JIM PROVENZANO author journalist playwright arts editor

Cyclizen - a novel (with a blog!) Advance praise for Cyclizen: "From the ashes of office temp arises a courier on two wheels in search of the man who got away. As he whizzes up and down the thoroughfares of Manhattan, fleeing his past, sizing up his future, he careens headlong into lust’s pothole. Watch our hero as he falls under the spell of a dashing and dastardly inside trader. How far will the seduction go? Only the Cyclizen knows." – Ian Philips, author, See Dick Deconstruct " Juggling AIDS activism, corporate and individual greed, all through the travails of a bike messenger in search of love and belonging, Cyclizen is noteworthy for its fine characterization and poignant lyricism. Provenzano explores love and friendship with insight and nuance, marking his work as unique, vital and significant." – Trebor Healey, author of Through It Came Bright Colors . . . Sporting Life GLBT Athletics and Cultural Change From the 1960s to Today through Dec. 2006 at the GLBT Historical Society "An Emerald City version of a school gym's trophy cabinet, illustrating the community's inclusive reputation, and surpassing straight sports culture." - Bay Area Reporter "The rich and colorful exhibit... documents the thriving gay athletic scene ... The exhibit is filled with rare items, gleaming under lights and organized by sport from track and field to bowling. In one case are original medals from the first Gay Games." - San Jose Mercury News . . Monkey Suits, a novel (2003) "A nostalgic Manhattan-set novel about unfocused youth, mercurial boyfriends, and the early days of ACT UP anger - part sneering and part servile, a nervy imbalance gives it subversive, comic clout." - Richard LaBonte, Bookmarks "Jim Provenzano's brilliant new novel Monkey Suits captures perfectly the Reagan Age as it examines the lives of gay cater-waiters working the Metropolitan Museum's swank parties, while getting politicized by ACT-UP." - Author David Ehrenstein . . Wrestling Team (German translation; 2003) "Diese Geschichte aus der Welt der Athleten ist erschreckend realistisch geschrieben und eine Mahnung dafür, welchen Weg wir noch zurücklegen müssen." - Felice Picano "Wrestling Team" ist eine aussergewöhliche Coming-out-Geschichte, in der es um eine Gruppe junger Ringer geht. Das Buch wurde inspiriert durch ein Hate Crime in New York: Der 15-jährige Joe eifert im Ringerteam seiner neuen Schule den drei Rädelsführern nach. . . PINS the play (2006) Midwest premiere, new production, with new scenes. Directed by Chris Arnold. Now playing through July 23 at Chicago's Bailiwick Repertory Theatre. "Jim Provenzano's play, based on his novel, is a coming-of-age narrative about a high school wrestler grappling with being gay. Few of the plot developments are surprising: there's bullying, crying, parental bafflement, innocence lost, self-knowledge won. But Provenzano shows a deep fondness for his characters and a sure understanding of the wrestling milieu. He's particularly adept at handling the crosscurrents of fear and lust produced by the conflict between the sport's potential homoeroticism and the team members' homophobia. Chris Arnold's well-choreographed production, part of the 2006 Pride Series, is sometimes a bit too agitated but nicely captures the tender ache of adolescence; Eddie Bennett is particularly endearing as the conflicted young wrestler." - Zac Thompson, Chicago Reader "Director Chris Arnold has assembled a fine cast, presided over by Eddie Bennet, as the sweetly soulful protagonist Joey. Bennet's performance is masterful beyond his years - his palpable yearnings and fears give this work its depth and momentum. As Dink, Joey's love interest, Casey Chapman is all adolescent swagger and confusion - the perfect foil for Joey. Their scenes together are the play's highlights. PINS is a good choice for Bailiwick's Pride Series. It presents gay issues that are mostly neglected in stage work and it ends on a hopeful note." - Chicago Free Press MORE REVIEWS PINS the play (2002) "Played with quietly moving intensity ... beautifully written passages" - San Francisco Chronicle "A strong, well-staged world premiere production. Provenzano shows great skill with naturalistic dialogue and a healthy dose of wry humor. Nick Tagas inhabits the demanding role with total conviction, great physicality and a puckish charm. - SF Examiner . PINS, a novel (1999) "A full-fledged miracle of writing." - New York Blade News "A brooding chronicle of Catholic guilt, faith, family and sexuality in a New Jersey of intolerance. The characters here are real and loaded with depth, making the action and uncertain ending that much more vivid and ultimately poignant. PINS is an auspicious debut, sort of a Catcher in the Rye about disillusioned gay jocks. It firmly establishes Jim Provenzano as an important new voice in early 21st-century fiction." - Torso Magazine . . . . . My day job is Assistant Arts Editor for the Bay Area Reporter. I do the weekly events calendar, and other editing duties. . Sports Complex | PINS | Monkey Suits | Short Fiction | What's a Myrmidude? | Contact | PINS, Monkey Suits, Sports Complex; Topics: small press gay fiction, gay sports, gay sports articles, Gay Games, gay high school wrestlers, cater waiters and ACT UP