[NoHo Arts District, CA] – [NoHo Arts District, CA] – In this month’s Soaring Solo blog, Jessica Lynn Johnson pays tribute to Michael Kearns, the groundbreaking solo artist, AIDS activist and mentor whose fearless work left a lasting mark on Los Angeles theatre.
“HIV is nothing to be ashamed of. For me to remain silent indicates shame or fear on some level.” – Michael Kearns
I was so deeply saddened to read in the Los Angeles Times that the legendary solo artist, AIDS activist and author, Michael Kearns, had passed away from cardiopulmonary arrest on October 5 of this year at the age of 76. Michael left behind a solo theatre legacy of 16 one-man shows throughout his career.
Tragically, he was slated to perform at Celebration Theatre’s LGBTQ+ history festival just days after his death.
Not only was it heartbreaking to read of Michael’s future performance that would never come to fruition, it was also a painfully sobering moment for me as I realized how much time I had allowed to slip by since I was last in contact with Michael.
You see, I didn’t just admire Michael from afar as the theatrical genius that he was, I also had the honor of working intimately with him on my solo theatre book Soaring Solo: Taking Solo Theatre to New Heights, which is still collecting dust in my Google Drive, waiting for me to bring it to completion one day. This unfinished book is a complete guide for writing, producing, performing and touring a one-person show. Michael was mentoring me through writing it for nearly a year. Then, as my life began life-ing, I allowed everything else to pull me away from my book and from Michael’s mentorship.
“I’ll reach out soon to pick up our work together, Michael,” I said with every good intention of doing so.
That was in February of 2021…nearly six entire years ago.
Michael, though very complimentary and encouraging of my unique lens on the solo theatre genre, never went easy on me. As a writing mentor, he was every bit as brazen as you’d expect and spoke frankly about what was and was not working in the pages I would turn into him. At the time, it would ruffle my perfectionist feathers, but now, in his absence, I cannot imagine ever deleting a single one of his notes. Each instruction, every suggestion, feels like a precious piece of solo theatre history sitting in my Google document.
As a Queer artivist myself, I relate to Michael so much. He and I were both raised in St. Louis, Missouri. The Bible Belt isn’t exactly the warmest (nor safest) place to be a member of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Yet, Michael did not let his Midwestern roots hold him back. Quite the contrary. He was a trailblazing writer and performer known for risky acts like publicly disclosing his HIV status on national television in 1991 on NBC’s A Closer Look, and the next day, Entertainment Tonight. He was passionate about challenging the stigma surrounding it. I have such reverence for his astounding bravery, especially at that time.
During a 1998 appearance on the talk show Get Used to It hosted by Sheila Kuehl, Michael said, “…one day I was put in the school play, and I excelled. Suddenly I realized I could entertain, and from that moment on it was just like this realization, ‘Oh my God, here is something that I can do, I have found it,’ and I was only eight years old. From that moment on, to this very moment, I’ve never ever veered from that path.”
Michael also expressed to Sheila, “I found that the theater and being an actor was more of a way to truly connect with who I was as a person.”
Despite his love for acting, Michael still had to face the dilemma of choosing between being an out gay performer who would likely be rejected by mainstream media or being a closeted commercially successful actor.
Being the courageous man he was, Michael boldly said, “In spite of the fact that most of the teachers were gay or lesbian, they had that Hollywood philosophy that if they knew you to be a homosexual, you were not as eligible to play heterosexuals. By that point I was out, out, out. I mean, there was no way I was going to alter my offstage behavior to please anyone.”
Michael found his way through Hollywood, starring in both film and television in Body Double, Nine Lives, Street Asylum and Beverly Hills, 90210. He even portrayed a character with HIV on ABC’s dramedy series Life Goes On.
In addition to his impressive on-camera credits, his on-stage credits, specifically in his one-man shows, were what I found to be the most inspiring. A self-proclaimed “political creature,” his solo work was inspired by the AIDS epidemic and the grief he experienced as a result of the too-frequent death of his friends. He stepped into the role of a dozen diverse characters with AIDS in his productions of “Intimacies” and “More Intimacies.”
Alongside the many dear friends Michael lost during the AIDS epidemic, he also lost his husband, who died the same year they were married. Yet, being the resilient artist and alchemist he was, he transformed his pain, loss, and tragedy into powerful performances.
Not only was Michael a major influence on audiences, but he also majorly impacted his adopted daughter, Tia Katherine Kearns.
In a 2017 interview for Honeysuckle Magazine, Tia opened up about her identity as a Black woman, her unique upbringing and her work as an artist. She also shared, “I think it would have been impossible for me not to have an awareness of the world and political climate with a dad who is an openly gay actor and activist. Your openness and courage forced me to be honest with myself and the world I live in.”
Michael wore many hats and made huge contributions to the world through his social justice work with Angelenos, helping them to develop their creative voices through his writing workshops. He was also the artistic associate at the Skylight Theatre in Los Angeles, an artist-in-residence at Housing Works, and the artistic director of QueerWise, a Spoken Word collective.
Over his lifetime, he was recognized with multiple nominations and awards.
I am so profoundly grateful that I was once mentored by this magnificent man and his invaluable feedback will live within me as I translate it to the page. His unexpected death has been a painful reminder to me that we are never guaranteed tomorrow. Therefore, do not put off until tomorrow what you can achieve today.
If you have a story within you that wants to come out in a solo show, now is the time. Do not wait.
In that spirit, and in honor of Michael, I will be diving back into the writing of my Soaring Solo book and inviting others to join me for a free event that will take place on Zoom every weekday morning in November. I have playfully named this virtual experience “BUTT IN CHAIR.” After all, the hardest part about writing is actually getting our butt in the chair to do it; but once we take a seat, we often find that the words flow.
Together, as a creative community, we will carve out time on a daily basis to work on our respective writing goals. We will marvel at all that we can accomplish together in one month of consistently showing up for ourselves and one another. For more info, CLICK HERE.
Well, solo artists, I hope today’s blog entry has inspired you to seize the moment and be the brave and bold solo artist that you are. Yolo Solo!
As always, remember that solo theatre may not be easy, but it is so worth it.
Jessica Lynn Johnson
Founder & CEO of Soaring Solo LLC
SoaringSoloArtist@gmail.com
www.SoaringSoloStudios.com
Enjoy these Solo Theatre Resources to Further Guide You on Your Solo Journey!
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Award-winning director and developer Jessica Lynn Johnson hosts a slew of powerful solo show script readings and full staged productions addressing various impactful and inspiring topics.
This full Soaring Solo Studios calendar can be found by CLICKING HERE FOR MORE INFO.
Start Writing Your Own Solo Show One Freewrite at a Time With “FREEWrite Friday”!
Join BEST NATIONAL SOLO ARTIST WINNER Jessica Lynn Johnson for FREEWrite Friday!
Utilizing thought-provoking writing prompts, Jessica will lead you in writing exercises that are sure to assist you in the development of your solo show.
A one-person play is not typically written in one fell swoop. Rather, the Soaring Solo Methodology teaches that the creation of solo art is much like that of creating a Mosaic…one beautiful piece at a time.
All that is required to attend this inspiring event is a willingness to explore, having a pen, paper, or some other means of capturing your thoughts, the ability to access Zoom, and signing up on this page as your official RSVP.
We look forward to having you join the Soaring Solo Community in this event because your story matters!
CLICK HERE TO RSVP and obtain the Zoom link and password.
Attend the Soaring Solo FREE One-Person Play Development Class ONLINE!
No matter where you are in the creation of your solo show, idea phase, curiosity phase, full draft written, touring the festival and college market, BEST NATIONAL SOLO ARTIST and founder of Soaring Solo, Jessica Lynn Johnson, will meet you where you are at and take you to the next level! All that is required to attend is a willingness to explore, a pen, and some paper. No previous writing or performance experience necessary, and no need to have written anything to bring to class. Each week, Jessica will guide you in exercises to help generate and stage NEW material! So come and meet other creatives in a supportive space for expression and exploration! The class is ongoing and so you may pop in and out as you please, as long as you RSVP BY CLICKING HERE for this FREE ONE-PERSON PLAY CLASS.
Schedule an Online Coaching Consultation
Schedule an Online Coaching Consultation with Jessica Lynn Johnson to discuss the possibilities for your solo show!
Jessica brings her 15+ years of solo theatre expertise to work privately with solo artists from all over the world on an as-needed basis.
A 1-on-1 consultation is for you if…
-You are curious about creating a solo show, but you need writing prompts to help you generate material.
– You are tossing around ideas for your solo show, but you need some accountability and encouragement to commit those ideas to the page.
-You have already written some material, but you need expert feedback on editing, story structure and play formatting.
-You have a great first draft, but need guidance on how to utilize multimedia and solo theatre technique in order to make your show a dynamic piece of solo theatre.
-You already premiered your solo show and now you want some tips on how to tour colleges and festivals, and garner accolades and great reviews!
-You have heard great things about Jessica’s work and you’re curious about hiring her as a Director & Developer for your solo show, but first, you want to feel her out and see if she is the right fit for you and your project.
Wherever you may find yourself on your solo journey, Jessica will help you overcome whatever immediate obstacle stands between you and your solo success.
If you resonate with many of the things on this list, then take the next step by emailing SoaringSoloArtist@gmail.com for more information.
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