Love in the Age of Intolerance

By Frank DiLella
16 Feb 2010

Next Fall stars Patrick Heusinger and Patrick Breen
Next Fall stars Patrick Heusinger and Patrick Breen
Photo by Carol Rosegg

Geoffrey Nauffts' Next Fall, an exploration of love and faith in the context of an intolerant world, makes the leap from Off-Broadway to On.

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"No one's the devil, here. We're all just trying to get along." This simple statement, signed "Anonymous," serves as an introduction in the script for Geoffrey Nauffts' latest work, Next Fall. While it may be something only those onstage and behind the scenes in this new play get to share, this powerful statement seems to be exactly what Nauffts is trying to convey with his work in the theatre and beyond.

Developed through the not-for-profit Naked Angels Theater Company (Nauffts currently serves as artistic director), Next Fall comes to Broadway this month after a critically successful Off-Broadway run during the summer of 2009. Under the direction of Sheryl Kaller, this provocative drama tells the story of a gay couple, Adam (Patrick Breen) and Luke (Patrick Heusinger), and their struggles with faith and acceptance. The opening of the play takes place in a hospital waiting room, immediately following a serious tragedy involving one of the men. The story continues using flashbacks to show how a group of very different people are all connected.

Currently moonlighting as one of the writers for ABC's "Brothers & Sisters," stage and screen multi-tasker Nauffts says it was his interest in faith and religion that inspired him to write Next Fall.

"Organized religion plays an important part in our world," he shares. "I never grew up around it and I've always been curious about it. In recent years, my world has collided with the world of organized religion to a certain degree and I've met people who have faith. It's been enlightening. So with this play, I took a scenario and went from there."

While the story line of Next Fall is fictitious, Nauffts, who is making his Broadway debut as a playwright, says that he's giving a fair and balanced face and voice to what's currently happening in our country regarding the lack of equality for same-sex couples. "The actual plot of the play does sort of put a human face on California's Proposition 8 [the state constitutional amendment that prevents same-sex couples from marrying there]. If [Prop 8 supporters] can come and see this — if it causes them to humanize the situation a little bit, and there's more understanding there — that's a great thing."

He adds, "There are no easy answers. I don't want to portray the play in that light. I try to give a voice on all sides of the equation — even the choir that I'm preaching to can ask questions."  Continued...