Standing On Stage as George Michael

The recording from my “Not Til Now” performance is available!

At the end of January, I participated in a unique event. Along with 9 other performers, I got on stage and did something I had never done before.

Photo courtesy of Regan Rouse Photography

The event was “Not Til Now,” a show dreamed up by the amazing Brit Stueven.

Brit and I met at her “Mom’s on the Mic” event where I did open-mic standup. When I heard about her Not Til Now project, I reached out to her to find out more. It sounded intriguing and a little scary. What’s something I’ve never done before?

I’d been working with my therapist/coach on a creative offering. Something that involved storytelling. Something that allowed me to express long-held beliefs that had kept me feeling isolated and not myself.

As often happens with me, George Michael became a topic of our discussions. The celebrity crush that has stayed with me for 30+ years. The celebrity crush who has appeared in my dreams. It turns out, George Michael had something to teach me.

I have explored my love for George Michael before. In a series of Facebook posts after he died in 2016, I shared how his life and music became my life’s soundtrack. My yog-a-go-go class was inspired by him. I developed a short-form presentation entitled “The Cultural Relevance of George Michael” for a public speaking workshop.

So, presented with the idea of doing something “new,” I decided to bring George more fully into my process. I decided to dress as him. I applied for a slot in the show and worked with my therapist/coach and Brit to transform my thoughts about self-exploration, silence, inherited scripts, patriarchy, dual lives, and the power of 80’s pop music into a 8+ minute performance.

I invite you to check it out. I also invite you to watch the other 9 performers. Their stories, jokes, and explorations are personal, powerful, and relatable.

Here’s to courage, telling our stories, and celebrity crushes.

Watch here: My Not Til Now Performance