170: Holy Dismissal - Producing Faith & Identity Onstage with Matthew LaBanca

Performer and musician Matthew LaBanca discussing his upcoming solo show Communion, in which he tells the story of getting fired from his music teaching job by the Catholic Church when he was reported for being gay.

Topics:

⭐️ Finding a lead producer using the internet

⭐️ Producing a non-profit off-Broadway mini contract

⭐️ Theatre careers are about relationships, so have integrity because it’s a magnetic trait

⭐️ It’s a solitary career, so let people into your process sooner than later to have company and momentum as you take projects to fruition

Pitch Deck

https://www.patreon.com/posts/170-holy-faith-115323912?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Video Version

https://youtu.be/AmztiOgdy-k

Artistic Finance

https://linktr.ee/artisticfinance

Matthew LaBanca

www.MatthewLaBanca.com

Communion

www.CommunionThePlay.com

@communionsoloshow

The Cell Theatre

https://www.thecelltheatre.org/

New York Times Article

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/27/nyregion/catholic-school-teacher-fired-same-sex-marriage.html

Backstage Jobs (now Off Stage):

https://staging.offstagejobs.com/jobs.php

1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture

https://www.1946themovie.com/

Kira Simring - director

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kira-simring-0134025/

Alissa Orlando - producer

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alissa-orlando-0118531b/

Matthew LaBanca – actor, writer, teacher, musician

Matthew made his Broadway debut with the Mel Brooks musical Young Frankenstein, where he covered the title role and stepped in during previews, garnering great acclaim. He has since appeared on Broadway in White Christmas, as well as the 2019 Tony Award winning play A Christmas Carol. Matthew’s self-penned solo show Good Enough played Off-Broadway at the United Solo Festival, winning the festival's Best Musical Award in 2014.

For years, Matthew worked as a musician and music teacher within the Diocese of Brooklyn and was controversially terminated after he wed his husband in 2021. This led to a media firestorm and, ultimately, the creation of his newest solo show Communion, which makes it’s world premiere Off Broadway November, 2024 for a limited run. Matthew’s story is also portrayed in the new documentary film May All Be Wed, which made its debut on the festival circuit this autumn. 

National Tours: Crazy for You (Bobby), Anything Goes, Joseph...Dreamcoat (cast album). Regional: Mary Poppins (Bert), Singin’ in the Rain (Don Lockwood), A Chorus Line (Zach), Tuesdays with Morrie (Mitch), Love, Valour, Compassion (Perry), and The Rocky Horror Show (Frank-N-Furter, *BroadwayWorld.com Nominee for Best Actor). Matthew has performed at Paper Mill Playhouse, TUTS Houston, Kansas City Starlight, Asolo Rep, San Jose Rep, Cleveland Playhouse, Connecticut Repertory Theatre, the Metropolitan Opera, and Carnegie Hall. His TV credits include Comedy Central's Broad City, Live from Lincoln Center, and the upcoming season of Severance on Apple+. In addition to performing, Matthew is a proud NYC elementary music teacher at PS151 in Woodside, Queens.

Instagram Handles

@matthewlabanca 

@communionsoloshow

@kirasimring

@thecelltheatre

@nicolevsteimel

@ethansteimel

Interview by Ethan Steimel