

HOME, CLASSROOM AND WIDER COMMUNITY, AND HOW WE MIGHT USE MORE EFFECTIVE

STRATEGIES TO COMBAT IT. THIS WORKSHOP IS FOR ALL WHO SEEK TO CREATE A SAFE AND

INCLUSIVE CAMPUS AND COMMUNITY.

Mother/SON

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10TH, 7:00 P.M.

STUDIO THEATRE, SACRED HEART HALL

“…No One Comes Out Alone.”

IN HIS INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED ONE-MAN SHOW NEW YORK WRITER/PERFORMER JEFFREY

SOLOMON PLAYS BOTH A SON AND THE MOTHER WHO STRUGGLES TO ACCEPT HIS SEXUAL

ORIENTATION, TRACING HER TRANSFORMATION FROM SHELL-SHOCKED PARENT TO THE MOM AT

THE FRONT OF THE PRIDE PARADE. TIME OUT LONDON PICKED MOTHER/SON AS CRITIC’S CHOICE

AND RAVED: “PROFOUND, WITTY…DISARMINGLY FUNNY AND DEEPLY MOVING…A TOUR DE FORCE!”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLbG1xN-rsU

THE PLAY:
Jeffrey Solomon’s award-winning solo play was inspired by his mother’s
poignant, and often hilarious, journey out of the closet as the parent
of a gay son. The story traces her evolution from grief stricken
mother turning up at a support group for parents of gays, to marching
with her son in a pride parade. Critically acclaimed on both sides of
the Atlantic, Emmy nominated writer-performer Jeffrey Solomon plays
both mother and son in a performance the Yorkshire Evening Post calls,
“Funny, moving and at times simply breathtaking!” The play was the hit
of the Leeds Jewish International Performing Arts Festival and won the
Audience Favorite and Best Male Solo Performer Awards at the Columbus
National (U.S.) Gay Theatre Festival. as well as Best Male Performance
at the Absolut Gay Theatre Festival Dublin.

REVIEW, TIME OUT LONDON:
“Profound, witty…Disarmingly Funny and Deeply Moving…a tour de force!”
http://www.timeout.com/london/theatre/event/185995/mother-son

Spoon-Fed (UK):
http://www.spoonfed.co.uk/spooners/naimakhan-6622/mother-son-at-oval-house-theatre-2918/

***** An amazing, riveting and moving performance.
I’ve been raving about this show all week to anyone that will listen.
-Gaydar Nation
http://gaydarnation.com/UserPortal/Article/Detail.aspx?ID=21630&sid=53

*****A wonderful, heart-warming, moving play…. a tour-de-force of
skilful writing and performance. Tears are guaranteed, as is laughter.
What’s more, there is the potential for you to be moved with the
experience affecting your life beyond the play. This is one of the
rare plays which has the power to stay in the hearts and imaginations
of all who have seen it.
-Broadway Baby

http://www.broadwaybaby.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=46:current-edinburgh-festival&id=4053:mother-son&Itemid=66

***** Brilliant comedy… a wonderful tribute to anyone who ever had to
come out, and the family members who accepted them. I dare you to
watch it and leave with dry eyes!
-Scotsgay
http://fringe.scotsgay.co.uk/category/theatre-mother-son/

THE LIST:
http://edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/article/19750-mother-son/

“A powerful portrait of homosexuality and family…Solomon’s
warm-hearted, semi-autobiographical tour-de-truth depicts the
comically complex and wryly evolving relationship of Mindy Levy, a
full-time Jewish mother, and her gay son Brad…as accessible as
enjoyable…a very fine dual performance, Solomon generously creates
mother and son from the outside in…Solomon captures and relishes the
moments of truth that connect loved ones as much as blood…powerfully
personal yet as universal as family values.” –Chicago Tribune

“Run! Don’t Walk! A wild roller coaster of a ride!”
-In the Life

“A universally moving story of love and friendship.” –In Theater

“Tender and affecting…Mr. Solomon moves from mother to son and back
again, and with the slightest gesture underscores the power of this
bond which is at once common to every child and unique to every
relationship.” –LGNY

“Wry, funny, affirming and authentic…Solomon conveys rich, believable
transformations in both mother and son…the honesty and an emotional
depth that Solomon instills throughout (not to mention his agility at
switching between a twenty something gay man and a forty something
straight woman) makes it a moving and worthwhile story.”
-New City, Pick of the Week

“Subtly varying his inflections and gestures Solomon plays both
characters, always to hilarious effect.”
-Chicago Reader

“MotherSON is the perfect play for skittish parents of gay and
lesbian children. It accords respect, dignity and understanding to a
parent’s worries about the gay life, while at the same time providing
a road map for transforming fear into acceptance…Witty, warm and
honest…A gentle, moving story about transformation…Solomon is deeply
convincing in the dual role he has created here…he is so believable,
we forget we’re watching only one actor.” –Chicago Free Press

“Solomon is marvelous…demonstrates a roller coaster of emotions…funny,
poignant and appealing…this performance is a must-see.” –Gay Chicago

“It reveals, in its most intimate moment, a gay son who has forged
such an incredible loving relationship with his Jewish mother that he
is lifted spiritually.”

–Provincetown Banner

“A tour de Force” –Provincetown Magazine
“Funny, poignant and appealing…is a must-see!” –Gay Chicago

“”Funny, Moving and at
times simply breathtaking…Solomon richly deserved his standing
ovation…brings out the fundamental nature of the mother’s life with
humour and deep understanding.”
– Yorkshire Evening Post

“…This is a very moving,
semi-autobiographical play full of humanity and wonderful Jewish
humour….It is a love letter to Solomon’s own mother, revealing how she
gradually began to accept his sexual orientation and even, finally, to
be proud of him….In doing so, he has created a fascinating,
beautifully performed piece of theatre.” -Ham and High

*****An amazing, riveting and moving performance….He differentiates
the characters with just a change of voice and attitude, getting right
under the skin of each one making them
charming and totally believable.”
. -Gaydar Nation