I'm a Broadway and television actor. I write solo shows and poetry. I teach music to elementary students. I’m a happy husband. NYC by necessity, nature lover at heart. Sugar addicted, garden sowing, LGBTQ advocating, chef inspired goofball!
The Story
Communion is a one man show about a gay Catholic school teacher who is fired when the church discovers that he married a man. His termination causes a crisis of faith, not only for himself, but for his entire community. The play is based on the real life story of Broadway actor and playwright Matthew LaBanca. Communion spotlights themes of delusion, spiritual trauma, and hope, reminding those who would use religion to discriminate against LGBTQ people that the most basic tenet of a spiritual life is that we are called to love one another.
Production History
Communion made its World Premiere OFF-BROADWAY Nov, 2024 at the cell theatre, 338 W 23rd Street, NYC
Communion - A Fundraiser for Michael Califano, was performed Feb 3, 2024 at Studio Theatre Long Island, Lindenhurst.
Communion received a DEVELOPMENTAL PRODUCTION Sept 22-Oct 8, 2023 at the cell theatre, 338 W 23rd Street, NYC.
Learn More
Matthew LaBanca's termination as a gay musician in the Catholic church inspired Communion. It also sparked a media frenzy.
CLICK HERE for articles and interviews in the NY Times, Daily News, 1010 WINS, Inside Edition, and more.
“LaBanca’s performance in his own play defies superlatives.
His heart is so big, his caring and devotion are so sincere, it makes it all the more painful when he is expected to endure a tribunal of the Catholic Diocese.
But Matthew is a warrior.
Warriors cannot and do not shut up.”
Matthew LaBanca
Author & Performer
Matthew performed on Broadway in the original companies of Young Frankenstein, White Christmas, and A Christmas Carol. His solo show Good Enough played Off Broadway at the United Solo Festival, winning the festival's Best Musical Award in 2014. Matthew’s TV credits include Broad City, Live from Lincoln Center, and Severance on Apple+. Matthew’s controversial termination from the Diocese of Brooklyn in 2021 led to a media firestorm, and is the inspiration for his new solo show, Communion.
Kira Simring
Director
Kira Simring is the Artistic Director of Nancy Manocherian's the cell theatre in NYC, where she has developed and directed new works since 2006. Directing credits include the world premieres of The Women Who Rode Away by Natalia Zukerman (the cell and off the WALL), Yes! Reflections of Molly Bloom (Irish Rep), Crackskull Row by Honor Molloy (New York Times Critics’ Pick) and Hard Times: An American Musical by Larry Kirwan (New York Times Critics’ Pick). Kira is a three-time Origin Theatre 1st Irish Award Winner for Best Director.
Julianne Merrill
Sound / Production
Julianne works in NYC as a professional Music Director, Pianist, and Electronic Music Engineer. On Broadway, she can be found on the podium as a substitute conductor or keyboard player, as well as a designer of pit playback technologies: aka "PatchMaster." Keyboard Programmer for Broadway's A Strange Loop, Playback Engineer for Broadway's Some Like it Hot. Also Broadway's Harmony and How to Dance in Ohio. A recent graduate and now professor of Live Music Production and Design and Writing and Design for Musical Theatre at Berklee NYC.
Ryan Belock
Projections
Off-Broadway: On A Clear Day You Can See Forever (Irish Repertory), Dogs of Rwanda, A Deal (Urban Stages), The Jury, Powerline Road (TheatreNowNY), Musical of Musicals, Me & Ella (York Theatre). Broadway: Associate/Assistant: Here Lies Love (Animator, , Peter Nigrini, designer) Dear Evan Hansen (Understudies Assistant Editor, Broadway, West End, U.S. Tour, Peter Nigrini, deisgner).
“It’s not easy to carry an entire piece all by yourself –
particularly one which is so personal.
The intensely charismatic LaBanca meets that challenge. Guaranteed to foster discussions about religion, sexuality, identity, tradition, prejudice, and much more,
this Communion is well worth receiving!”
