Whore Works Concludes Sold-Out Run in New York City

At our post-performance talk back on March 20 at Nicu's Spoon, the audience was so engaged in what was going on onstage, one member commented that they were collectively the "eighth trick." On stage from left to right, director Pat Floyd and actors Juan Michael Porter II and Bryan Webster field the probing inquiries. The cast and crew of Whore Works is really grateful to the audience and the people who came out to support us during our March 13-22, 2009 run at Nicu's Spoon theater in Manhattan. The response (and the love) were overwhelming. Folks came from as far away as Atlanta and Baltimore, and we had the bittersweet experience of having to turn people away for lack of tickets. One of the best of many memorable moments during the production was when one of the audience members told us he came to see skin, and was pleasantly surprised to get his brain massaged. That's what we're about: promoting ideas (and naked truths) about black male sexuality and identity rarely given play on stage or screen.

We're particularly indebted to Rod Risbrook, Adodi New York, Darian Aaron of the wonderful gay black blog Living Out Loud With Darian, and John Martin Green and Black Men's Exchange for letting their extensive networks know about Whore Works, and for their invaluable help in making this production a success.

For the folks who weren't able to catch Whore Works this run around, we are restaging the work May 14-30, 2009 in at the Kraine Theater in New York City and, Goddess willing, in other cities in the months to come. If you want to stay in the loop, become a "fan" on our Facebook group, join our mailing list, RSS feed our blog and stay tuned. We love you and look forward to seeing you again soon.

A bit of ad copy on which I've been working...

Provocative and dark, Whore Works will open your eyes to the truth behind the games of love and lust. It could change your life.  Who knows, you might even fall in love with The Whore. Careful though; that can get expensive. After all ...isn't money Love? —Juan Michael Porter II

Returning to The Fold

After a long vacation for some of us it is time to get back down to the 'nitty gritty' as one of my characters would say.  First on our agenda is a brilliant little fundraiser we've all planned for Monday, February 9th.  There will be all sorts of treats on display and best yet clips from the original workshop production!  It is such a blast being able to do this sort of thing what with the current financial climate we are all experiencing.  Like the weather outside things are frigid but we refuse to let that deter us.  We hope that our supporters and supporters of art with follow our charge and help rescuitate what has been described as an apocalyptic winter on Broadway.  We aren't on Broadway (yet), but with over 18 mainstage productions having closed this winter we would be foolish not to take stock of what is happening just across the street.  Luckily we have found a beautiful gem of a theatre space and with the genius that went into making the original production take place we look forward to bringing you a new take on 'Whore Works'.  Some plays go through major revisions after their initial runs; not so with Whore Works.  We switched line up of two scenes in the name of line up and added a slightly different staging bit in our two openings but aside from these frankly minor adjustments the grande play and text that is Whore Works remains the same.  For those who were able to watch the initial run, I can guarantee that the integrity and spirit of the play are intact (more than intact actually) and for new viewers I am excited to hear what you think.   So... come one, come all and see the show that is about a Whore Working.  Ciao ciao para agora.

-Juan Michael Porter II

The Journey Continues

Now that we've had our inaugural work shop or whore-shop run it's on to the next bit!  Fund-raising and performing.  We are looking at a showcase and Whore work themed bash in February and then a two week performance in March.  Whatever we end up doing, I'll be sure to keep you posted.  In the meanwhile I must say thank you for the marvelous support and showing we've received thus far.  You've all made this possible and I'm happy that you all cared enough to come through.  Now keep on keeping on; the show's only just begun!

Besos

-jmp2

We all play the whore at some point in our lives

I have one of the Johns speak this line during 'Whore Works'; this along with, 'I need to stop selectively whoring myself out', represent half of the conception of this entire play.

I was having brunch with a friend 2 years ago at Columbus Circle when she said this precise thing to me. Being way too literal minded for my own good, I of course queried for clarification. She responded, 'Well, I keep going out with these guys and they buy me dinner and take me out and show me a good time and so I f^ck them... but do I enjoy it? No; it just makes me feel like a whore. It's even worse when I get horny and meet up with someone just for the sex; they act all casual and comfortable and fun at first but as soon as they shoot their load it's like- 'why are you still here?' I might as well have them pay me if it's going to be so- you know? At least I would be getting something out of it. Hell, I'm sure a whore is treated better than that. I should really look into that; whoring. If I'm going to have mediocre sex, shouldn't I at least be paid for the trouble; you know?'

Of course all I could offer to that particular diatribe was a rather limp, 'Stop having sex.' Yeah right; 'Stop having sex.' Sex is like cocaine. Really really good Honduran cocaine that your brother's compadre gives you for free for the first 3 months and then starts charging you up the ying-yang like crazy once you're good and hooked. Of course you can't afford it, of course you can't just stop, of course it's never as good as the first snort, but you keep buying because- because and when you can't afford the good stuff, of course you go snorting around for the cheap crack. Regardless of where you end up getting it, you always pay for it, one way or another in the end.

This is of course a terribly cynical way to look at sex, (though an all too accurate portrayal of drug addiction) but as my dear friend said, 'We all of us play the whore at some point in our lives.' Whether it be selling ourselves short for a tepid lay to assuage our primal needs, or feeling like a piece of meat for the hot lay that treats us like death warmed over once it's done, reducing those previous sexy feelings to wretched self loathing, some one is always buying or selling, giving or taking, and it's very rarely a pleasant exchange. The birth of 'Whore Works' comes of that exchange. The Tart is obviously an enterprising young fellow, but he's also a sensitve and perceptive man who wants just as much as anyone who engages in sex to have happiness which doesn't end with an orgasm... it's just that he's more honest with himself about the possibility of finding that which is to say, that he doesn't trust it or even believe that 'it' exists.

'Why bother with sex if I'm not going to enjoy myself? It sort of feels like work after a while anyway, and if it's work, shouldn't I at least be paid? I'm just one more gaping hole for you to plug; after you're done I won't matter any more than the condom will; my very existence will be wiped from your mind along with the cum... if I'm going to take your load I'm also going to take your cash; equivalent exchange. You have needs and I fulfill them. So pony up; I want your cash...' This is the subtext of the Tart for many of his encounters, or at least this is what he repeats to himself ad nauseum to help keep it clear that what he is doing is just a job, and he does need that clarification from time to time... Sometimes the Tart forgets himself, and forgets why he's really there... the same way we all do. We're there to enjoy ourselves... it just doesn't seem to be very much fun. Does that mean we didn't pay enough for the ride?

-Juan Michael