Ex-Gays includes the audience in the conversation for an interactive theatrical experience. Set in fictional CampStr8-N-Arrow, the story follows Pastor Brian and the rest of the camp staff as they help guide campers turn off their homosexual feelings and turn on their love for Jesus Christ and the heterosexual lifestyle! Through the lens of satire, Ex-Gays takes a humorous and thoughtful look at the relationship between sexuality and religion in contemporary American society.

Written and conceived by Eric F. Avery
Directed and co-conceived by Laura Leffler-McCabe
with additional creation by the cast

excerpt from Adam Whisner's mnplaylist.com blog, "Emotiolitical":
"It's a solid, well-produced and executed piece of sociopolitical art. I absolutely recommend it."

Read the full article here.

excerpt from Max Sparber's minnpost.com article:
"To the play's credit, beneath the superficial nudge nudge wink wink of the play's skit format, there is the real heartbreak of the ex-gay movement..."

Read the full article here.

Savage Umbrella's EX-GAYS at the MN FRINGE! from Savage Umbrella on Vimeo.

(footage by Shira Levenson, edited by Carl Atiya Swanson)

Reviews from the July run of Ex-Gays:

excerpt from Matthew Everett's TC Daily Planet review:
"Savage Umbrella just picked up a last-minute opening on the Minnesota Fringe Festival schedule (August 4 through 14, 2011) and will be doing a truncated version you can catch over at Intermedia Arts. So the play will continue to evolve. I'm glad. Because it's a conversation—in both comedy and drama—that we'll all be better off continuing to have. Highly recommended."

Read the full review here.

excerpt from John Townsend's Lavender Magazine article:
"Over the past few years, the junk science of the so-called ex-gay movement has gathered toxic steam. Fueling violent homophobia in Uganda and social-engineering exploits in the United States, it has become an insidious industry for “reparative” therapy, hack writers, and fake 12-step programs that treacherously mislabel homosexuality as an addiction to be recovered from.

Savage Umbrella Theater has been developing a play about such absurdities entitled Ex-Gays. What began as a two-person stage workshop coconceived and performed by Laura Leffler-McCabe and Eric F. Avery in April 2010 has transformed into a scathingly perceptive nine-actor ensemble project."

Read the full article here.

Carl Atiya Swanson
Role: Head Pastor Brian
Pastor Brian went to Crown College, where he was active in the glee and spirit clubs. Among other duties, Pastor Brian works directly with the male staff, gently leading all to a satisfying, mind-blowing camp experience. Brian's favorite camp activity is hand ball.

Sheila Regan
Role: Associate Pastor Kim
Kim adds a woman's touch to Camp Str8-N-Arrow. At camp, Kim oversees rugby, lacrosse, and the future homemakers class. Her favorite musical artist is Bret Michaels, and her biggest hero is Chuck Norris. Kim has been known to snatch up any wayward female campers, so just remember, you can run but you can't hide from Pastor Kim's quick fingers!

Amber Davis
Role: Music Director Patsy
Patsy's #1 job is loving and supporting her husband, Pastor Brian. Her #2 job is leading all of Camp Str8-N-Arrow's music programs. Patsy's favorite music comes from Third Day, Casting Crowns, Bonnie Tyler, and Katy Perry. When asked why she loves Camp Str8-N-Arrow, Patsy has two reasons: 1) her husband loves it, and 2) Patsy believes that God's spirit can best be heard through music, and when she's at camp, she gets to feel that spirit rise up out of her mouth and shower her whole body and the bodies of everyone around her.

Rachel Nelson
Role: Art Instructor Virginia
Virginia has been obsessed with wet clay since she first experimented with her high school art teacher. She loves the way the clay feels between her fingers, wet and cold until her body heat warms it up. She'll teach you how to be hard with the clay and pound it out with your fist, but then she'll teach you how to smooth it out gently with the tips of your fingers. Virginia also teaches finger painting, and her favorite artist is Georgia O'Keefe. "An hour with me and Georgia and some wet clay is my most frequent dream!" says Virginia.

Tanner Curl
Role: Camp Psychologist Peter
Peter has a certificate in grace-driven psychiatry from Liberty University where he studied with his mentors Rev. Jerry Falwell and Dr. God (the greatest scientist of them all!) and served as a research fellow with the Rev. James Dobson and Focus on the Family. He is trained in ways that will help campers avoid the psychological problems often associated with homosexuality, including depression and suicide. He also plays a mean game of volleyball!!!!

Hannah Holman
Role: Camp Tech Director Sam
Sam is a new addition to Camp Str8-N-Arrow this summer. For the last 10 years, Sam has taken a vow of silence in protest against the Muslim attacks on America. Until the Christians of the world are safe from oppression and able to celebrate the true faith vocally, Sam writes on her notepad, she too will remain silent. Sam has also been working on a Christian sign language as an alternative to the secular ASL. Away from camp, Sam enjoys watching ABC Family and playing the Christian version of Monopoly (about earning wealth as a tribute to God!!!!11!!)!!!!!

Russ Dugger
Role: Intern Ricky
Ricky, a former camper himself, is excited to be back at Camp Str8-N-Arrow to support the staff, especially Pastor Brian. Ricky runs his own a capella group, Truly Trebling, and enjoys watching Law & Order marathons on television. His favorite camp activity is playing hand ball with Pastor Brian!! You don't want to get in the middle of one of their intense games, or you're bound to be slapped by a wayward paddle!

Shira Levenson
Role: Intern Harper
Harper is "super-duper jazzed" to be at camp for the first year. As a college student, Harper has been involved in debate club, speech club, expository speaking club, public speaking club, talking club, discussion club, conversation club, confab club, chat club, instant message club, praise club, chant club, and ultimate frisbee. Harper spends her free time researching manatees and holding her breath. She's up to 40 seconds!!!!!

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Missed opportunities to spotlight abuse.
by Marie Cooney Follow this reviewer
Rating 2 kitties
Although there were a few funny moments, for the most part this was a series of dumbed-down, campy skits, not real theater. Some blocking seemed absurd. Comic scenes took place front and center. However, a serious scene when a camper tries to explain to the pastor that the "ex-gay" ministry isn't working is practically hidden upstage left behind the clothes line. Then an important plot twist practically takes place off stage, in a corner, near an exit. The seriousness of religious abuse and serious damage inflicted by "ex-gay ministry" was not even touched upon until the "extreme cure" scene. Then that was fluffed over again with a stupid ending suggesting nothing changes. This was NOT comedy, drama, or satire. It was insulting.

Awesome!
by Harold Klein Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Great interactive production – a must see! It pokes fun at the very disturbing religious right. It’s going to be a long and hard struggle over the next year as we fight to keep the Minnesota constitution free from discrimination. This play give much needed comic relief.

Queer & Campy
by Dixie Treichel Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
The very serious topic of the homophobic Christian mentality trying to convert queer folk into being straight is handled with humor and creativity. I must say though that I am still missing the butch woman on stage. The body type and mannerisms of a muscular, stocky woman are invisible in both stage and film. This play did not include any butch women but the actors and actresses did well with their campy characters. Go see.

Ran out of gas
by Richard Jackson Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
I loved the first half of this show. But as the camp leaders and interns began to question their commitment to the tenets of the camp, the energy seemed to rapidly drain away along with my enthusiasm for the performance.

Engaging As All Get Out
by Chris Garza Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
I am a recent friend to one of the actors and have not seen any of Savage Umbrella’s previous productions. I went to see Ex-gays expecting to enjoy his performance and I was pleasantly surprised by the entire cast. Each actor had several moments that convinced me they were my favorite character.

The subject of this piece is a “camp” favorite among us gays as evident in the film “But I’m a Cheerleader.” Ex-Gays departs from the film by cleverly including the audience not only with clever theatrical devices (turning us into spect-actors) but also by viewing the audience as a partner in conversation. The show is fun and humorous but more importantly it is thought provoking and wanting your input. So go see the show and join the discussion.

So-So
by Ronny Cary Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
I went into this show with high hopes from Savage Umbrella's past productions, but felt the show was only so-so. It wasn't bad, mind you. I just have very high expectations of this company because previous work of theirs has blown me away.

FUnny, if a bit uneven
by George Adams Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
Bottom line: I never looked at my watch. Funny, inter-active, and the hottest cake-frosting scene EVER!

2011 Fringe Favorite!
by Suzi Gard Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Shocking. Hilarious. Touching. What more could a Fringer ask for?

I loved the audience-involvement that this cast used. I was treated like a "troubled homosexual" at Camp Str8-N-Arrow, and between announcements, group activities, and therapy sessions, I struggled to keep my laughs at a decent decibel level.

These performers were on the ball and the script was wittily stuffed full of jokes for our LGBTQA audience members. This show does not disappoint!

Topical and Funny
by Kara Greshwalk Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
Sometimes topical shows spend a lot of time preaching and leave out character development, but not this one. Everyone is fleshed out and has a journey. The material gets to the point without being too obvious or preachy. Ex-Gays succeeds at exploring the ins and outs of homophobia and self-hatred, but makes room for lots of laughs. It seems like a pretty intentional choice when things get dark toward the end, and not as funny. Lovely, sad, and thought-provoking. Go see it.

Laugh Out Loud Hilarious!
by Steve Schmitz Follow this reviewer
Rating 5 kitties
Most people understand how vicious and ill-informed and un-Christian the "ex-gay" ministry is. This play has VERY funny acting and jokes. It is high energy and takes a serious issue and makes you laugh the whole time. I noticed straight and gay people alike laughing aloud throughout. There were a few tender or poignant moments, but 95% of it is sarcastic, double entendre or satirical comedy.

Yay! Camp!
by Fringivitis Vulgaris Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
This is audience-participation theater! We're all going to camp to learn to be... well, you know the drill or you wouldn't be here. There's plenty of enthusiasm from camp staff, and there's some enthusiastic after-hours hokey-pokey too. Sure to offend devout right-wing christians and "ex-gays". Likely to entertain anyone who's endured someone trying to pray away their gay!

Shock ending
by Terp Evans Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
The pre-show interactions with the campers are fun & usher you into the experience. Humorous double-entendres are punctuated by glimpses of brutal reality. While I chuckled & laughed a great deal, I hurt with the pain I saw in Patsy's face due to her "relationship" with Brian.

I wasn't surprised by relationships formed and broken, but was completely caught off guard with the Level X therapy. As an former (ex?) ex-gay, it was a brutally painful reminder of a past that is unfortunately still all-too-present for some. Thank you for tackling this subject with humor but not pulling any punches in the process.

enthusiastic
by Wendy Thoren Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
The experience begins in the lobby, so be sure to get there early. Interactive theater brings in the audience immediately. Prepare to feel little ackward and if you like to participate, by all means, go! At times, the comedy was too real. (Not a bad thing, just a reminder that the subject matter takes hostages). I recommend adding it to your list of shows.

Great energy, but starts to lag
by Clark Kinser Follow this reviewer
Rating 3 kitties
The fun energy at the beginning of the show was wonderful. But by the middle I started to sense things beginning to get flat, and the laughs weren't coming. Still, I had fun and the camp staff(cast) was great.

Meh.
by je jo Follow this reviewer
Rating 2 kitties
Show is very earnest, and has a lot of potential, but in the end it comes across as weirdly amateurish. Staging was odd and awkward, and delivery was pretty uneven. It's heart is in the right place, and there were some truly funny moments, but in the end i was left a bit flat. Sorry guys...

Something was a little off
by Liz Oppenheimer Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
The show was campy, for sure, and the welcome by the camp's "staff" was fun. The humor and pacing seemed to fall flat at times, and the ending didn't work for me at all. But the energy of both the cast and audience helped it along... As did the cake scene.

Announcement! Lets all pray!
by Evelyn Blum Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
By the end of this show I was hoping to be able to have the gay prayed in! It took a serious social issue and turned it into a light and fun show. It made me feel good and was fun to sit right up front for this one!

So Much Fun
by Levi Morris Follow this reviewer
Rating 4 kitties
I can't lie. I'm an Ex-Gay groupie. I've seen the show four times (three in Savage Umbrella's full length production, and now one at the Fringe Festival.) This show is just so much fun!!

From the ridiculousness that is Patsy and Brian's relationship to the painful turn it takes, from the complex relationships twisted throughout; this show delivers laugh after laugh. I only wish there was a little bit more truth in the procedures they take to "Turn It Around" and make homosexual's straight. But go see this show if you want to laugh, if you don't mind audience participation, if you love awkwardness, sex jokes, or the painful reality of trying to turn a homosexual into a heterosexual. GO SEE THIS SHOW! :)