The Story

Communion is a one man show about a gay Catholic school teacher who is fired when the church discovers that he married a man.  His termination causes a crisis of faith, not only for himself, but for his entire community.  The play is based on the real life story of Broadway actor and playwright Matthew LaBanca.  Communion spotlights themes of delusion, spiritual trauma, and hope, reminding those who would use religion to discriminate against LGBTQ people that the most basic tenet of a spiritual life is that we are called to love one another.

Production History

  • Communion made its World Premiere OFF-BROADWAY Nov, 2024 at the cell theatre, 338 W 23rd Street, NYC


  • Communion - A Fundraiser for Michael Califano, was performed Feb 3, 2024 at Studio Theatre Long Island, Lindenhurst.


  • Communion received a DEVELOPMENTAL PRODUCTION Sept 22-Oct 8, 2023 at the cell theatre, 338 W 23rd Street, NYC.

Learn More

Matthew LaBanca's termination as a gay musician in the Catholic church inspired Communion.   It also sparked a media frenzy.  

Click the link below to see articles and interviews in the NY Times, Daily News, 1010 WINS, Inside Edition, and more.

Click for media links

Author's Note

Aside from sharing my own personal story, I wrote Communion because LGBTQ people deserve to be treated with equity by a church that indoctrinates them from birth. They deserve to fully know the joy of loving and being loved, as God made them, without judgement or condemnation.

About the Author

Matthew LaBanca is an actor and playwright living in New York City.  He made his Broadway debut with Mel Brook's Young Frankenstein, covering the title role and stepping in during previews, garnering great acclaim. He has since appeared on Broadway in White Christmas and the more recently, in the 2019 Tony Award winning Broadway play A Christmas Carol.  Matthew's self-penned solo show Good Enough performed to sold out audiences Off Broadway at the United Solo Theatre Festival, winning the Best Musical Award of the Festival. 

    01/12

    LaBanca’s performance in his own play defies superlatives. His heart is so big, his caring and devotion are so sincere, it makes it all the more painful when he is expected to endure a tribunal of the Catholic Diocese. But Matthew is a warrior. Warriors cannot and do not shut up.

    Tony Marinelli, TheatreScene.net

    The Team

    Matthew LaBanca

    Julianne Merrill

    Matthew LaBanca

    Author & Performer

     Matthew performed on Broadway in the original companies of Young Frankenstein, White Christmas, and A Christmas Carol.  His solo show Good Enough played Off Broadway at the United Solo Festival, winning the festival's Best Musical Award in 2014.   Matthew’s TV credits include Broad City, Live from Lincoln Center, and the upcoming season of Severance on Apple+.   

    Matthew’s controversial termination from the Diocese of Brooklyn in 2021 led to a media firestorm, and is the inspiration for his new solo show, Communion. 

    Kira Simring

    Julianne Merrill

    Matthew LaBanca

     Director

    Kira Simring is the Artistic Director of Nancy Manocherian's the cell theatre in NYC, where she has developed and directed new works since 2006. Directing credits include the world premieres of The Women Who Rode Away by Natalia Zukerman (the cell and off the WALL), Yes! Reflections of Molly Bloom (Irish Rep), Crackskull Row by Honor Molloy (New York Times Critics’ Pick) and Hard Times: An American Musical by Larry Kirwan (New York Times Critics’ Pick). Kira is a three-time Origin Theatre 1st Irish Award Winner for Best Director. 

    Julianne Merrill

    Julianne Merrill

    Julianne Merrill

    Sound / Production 

    Julianne works in NYC as a professional Music Director, Pianist, and Electronic Music Engineer.  On Broadway, she can be found on the podium as a substitute conductor or keyboard player, as well as a designer of pit playback technologies:  aka "PatchMaster."  Keyboard Programmer for Broadway's A Strange Loop, Playback Engineer for Broadway's Some Like it Hot.  Also Broadway's Harmony and How to Dance in Ohio.  A recent graduate and now professor of Live Music Production and Design and Writing and Design for Musical Theatre at Berklee NYC.

    Ryan Belock

    Julianne Merrill

    Julianne Merrill

    Projections

    Off-Broadway:  On A Clear Day You Can See Forever (Irish Repertory), Dogs of Rwanda, A Deal (Urban Stages), The Jury, Powerline Road (TheatreNowNY), Musical of Musicals, Me & Ella (York Theatre).  Broadway:  Associate/Assistant:  Here Lies Love (Animator, , Peter Nigrini, designer)  Dear Evan Hansen (Understudies Assistant Editor, Broadway, West End, U.S. Tour, Peter Nigrini, deisgner).

    It’s not easy to carry an entire piece all by yourself– particularly one which is so personal. The intensely charismatic LaBanca meets that challenge. Guaranteed to foster discussions about religion, sexuality, identity, tradition, prejudice, and much more, this Communion is well worth receiving!

    -Jed Ryan, LavendarAfterDark.com

    VIDEO

    Watch the Full Trailer for Communion.

    GLAAD's Ross Murray calls Matthew a Minister in a post show talkback, Sept 24, 2023. 

    Michael Califano was fired by the Diocese of Rockville Center from his Catholic school teaching job for being gay.  Communion was presented on Febuary 3, 2024 as a fundraiser for Michael Califano, with the gracious help of the entire team at Studio Theatre Long Island in Lindenhurst, NY.   Cecilia Dowd reports for News 12 Long Island. 

    Press

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     Communion is a one-man show about a gay Catholic school teacher who is fired when the church discovers that he married a man. His termination causes a crisis of faith, not only for himself but for his entire community. Based on the real-life story of Broadway actor and playwright Matthew LaBanca, Communion spotlights themes of delusion, spiritual trauma and hope, reminding those who would use religion to discriminate against LGBTQ people that the most basic tenet of spiritual life is that we ar

    Communion - A new play by Matthew LaBanca

    communiontheplay@gmail.com

    Copyright © 2024 Communion - All Rights Reserved.

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