HENRY

MISSA SOLEMNIS
or The Play About Henry

__________________________

Henry Stuart Matis
& Missa Solemnis

Henry Stuart Matis on his mission in Italy

Henry (R) with one of his best
friends Clay Whitmer who also
committed suicide.

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On the morning of February 25, 2000, a young man named Henry Stuart
Matis drove to the Mormon Ward House in Los Altos, California, placed a
gun to his head, and ended his life.

This provocative drama is based on the actual events of gay Mormon
Henry Stuart Matis who had engaged his life in a false dilemma: either one
is gay or one is Christian. As he believed he was Christian, he believed he
could never be gay. Trapped between his same sex attraction and the
power of his LDS faith, Henry would make the ultimate sacrifice to remove
the chains of his mortality.

Missa had it’s first reading on Monday, January 21, 2008 at Ars Nova in New
York City. It was presented with the following cast:

Reading featuring:
              Julie Halston             (Broadway’s Hairspray and Sex and the City)
              Bret Shuford             (Broadway’s The Little Mermaid)
              Jason Patrick Sands (Broadway’s A Chorus Line)
              Kevin Meaney           (Broadway’s Hairspray)
              Richard Bekins         (Broadway’s Love! Valor! Compassion!
                                                  & The Chaos Theories)

It was directed by Linda S. Nelson.

Play Details:                        Contemporary Drama
                    Basic Set; 2 chairs, a side table and roll bed.
                    5 roles; 4 males, 1 female.
                    Minimal sound cues
                    Characters:
                    Henry Stuart Matis (Age 32)
                    Marilyn Matis          (Henry’s mother)
                    Fred Matis              (Henry’s Father)
                    Robert Rhodes        (Mormon Bishop, Counselor to Henry)
                    Todd Elliot                (Lover of Henry’s)

The show was workshop-ed in February 2008 with the following cast:

Jai Catalano………………………………………………….Todd Elliot
Sean Eager…………………………………………………...Frank Matis
Matt Huffman…………………………………………………Henry Stuart Matis
Warren Katz…………………………………………………. Bishop Bob Rhodes
Susan Pierson………………………………………………..Carolyn Matis

               Under the direction of Linda S. Nelson

had engaged my
life in a false
dilemma: either
one is gay or one
is Christian. As I
believed I was
Christian, I
believed I could
never be gay.

-Henry Stuart Matis

CLICK HERE TO READ
SOME MORE ABOUT
HENRY

A NEW PLAY BY ROMAN FEESER