This entertaining documentary about the notorious gay punk rocker Nick Name (aka Kent James) somehow manages to balance an obvious reverence for Nick with a willingness to push and probe for more uncomfortable truth. Where it really comes to life is in its examination of James' youth. He was born in a strict Mormon family in Utah and grew up in the church, even completing his missionary service in Argentina as a young man. From here he became a rising-star country and western singer in Nashville, until one day he finally had enough of pretending to be something he wasn't. He left his fake-trophy wife, shaved his head, moved to San Francisco and became the outspoken gay revolutionary Nick Name.

Writer-director Skora paints a remarkable portrait of this man using concert footage, interviews with his band-mates (Morris and Rattner), manager (Lucky) and former collaborators (Helmut and Ryzie). And he really goes after Nick himself with the camera, never letting him dodge tough questions or situations as he follows him for a year on tour. We learn a lot about him through his music; the thoughtful country tracks and rowdy rock numbers are skillful expressions of emotion and/or bitterness. There's a good-natured humour and camaraderie that makes these people very likable ... and makes the film great fun to watch. Nick is so irate that you know there's a lot going on inside. He's also a gifted musician with pin-up boy looks, stacks of personality and a tough sense of humour that sometimes tries too hard in a Jim Carrey sort of way.

The film is a slightly self-indulgent inside job, assuming some knowledge of Nick's musical career. And Skora spends too much time on the various scandalous incidents, which do make great cinema verite! But the film is best when it cracks Nick's hard-as-steel shell and we see him wistfully longing to fit in ("People get me in Europe--here it's a chore"; "When I get to New York there's a good chance I'm not coming back"). This uncovers a surprisingly thoughtful and vulnerable man who only accepted his sexuality in his late 20s and now has trouble acknowledging his soft side. No wonder he's so angry. [themes, strong language]

A gay punk singer with a difference, Nick Name is a shaven headed muscle boy, [a disaffected] Mormon, an ex-Country & Western singer formally known as Kent James. Skora, a fan, spent a year recording a concert tour around the Western United States and capturing the reactions of fans and enemies alike. Testosterone charged and angry, with explicit lyrics (sample: 'I like to buck my boyfriend and I want to hear him squeal') that do not always appeal to everyone in his audience, Nick is an unrepentant warrior for a liberation from gay conformity. This world premiere is an up close and dirty portrait of a talented original. Warning: sexually explicit lyrics, parental advisory.

Born in 1956 in Glendale, CA. Guest appearances included The Virginian, Bewitched, The Invaders, The Brady Bunch, The Munsters, and The Dick Van Dyke Show. At the age of seven heco-starred with Doris Day and James Garner in the feature 'The Thrill Of It All' in which he was so professional that when a small girl mistakenly said his line, he came right back with hers, prompting the director to tell Brian's mother Wanda that even most adult actors wouldn't be as adept. Brian got his start when his brother's singing teacher brought him to an agent's attention and with his two brothers he was cast in the memorable Wonder Bread commercial in which a boy grows into an older body before our eyes. He co-starred in Mickey Rooney's '64 series'Mickey', then landed in Please Don't Eat the Daisies... an avid baseball fan... was called back several times as one of the last three finalists for the part of John Boy Walton. His last acting job was in the '75 Saturday morning show 'Isis'... After graduating from Verdugo Hills High School, Brian attended Brigham Young University..He spent 2 years in South America for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He later married and became a stockbroker in Southern California.

Danno began his film career as a screenwriter in 1996. His first full length feature screenplay was used as a stepping stone to who and sell his abilities in the film industry. He sold his first screenplay "The 2000 Stripling Warriors" in 1999 to Dreamland Productions, a film which he also directed in Kaysville, Utah in June of 1999. Since his Directorial debut, Danno has written 9 feature length screenplay, 4 short screenplays, several Commercial scripts (i.e. 30- and 60-second commercials), and a teleplay for a #1 hit series. He has also worked in virtually every facet of the film industry. Since 1999 he has worked as a producer, Director of Photography, Lighting Director, Gaffer, Grip, Sound Engineer, Boom Operator, and has even developed a television series. As of November 2002, Danno has 2 full length features in development, and is finishing up a short documentary on one homeless man in Salt Lake City, Utah. He is also Producer for a series of international dance videos specifically focused on ballroom dancing and the like.

Mark has been an independent producer/editor since 1982, providing award-winning writing and post-production for such clients as Phillips Digital Video Systems, Browning Arms, Marker Ski Bindings, Rossignol Skis and other outdoor sports and medical clients.

Not only had a major career on the Broadway Stage but was a top attraction in the best Nightclubs across the country. Adopted first name Portia because friends called her by that name, after the main character in the radio soap opera "Portia Faces Life". Youngest of nine children. Portia Nelson is the author of the book There's A Hole In My Sidewalk: The Romance of Self Discovery. Originally published in the 1970's, it was reissued in 1994. The title work appears on a poster in Dr. Maguire's office (Robin Williams) in the film "Good Will Hunting" (1997).

Bruce has appeared in dozens of feature films, television shows and stage plays. Some of his film credits include: The Poof Point (Disney), Daughter of the Streets (20th Century Fox), A place to Be Loved (CBS), Silk Hope (CBS), A More Perfect Union (PBS), The Executioner's Song, A Place to Be Loved, Silk Hope, The Penny Promise and Where Rivers Meet. Bruce has appeared in many motion pictures produced by the LDS Church including: How Rare a Possession, The Lamb of God and Testaments.

In addition to his many motion picture roles, Bruce is a veteran actor in some of the most popular shows on television, including: Melrose Place, L.A. Law, Sisters, Tour of Duty, Hill Street Blues, Highway to Heaven, Major Dad, The Young and the Restless, General Hospital, Paradise, Reasonable Doubts, Promised Land, Everwood, Touched by an Angel and many more.

Bruce's stage credits include; King Lear, The Three Sisters, 1776, Star Spangled Girl, Long Day's Journey Into Night, Annie Get Your Gun, Terra Nova, A Marriage Proposal, Macbeth and more.

Newell has written more than a score of plays and screenplays, published a novel, and his byline has appeared on more than 40 articles in national publications. Over the last two decades he has taught writing at college and university levels. He currently teaches writing at Brigham Young University and is a professional writer for the LDS Church. He received a MFA degree in professional writing from the University of Southern California.

Neil Newell was born in Orem, Utah and attended Brigham Young University where he received a BS degree in Business Management and the University of Southern California where he received an MFA in Professional Writing. He has taught Creative Writing at Clark County Community College in Las Vegas and at Utah Valley State College. He has also taught Advanced Playwrighting at Brigham Young University. Various articles and short stories of his have been published in national magazines. His science fiction novel, "THE RELUCTANT WIZARD" was published by Manor Books. In addition to his collaboration on the music and lyrics for "KEWPIE" and "TURN THE GAS BACK ON" with Max C. Golightly and C. Michael Perry he has written the music and some book and lyric elements for "PINOCCHIO" with Max. These plays have been published by Encore Performance Publishing. He has also written the book, music and lyrics for "LOVERS AND OTHERS" and "COVENANTS". Since Max's death Neil and Mike have continued their partnership with "ANNE...WITH AN 'E': THE GREEN GABLES MUSICAL" and "GREAT EXPECTATIONS." He works for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a researcher/writer. He is married to Ariane Moffit, also of Orem, and has five children.

By far the funnest and funniest member of Wembly Hall, Richard brings to the company an array of talents. Mr. Newman was a stand up comedian for five years a various places and at UVSC studied computer graphic design. While at college, he had created and produced numerous posters for local plays. In his life he has managed at McDonalds, the Incredible Universe and was a supervisor at Office Max. Some of his major accomplishments and awards include such things as having a sculpture being placed in the Springfield Art Museum, has been placed in the top five in every major comedian competition, was featured in City Weekly as one of the funniest comedians, was placed in advanced art classes such as drawing, sculpting, painting, portraits, and linoleum prints. Richard also makes an appearance in Abby Singer, and helped in the editing of the film. Other contributions that Mr. Newman has made include: designing a poster for Abby Singer, cutting a demo tape of a variety of cover songs, created and produced many of the story boards for Wembly Hall Theatre Companies film. On Mr. Newmanbs list of silly and crazy things that he has done includes: dressing up as yogi bear and knocking kids over, knocking over a port-o-potty after a dressed up gentlemen was in it at the carnival, has ran around and acted like a philoso-raptor at a warehouse and attacked people from above, and somehow always gets a picture with the hottest girls in the room. Currently Mr. Newman is working on a comic book called cThe Comediansd, which is featuring different comedians.

Growing up in the Mormon church was an experience that caused my family and their faith to fuse into one true and revealed reality. That in turn became my faith, my identity, my reality. I am glad I left the Church. And I'm also grateful to take the ideas, the images, the music, the books, the remembered smells, and the connections bred to the bone.

Jennifer is an accomplished singer and actress. She was the featured vocalist for Desert Book/Shadow Mountain Showcase 2000, Lagoon Amusement Park entertainer and Lead singer in two bands: "Down Boy" and Voodoo Box."

Jennifer's stage credits include: The Scarlet Pimpernel (Hale Center Theatre), Legend of Sleepy Hollow (City Rep. Theatre), West Side Story (Hale Center Theatre), Peter Pan (MAC), Lucky Stiff (Hale Center Theatre), A Funny Thing Happened (THS), A Christmas Carol (Hale Center Theatre) and Jane Eyre (Hale Center Theatre).

Jennifer has also appeared on Touched By An Angel (CBS).

Ron Nix was born in Phoenix, Arizona in 1943. He is happily married. His wife is named Mary. Ron Nix is a legend in the motion picture and television industry. Since the early days of westerns on television, Ron has been wearing many hats on movie sets, from the black Stetson of a bad guy being thrown from a horse to a baseball cap as he coordinates stunts in films. Ron built his first western movie town, Cowtown, in 1977. Over 200 productions have been filmed there including "Night Rider 2010" and "Dead Man" starring Johnny Depp. Ron has also appeared in many foreign productions released in Mexico and the Phillipines.

NOTE: The above bio combines information for both Ron Nix (who lives in Phoenix) and his son, Ron Nix, Jr. (who lives in Pleasant Grove, Utah). We are working on re-writing this section.

William Norton was born into a family of Utah Mormon pioneers. He is a life-long writer and political activist. After serving in combat in World War II, he did construction work and was a State Park ranger in California. His early writings were for the small literary magazines such as California Quarterly, as well as plays for little theater in Los Angeles during the 1950s and 60s. Participation in the early progressive political movements of the 50's resulted in being called before the House Un-American Activities Committee. Norton's film writing career began with the Burt Lancaster movie, "The Scalphunters". Screenwriting continued through the 70s and 80s, along with active involvement in Central American liberation theology movements. Focusing his concerns for peace and justice towards the struggles in Northern Ireland in the 80s, both Nortons were arrested for attempting to contribute arms to this cause. They spent two years in a French prison, one year each of refuge in Nicaragua and in Cuba. They returned to Los Angeles in the early 90s, where they both continue to write.

Shawn graduated from Weber State with a bachelor's degree in Theatre and minor in Modern Dance, and just two quarters short of a Marketing Degree. He received a Master's of Fine Arts in acting from Cal Arts, and his favorite accomplishment was when he was invited to audition for Cirque de Solei! Shawn is happy to be back with Plan-B after a long break. You may remember him in previous Plan-B plays such as Coriolanus in Coriolanus or Polexenes in A Winter's Tale. If he looks familiar to you... you may have seen him in commercials or feature films.

David Nystul lives in Heber City and is married to Jill Nystul, a former graduate of BYU. He has four children. Erik 12, Britta 9, Kell 5, and Sten 2. He has been a resident of Utah for 6 years but was born and raised in Fargo, North Dakota and graduated from Moorhead State University in Moorhead, Minnesota. Dave joined the LDS church in 1987. He enjoys hunting, fishing, gardening and spending time with his family.

EDUCATION: After graduating in 1982 David took his first job in television news in Bismarck, North Dakota. From there he went to Minneapolis/St. Paul to work for the ABC affiliate as a full-time news photographer and editor. In 1989 he started his own business as a freelance cameraman working with clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to major news and sports broadcasters. Those relationships continue today as David makes consulting a vital part of staying current with trends in the broadcast industry, which he then passes along to his students.

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Web page created 7 June 2002. Last modified 25 August 2005.