The Bus

“The Bus in Kansas” A Kickstarter Update

James Lantz — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 01:36:41 +0000

December 14, 2011 “During our mini-tour, we were moved to tears by the hospitality and generosity of the good people of the Sunflower State. Many on our team said it was the most humbling and moving experience of their professional lives. Our goal was to perform as near the Westboro Baptist Church as we could, and indeed, we did — we were within sight of the Kansas State Capitol building and just over a mile from the notorious church headed by Pastor Fred Phelps and his family. In our audience was a mother whose son died of AIDS, parents who came to understand, students who drove up to three hours to see our show, gay couples and straight folk, believers and atheists, people on the front lines fighting for LGBT rights in Kansas — and even a couple of Kickstarter supporters.” Read the whole post here.

“Off Broadway Show to Visit Wichita as Westboro Counter-protest” Wichita Eagle

James Lantz — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 13:27:58 +0000

December 7, 2011 “The New York cast, crew and playwright of the off-Broadway show “The Bus” will stage a single show tonight at Wichita State University as a counter-protest to Westboro Baptist Church’s anti-gay picketing. Wichita is one of two Kansas destinations for the show; the other is Topeka. “When we started this project, we decided to be proactive and take it to a place that resonated, where hate groups are actively pursuing high schools,” said playwright James Lantz.” Read the whole article here.

“Phelps son to support play about gay teens” Topeka Capital Journal

James Lantz — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 19:51:07 +0000

December 6, 2011, Nate Phelps, an estranged son of Westboro Baptist Church pastor Fred W. Phelps Sr., will return this weekend to his hometown to support the presentation of a play about two gay teens, a large church and small-town homophobia. “The Bus,” which played off-Broadway in New York City this fall, will be staged at 7 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday in downtown Topeka at the Blue Planet Cafe, 110 S.E. 8th. It then will be performed at 7 p.m. Saturday at Metropolitan Community Church, 4425 S.W. 19th. Read the whole article here.

Nate Phelps to Conduct Talk Back at Topeka Performances of The Bus, Dec. 9 and 10

James Lantz — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:45:30 +0000

December 1, 2011, Topeka, KS Nate Phelps, estranged son of Westboro Baptist Church Pastor Fred Phelps, will conduct a talk back at two Topeka performances of ‘The Bus.’ The younger Phelps assisted in bringing the Off Broadway production to Topeka and, along with the playwright and cast, will be available following the show for a discussion about the play which features a large church and two gay teens. ‘The Bus’ will be performed by the original Off Broadway cast at the Blue Planet Cafe at 110 SE 8th Ave on Friday Dec. 9 at 7:00pm, and Saturday Dec 10 at 1:00pm.

“The Bus is theater magic!” Theatre Is Easy

James Lantz — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 11:59:16 +0000

October 10, 2011 A big city play about gay teens that hopes to open the minds of small town audiences. If any play can do it, this is the one. … Thankfully, The Bus is theater magic. It’s beautiful in every way good theater should be. This is one of the best shows I’ve seen in a long long time. Go see it while you can, before it has it’s real run in Topeka. (Read the whole review here.)

“Intimate and touching drama!” Advocate

James Lantz — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 16:22:28 +0000

October 10, 2011 Driven by Our Town-y narration, James Lantz’s intimate and touching drama stars Bryan Fitzgerald and Will Roland as teens who swap spit in an old bus parked in the middle of an explosive conflict between a megachurch and a gas station. … An admirable critique of faith-fueled small-town homophobia, The Bus next travels to Topeka, Kan., in hopes of imparting its message to Westboro Baptist Church.

“Highly charged!” Theater Mania

James Lantz — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 12:00:01 +0000

October 10, 2011 “There aren’t a lot of places gay teenagers Jordan (Bryan Fitzgerald) and Ian (Will Roland) can go in their small middle-American town without being discovered. And the one refuge that they have found becomes a battleground in James Lantz’s quietly affecting play, The Bus. … Fitzgerald delivers a terrific performance, with subtle shadings of emotion that flash across his face at key moments.

“The Bus packs a wallop!” Curtain Up

James Lantz — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 11:58:24 +0000

October 10, 2011 “By the end of this production, some in the audience were teary-eyed and most were touched because this little play is not really so little at all, dealing as it does with weighty subjects: a struggle of teenage boys trapped between the most influential church in town, their own passions, and a struggling gas station. … Simplicity does not mean simple. The small-town simplicity of The Bus packs a wallop that is worth your time, whatever your beliefs.”

“Moving performances!” Backstage

James Lantz — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 22:34:17 +0000

October 10, 2011 The leading actors deliver moving performances … there are touching moments of dialogue. “Why can’t we hang out like regular kids?” Jordan prods. “We are regular!” Ian exclaims. Lantz has also written entertaining lines. “I don’t even like musicals,” Ian says to prove he doesn’t fit the gay stereotype.

“Deeply moving!” Showbusiness Weekly

James Lantz — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 21:00:59 +0000

October 10, 2011 Fitzgerald is deeply moving as Jordan, a young man coming to terms with his sexuality, and Roland succeeds in portraying the more awkward boy, torn between his parents’ conflicting interests. … Following its New York premiere, The Bus will travel to Topeka, Kansas, for a symbolic performance near the extremist Westboro Baptist Church, which has gained national notoriety over the years for its homophobic beliefs and anti-gay protests. That ambitious project alone is more than sufficient reason to support this play