The all-volunteer Gulfport Community Players are known for dazzling their audiences, producing Tampa Bay’s longest-running, one-act theatrical competition since 2000 and four shows per season since 1980. Now, the nonprofit is ready to celebrate Pride with the LGBTQ-centric “Next Fall.”
“We don’t traditionally do a show in June; our season ends in April and then we come back with the Summer One Acts,” Gulfport Community Players President Eileen Navarro says. “But about two years ago, director Patrick Brafford said he’d really like to do ‘Next Fall.’ Our seasons are planned almost two years out and it got away from us—but about six months ago, we decided to revisit the idea to tie into St Pete Pride month.”
The Geoffrey Nauffts-penned play was originally produced by megastar Elton John for Broadway and nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play in 2010. “Next Fall” introduces audiences to Luke, who believes in God, and Adam, who believes in everything else, chronicling their unlikely five-year relationship through triumph and tragedy.
“The play centers around the two men and how people react when an unexpected event brings their family and friends together,” Brafford explains. “It has been described as a dark comedy and while the darkness overshadows the play, the use of humor allows the audience to experience how a family comes to life. It truly offers a very contemporary look at life between two very opposite men.”
Brafford is a current board member of Theatre Tampa Bay and has directed several productions for the Players. He’s been involved in the theatre as a director, writer, designer and stage manager for over 40 years and says that seeing “Next Fall” in New York had such a profound effect on him that he knew he had to direct it.
“I think this play has a universal appeal but is also directly related to the LGBTQ community because it speaks to the truth and doesn’t sugarcoat how difficult relationships can be,” he says. “The author allows an audience to see the love between two men as well as the growth that must take place if a relationship is to survive. It explores religion, coming out to family, losing friends, surviving jobs and trying to discover how we fit in each other’s lives while continuing to remain honest to ourselves.”
As an openly gay man, Brafford says that being able to produce “Next Fall” for audiences has been a delight. “I am passionate about Pride, what it stands for and how each of us can bring our talents to represent the LGBTQ community in a positive and fulfilling way,” he explains. “I am of an age where I went through being in the closet for too long, being made fun of, being afraid and losing my loved one to AIDS. This deeply moving play allows me the opportunity to bring some of that history to an audience.”
Bringing the production to life are Tampa Bay performers Daniel J. Harris and Taylor X. Taylor, who respectively play Adam and Luke. Harris, who is also the bar manager for St. Petersburg’s LGBTQ Lucky Star Lounge, has performed nationally and internationally and directed “Gulfport: The Musical,” the Players’ original production celebrating the city’s centennial. “Next Fall” is Taylor’s sixth play and second production under the direction of Brafford.
“I was moved by the storyline and the incredible script,” Harris says of joining the production. “It felt very important for me to do this show, especially for Pride. In my almost 50 years on this planet, I have personally experienced the feelings of chastisement from the religious community—and especially in our current political climate, I feel like it’s more important than ever to make sure our stories are still being told so we don’t forget how far we’ve come and how far we still need to go.”
“Daniel is just an ace when it comes to the comedy and the energy he brings is just thrilling,” Navarro says. “It’s fabulous.”
It was during the audition period that Brafford began to see each character through the actors’ delivery of the lines. “The passion and deep-felt honesty they are bringing to their roles is so specific and spot on that I couldn’t imagine doing the play with anyone else at this stage,” he says.
Brafford adds that the cast—which also includes Philip Belcastro, Dan Franke, Elizabeth Bell and Kara Fokianos—has developed into a cohesive and trusting ensemble as they’ve prepared. “Each night at rehearsal we discover something new that can be explored and used,” the director says.
Navarro believes “Next Fall” is a perfect fit for both the Players and the city itself, citing Gulfport’s intrinsic ties to the LGBTQ community with its public library, LGBTQ Resource Center and more. “Gulfport has just a great identity with the LGBTQ community—we don’t have to stretch to say that we’re inclusive,” she muses. “I think we’ve met that challenge and met the mark many times over. We’ve set the standard in many ways; it’s just a great fit.”
It’s her hope that a Pride production will follow annually. “I would like the June time slot to become a tradition now for the Gulfport Community Players,” Navarro says, with “Next Fall” paving the way. “I think when people see this play they’re going to be blown away by the fact that it is so comical, so witty and yet deals so successfully with the theme. It’s timeless.”
“Next Fall” plays Thursdays-Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. June 6-16 at the Catherine Hickman Theater in Gulfport.
A preview night benefiting Metro Inclusive Health will be held June 5 and $10 tickets are available at MetroTampaBay.org. Regular tickets are $18 online or $20 (cash only) in the lobby before showtime. Watermark readers may utilize the code “PRIDE2019” when purchasing online for a special discount. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit GulfportCommunityPlayers.org or call 727-322-0316.
