Faith and Flesh Collide in New York Premiere of Missa Solemnis, Opening Nov. 1 | Playbill

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News Faith and Flesh Collide in New York Premiere of Missa Solemnis, Opening Nov. 1 The New York premiere of Missa Solemnis or The Play About Henry, Roman Feeser's true-life exploration of one man's struggle with faith and sexuality, officially opens at the Barrow Group Theatre Nov. 1.

Missa Solemnis features Matthew Huffman in the title role of Henry Stuart, a young gay Mormon who committed suicide in 2000. Linda S. Nelson directs the work that runs through Nov. 22 at the TBG Theatre. Performances began Oct. 30.

According to production notes, "This provocative drama is based on the actual events of his life in which he faced a tragic, false dilemma: either one is gay or one is Christian. Since he believed he was Christian, he thought he could not be gay. Trapped between his same-sex attraction and the power of his LDS faith, Henry made the ultimate sacrifice, removing the chains of his mortality."

The cast also features Jai Catalano (Todd Elliot), Bill Fairbairn (Fred Matis), Warren Katz (Bishop Bob Rhodes) and Gail Winar (Marilyn Matis).

Designing Missa Solemnis are Marisa Merrigan (set design), Graham T. Posner (lighting design), David B. Thompson (costume design) and Justin Utley (sound design).

Missa Solemnis received a reading last year in New York at Ars Nova and made its Salt Laky City debut in June 2008. Feeser is also at work on the forthcoming book "Latter Gay Saints – the Mormon Church and God's Second Class Saints," based on his experiences writing Missa Solemnis. Tickets, priced $18, are available by phoning (212) 868-4444, or by visiting SmartTix.com.

The TBG Theatre is located at 312 W. 36th Street.

For more information visit ThePlayAboutHenry.

 
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