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“What a rare and skillful thing is Mormon Boy, Steven Fales’ engrossing, funny, and often quite harrowing tale. Fales’ tumble from grace and his road to redemption peg him as the male counterpart of the fallen woman . . . think Joan Crawford or Bette Davis playing outcasts at their most glamorously vulnerable. He’s a male Mildred Pierce, except that it’s real life. With crackerjack direction by Broadway veteran Jack Hofsiss, Fales delivers the dramatic goods with considerable economy, crisp pacing and, in the end, a simple gesture of self-revelation that’s as effective a coup de theatre as you’ll find in a dozen shows jam-packed with special effects. Best of all, we don’t see Fales’ ultimate moment of catharsis coming; it hits us between the eyes like a shot with a two-by-four. Fales is such a good mimic, capable of vivid and hilarious impersonations. Fales has lived a stunningly eventful, almost Dickensian life, and he is, by happy coincidence, a fine writer and actor. Let him make the most of it.” 

—Kevin Nance, Chicago Sun-Times

"An uncommonly powerful, gripping, and very moving piece of theatre. It’s unusually well-written and shaped. And, onstage, Fales is both provocative and intensely empathetic."

—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune 

“An absorbing tale about the universal human search for belonging. Gay or not, Mormon or not, it is something we can all relate to.” 

—Salt Lake Tribune

“Wrenchingly honest, hilariously jubilant and utterly clear-eyed, Steven Fales’ autobiographical testimony is an exceptional achievement to rank beside the best of the solo genre."

—David Nichols, Los Angeles Times

“Go! Fales is an attractive and engaging personality who wins us over with charm instead of ingratiating gestures. He’s boyish without appearing naïve, mischievous without being cynical. In his opening moments, you never know which way Fales is going to go with his story.  Not only is the material deeply personal, but so is the performance."

—Steven Mikulan, LA Weekly

"Fales is such a perceptive writer. An enormously appealing performer, his struggle to make his life cohere is as moving as it is funny." 

—Howard Kissel, New York Daily News

"Fales, personable and still sexy, makes the tale easy to take, a sort of story hour for grow-up children, telling a quintessentially American once-upon-a-time of sexual identity crisis and selfhood.”  

—Michael Feingold, Village Voice

"Fales retains an astonishing generosity of spirit. He bares his soul. And, even if that soul is one that his church has condemned, it still feels like a sacred gift.”

—Louise Kennedy, Boston Globe

“A keen sense of the ridiculous—displayed in telling narrative details, some droll characterizations, and a wealth of verbal zingers—leavens his powerful Mormon Boy. A rare artistic commodity: a stand-up-comedy-infused autobiographical epic containing chapter after chapter of absorbing spiritual and personal crisis, sly cultural commentary, and humor.”

—Celia Wren, Washington Post

"Compelling confessional theater. Fales knows how to sell it."

—Jason Zinnoman, New York Times

"It all leads up to a moment of vulnerability so simple and powerful it suggests a kind of grace. All is forgiven with his final breathtaking, self-revelatory gesture. Fales describes his work as ‘ultimately a prayer’, and at that moment, Mormon Boy makes you want to say ‘amen’.”

—Janice Stienberg, San Diego Union-Tribune

“Fales is taking audiences with him on a pendulum swing, from uncomfortable piety to uncontrolled sensuality, and finally to the stillness and peace of finding his authentic self. Honest, moving, whimsical, sobering, tender, and cathartic."

—Christine Dolen, Miami Herald  

"The play builds in power until it crests in a warm and satisfying wave that lifts theatergoers to their feet and is generously sprinkled with witty one-liners. As he comes to peace with himself, Fales provides a simple but startling coup de theatre to signal the emergence of the real human . . . his play shoots skyward in dramatic content and emotional payoff."

—South Florida Sun-Sentinel

“A brave, bold, brightly-shining masterpiece. Unforgettable.”

—Buzz Belmont, Houston Chronicle

“It is the truth-telling that provides the punch and holds the audience in thrall. A talented performer recounts with charm and power a gripping narrative. An emotional, amusing and roller-coaster theatrical ride.”

—Houston Press

"Fales is superb. Heartbreaking. Humorous. A tale about finding redemption in honesty."

—Wendell Brock, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"Fales is an endearing performer, a masterful storyteller, and one hell of a writer. Throughout the play, his belief in god and his desire to be ‘good’ make him an extremely compelling hero. Evocative detail, humor and moments of spellbinding drama . . . great theatre . . . sexy and harrowing. A play that transcends religion, gender and sexuality."

—San Francisco Examiner  

“The play is alternately funny and sad—and at its best moments, both. A self-examination about accepting responsibility.”

—The Advocate

“A very funny, poignant and surprising story of self-acceptance and the happiness in finding spiritual connections.”

—Anthony Del Valle, Las Vegas Review-Journal

"There are numerous moments of revelation here. Beyond surprising and moving; it was stunning. Steven Fales is a hero.”

—Barry Pineo, Austin Chronicle

“Fales walks a fine line between satire and truth and ultimately generates a skillful and compelling balance between one-line zingers . . . and life-affirming revelation. It is a testimony to Fales’ skill as a storyteller as well as his ability to find humor in the often painful human condition that holds his audience for 90 uninterrupted minutes.” 

—Richmond Times-Dispatch

“While questioning Mormon doctrine on sexuality, he feels genuine warmth toward the people of the faith. Fales mixes earnest confession, witty commentary and a number of playful sketches of people he has met on his life journey . . . his performance is polished. He is engaging as the Mormon with a toothy Donny Osmond smile and sparkling eyes as he is as the low-keyed genuine individual he becomes at the play’s end.”

—The Oregonian

“Mormon Boy is a riveting night of theater. Grounded in the specifics of his own colorful life, it transcends personal revelation by inviting the audience to consider larger issues—the costs of authenticity in a rigid and stratified world. He is a playwright whose work displays great moral courage and daring.”

—Julia Cameron, The Artist’s Way

"Mr. Fales is a master at his craft. His work is timely and of utmost importance in these days of religious-based intolerance."

—Leslie Jordan, Emmy Award Winner 

"The best coming-of-age, grappling-with-being piece I've seen since Dan Butler's, and you know there have been a thousand of them ever since his. It's really good. This needs to be filmed."

—Bruce Vilanch, Six-time Emmy Award Winner

“Steven’s one-man show is a combination of an incredibly emotional and heart-wrenching story, a powerfully written and nuanced script, and a knock-it-out-of-the-ballpark performance. Confronting the ‘demons’ within, and seemingly around him, and ending up such an inspiring example of true self-respect and authenticity left me deeply touched and equally inspired.”

—Judith Light, Two-time Tony Award Winner

"When one can be so moved as to laugh till your jaw hurts, wince with a sorry recognition at the pain distorted religion can inflict, cheer with unashamed abandon at an enviable and inspiring bravery so rarely expressed in the face of certain banishment and ridicule, you know you have had a thrilling and emotionally fulfilling theatrical experience. Bravo, Steven Fales and his Mormon Boy!"

—Lucie Arnaz, Tony Award Nominee

"As someone who knew Steven at 18 years old, since our freshman year in college, I was overwhelmed in witnessing my friend's journey. It is no easy thing to live in authenticity and it takes enormous strength to look in the mirror and be honest with oneself. Mormon Boy transcends it's singularity with universal themes we can all relate to in our individual search for truth and meaning."

—Jennifer Simard, Two-time Tony Award Nominee 

"I'm still in awe of this beautiful poem of self revelation. It's like an enormous bell: in time the initial ring may sink below our hearing range but the vibrations keep spreading outward like eddies in a lake. Mormon Boy stays with you."

—Marty Martin, playwright Gertrude Stein, Gertrude Stein, Gertrude Stein

"Mormon Boy has the 'wow' factor. It's deeply dramatic and involving, and the material covers so much territory."

—Stephen M. Silverman, American biographer, journalist, and editor.

Outer Critics Circle Award Nomination

New York Artie Award

Overall Excellence Award, FringeNYC

Lambda Literary Award Finalist

Oscar Wilde Award Nomination, Outstanding New Writing for the Theatre

Among others.

SoHo Playhouse, Off-Broadway

Mitzi Newhouse Theatre, Lincoln Center

Charing Cross Theatre, London

Coast Playhouse, Los Angeles

Bay Street Theater

Coconut Grove Playhouse

Boston Theatreworks

Connecticut Repertory Theatre

Houston TheatreLab

Diversionary Theatre, San Diego

Among others.

National Arts Festival, South Africa

Edinburgh Festival Fringe

New York International Fringe Festival

Dublin International Gay Theatre Festival

Sydney Mardis Gras Festival

Atlantic Fringe Festival, Halifax

Midsumma Festival, Melbourne

Among others.

Originally directed by Tony Award Winner Jack Hofsiss (The Elephant Man).

Began as a five-minute standup routine at Caroline's On Broadway and then a formal staged reading at the Sunstone Symposium in Salt Lake City.

The world premiere was in Salt Lake Ctiy and became a sold-out sensation.