• Home
  • Productions
    • Becoming Austin Nation
    • Flight
    • Fences
    • Godspell
    • Hair
    • Once on this Island
    • The Piano Lesson
    • Rent
    • Seven Guitars
    • Sister Act
    • Smokey Joe's Cafe
    • Spelling Bee
    • Urinetown
  • Theme Park
  • Resume
  • News
  • Contact
  • More
    • Home
    • Productions
      • Becoming Austin Nation
      • Flight
      • Fences
      • Godspell
      • Hair
      • Once on this Island
      • The Piano Lesson
      • Rent
      • Seven Guitars
      • Sister Act
      • Smokey Joe's Cafe
      • Spelling Bee
      • Urinetown
    • Theme Park
    • Resume
    • News
    • Contact
  • Home
  • Productions
    • Becoming Austin Nation
    • Flight
    • Fences
    • Godspell
    • Hair
    • Once on this Island
    • The Piano Lesson
    • Rent
    • Seven Guitars
    • Sister Act
    • Smokey Joe's Cafe
    • Spelling Bee
    • Urinetown
  • Theme Park
  • Resume
  • News
  • Contact

BECOMING AUSTIN NATION

WAYWARD VOICES

Solo. Duo Trio.

Wayward Voices is a space to amplify, uplift, and empower BIPOC artists. Our goal is to produce work that inspires and activates our artists now and our artists to come. Let this be our a jump to produce work that reflects the truth of our world, and the many stories ready to be told. 


Becoming Austin Nation 

Diagnosed with HIV/AIDS at the age of 26 this is the story of a person facing his own mortality until the release of the life extending drug AZT. At 40, Austin beat back his demons and is living his best life as a drag performer and a professor of nursing at Cal State Fullerton. It’s a story you do not want to miss.

HOLLYWOOD FRINGE FESTIVAL 2022

LOS ANGELES LGBTQ CENTER RENBERG THEATRE

Reviewed by Joseph Klink

Stage Raw

Hollywood Fringe


Becoming Austin Nation - from Crack to PhD: A Drag Queen's Story is an inspiring, autobiographical account of one person's overcoming of life's greatest difficulties and their finding even greater love.


The show is performed in the Renberg Theatre, a space with high ceilings, intricate lighting and a beautiful proscenium. A solo show performed in this venue demands the complete attention of the audience.


The stage is set with a clothing rack, a mirror and chair - for applying makeup to the face - and a small table, next to a beautiful dress. This set is simple yet exactly what is needed - Nation fills the rest. He enters from the house, interacting with the audience before taking the stage, and seamlessly welcoming us to his past. He speaks to us as if we've been friends for a lifetime yet somehow avoided sharing the details of our lives. The show becomes an opportunity to finally share those details with absolute ownership, self-respect and pride.


Now 60 years old and living their best life, Nation delivers this story with care, patience and energy - and vulnerability. The piece is embellished by brilliant color and select music choices. It's full of ingenuity. For fans of empowering queer stories, and anyone else who'd like to see a well-grounded work, this show comes highly recommended.


Photo Gallery

WAYWARD VOICES at THE WAYWARD ARTIST 2022

Director

Stage Manager

Stage Manager

Rovin Jay

Stage Manager

Stage Manager

Stage Manager

Jenelle Huck

  • Home
  • Becoming Austin Nation
  • Flight
  • Fences
  • Godspell
  • Hair
  • Once on this Island
  • The Piano Lesson
  • Rent
  • Seven Guitars
  • Sister Act
  • Smokey Joe's Cafe
  • Spelling Bee
  • Urinetown

Copyright © 2025 Rovin Jay - All Rights Reserved.

Powered by

This website uses cookies.

We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.

Accept