FROM THE PLAYWRIGHT OF FREUD ON COCAINE
Houston, 1998.
John Lawrence (Drew Droege) and Tyron Garner are arrested under Texas's "Homosexual Conduct" law. Their fight changed history.
What begins as a drunken arrest soon grows into a constitutional battle stretching from Houston to Washington, D.C. Texas Sodomy follows two ordinary working-class men and Lane Lewis (Matt McConkey)—a Houston activist and bartender who becomes their closest ally and protector—as they join an unlikely coalition of lawyers and activists in a pivotal chapter of the American civil rights movement.
Blending sharp comedy, gripping drama, and intimate character study, Texas Sodomy reveals the extraordinary human story behind one of the most important civil rights decisions in modern American history.
World Premiere:
Texas Sodomy: The Incredible True Story of Lawrence V. Texas
September 10 – October 24, 2026
Whitefire Theatre
Los Angeles
Tickets on Sale Now
Cast
Drew Droege* (John Lawrence)
Jabari (Tyron Garner)
Matt McConkey* (Lane Lewis)
Drew Droege has performed Off-Broadway in the hit musical “Titanique” and in his own plays “Messy White Gays”, “Happy Birthday Doug”, and “Bright Colors And Bold Patterns”. He can be seen in this year’s “Stop! That! Train!” directed by Adam Shankman and last year’s “Queer” directed by Luca Guadagnino. He’s an alum/regular performer with T
Drew Droege has performed Off-Broadway in the hit musical “Titanique” and in his own plays “Messy White Gays”, “Happy Birthday Doug”, and “Bright Colors And Bold Patterns”. He can be seen in this year’s “Stop! That! Train!” directed by Adam Shankman and last year’s “Queer” directed by Luca Guadagnino. He’s an alum/regular performer with The Groundlings, “The Golden Girlz Live”, and is the internet’s only Chloe Sevigny impersonator. Drew’s thrilled to return to the Whitefire and to the world of Howie Skora in this beautiful new work.
Matt McConkey* (Lane Lewis)
Jabari (Tyron Garner)
Matt McConkey* (Lane Lewis)
Matt McConkey is honored to be a part of this incredible project. Stage credits include Love! Valour! Compassion!(Dezarts), The Boys in the Band (Coast Playhouse), and countless live comedy shows at UCB, Dynasty Typewriter, Largo, and more. TV: American Auto (NBC), Happy Endings (ABC), Marry Me (NBC), and The Housesitters (Screambox). Mat
Matt McConkey is honored to be a part of this incredible project. Stage credits include Love! Valour! Compassion!(Dezarts), The Boys in the Band (Coast Playhouse), and countless live comedy shows at UCB, Dynasty Typewriter, Largo, and more. TV: American Auto (NBC), Happy Endings (ABC), Marry Me (NBC), and The Housesitters (Screambox). Matt also hosts the podcast And Just Like Matt and has worked as a writer on Kenan (NBC), Heathers (Paramount), and Holidazed (Hallmark). Born and raised in Ohio, Matt is a graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and lives in LA with his husband, Michael, and their dog, Tugboat.
Instagram: @themattgrassi
Jabari (Tyron Garner)
Jabari (Tyron Garner)
Jabari (Tyron Garner)
Jabari is so thrilled and honored to be performing in this production and bringing this role to life! Originally from The Bronx, New York, he is excited to continue his acting journey with Texas Sodomy. He would like to thank his family and friends for their constant love and support, as well as the cast and creative team for trusting him
Jabari is so thrilled and honored to be performing in this production and bringing this role to life! Originally from The Bronx, New York, he is excited to continue his acting journey with Texas Sodomy. He would like to thank his family and friends for their constant love and support, as well as the cast and creative team for trusting him with this opportunity and their vision. He hopes you all enjoy the show!
Instagram: @itsjustjabariInstagram
Dylan Vox (Robert "Royce" Eubanks)
Tom Trudgeon (All Judges and Christian, a conservative lawyer from the Log Cabin Club)
Jabari (Tyron Garner)
Dylan Vox has toured nationally in several stage productions, including Bombermania!, the award-winning hip-hopera City Kid, and the David Bowie-inspired musical Hunky Dory. His on-screen credits include appearances in NCIS, Z Nation, The Mentalist, and the cult favorite vampire series The Lair.
Behind the camera, Dylan is a prolific filmm
Dylan Vox has toured nationally in several stage productions, including Bombermania!, the award-winning hip-hopera City Kid, and the David Bowie-inspired musical Hunky Dory. His on-screen credits include appearances in NCIS, Z Nation, The Mentalist, and the cult favorite vampire series The Lair.
Behind the camera, Dylan is a prolific filmmaker, directing more than thirty feature films for networks including Hulu, Tubi, Lifetime, SyFy, and others. Equally passionate about live performance and storytelling, he is honored to return to the stage in this important new work created by Howie Skora.
Celeste Pechous (Jackie Rosenthal)
Tom Trudgeon (All Judges and Christian, a conservative lawyer from the Log Cabin Club)
Tom Trudgeon (All Judges and Christian, a conservative lawyer from the Log Cabin Club)
A proud alumna of The Second City National Touring Company, she has performed in all corners of the world. Celeste starred as Campbell in Showtime’s critically acclaimed dark comedy Work in Progress, earning praise for her nuanced performance.
Her television credits span both comedy and drama, including roles in Upload, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
A proud alumna of The Second City National Touring Company, she has performed in all corners of the world. Celeste starred as Campbell in Showtime’s critically acclaimed dark comedy Work in Progress, earning praise for her nuanced performance.
Her television credits span both comedy and drama, including roles in Upload, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Carol’s Second Act, The Kenan Show, Masters of Sex, Workaholics, Review, Hot in Cleveland, Get Shorty, Sharp Objects, Pearson, One Day at a Time, and Shifting Gears. She can be seen in She Keeps me Young, which premiered at the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival.
You’ve also likely seen her in several national commercials, charming you into things as insurance, milk, and banking options, with just the right amount of joy to finally open up your free checking account.
Tom Trudgeon (All Judges and Christian, a conservative lawyer from the Log Cabin Club)
Tom Trudgeon (All Judges and Christian, a conservative lawyer from the Log Cabin Club)
Tom Trudgeon (All Judges and Christian, a conservative lawyer from the Log Cabin Club)
Tom is excited to be a part of this important storytelling. Favorite stage credits include The Legend of Georgia McBride and What the Constitution Means to Me (International City Theatre); Arcane: Enter the Undercity (Secret Cinema/Netflix); Apollo 11 (Troika); Good Boys and True, Antigone X, Machinal, The Duchess of Malfi (California Re
Tom is excited to be a part of this important storytelling. Favorite stage credits include The Legend of Georgia McBride and What the Constitution Means to Me (International City Theatre); Arcane: Enter the Undercity (Secret Cinema/Netflix); Apollo 11 (Troika); Good Boys and True, Antigone X, Machinal, The Duchess of Malfi (California Rep); Bent (Max/Philly FringeArts); The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told, Southern Baptist Sissies (Pandora Prods.); Romeo & Juliet, The Tempest (National Shakespeare Company); The All-Male Importance of Being Earnest (Wilde at Last at The Duplex). Tom recently directed The Real Black Swann: Confessions of America’s First Black Drag Queen (Celebration Theatre & LA LGBT Center) and The Normal Heart (Actor Saturday). Tom is a member of LA’s Celebration Theatre Company and The National Alliance of Acting Teachers. MFA, California State University, Long Beach.
Aaron Tone (Deputy Quinn, Miles Keaton, Paul M. Smith)
Deonte Marcel (Tyron Garner) Understudy/Alternate — Performing two shows in October; dates TBA
Deonte Marcel (Tyron Garner) Understudy/Alternate — Performing two shows in October; dates TBA
Aaron Tone makes his Los Angeles stage debut in Texas Sodomy, portraying some of the real cops and lawyers involved in the case. In today’s political climate, he is especially grateful for live theater—and decriminalized homosexual sex. Thank you for supporting both.
Deonte Marcel (Tyron Garner) Understudy/Alternate — Performing two shows in October; dates TBA
Deonte Marcel (Tyron Garner) Understudy/Alternate — Performing two shows in October; dates TBA
Deonte Marcel (Tyron Garner) Understudy/Alternate — Performing two shows in October; dates TBA
Deonte Marcel is a multi-talented singer, dancer, and actor with a BFA degree in Music Theatre. His standout roles include Jack Kelly in Newsies, Benny in In the Heights, and Gator in Memphis. Passionate about storytelling through performance, Deonte creates work that blends raw talent with heart, whether through soulful vocals, powerful
Deonte Marcel is a multi-talented singer, dancer, and actor with a BFA degree in Music Theatre. His standout roles include Jack Kelly in Newsies, Benny in In the Heights, and Gator in Memphis. Passionate about storytelling through performance, Deonte creates work that blends raw talent with heart, whether through soulful vocals, powerful monologues, or movement that speaks without words. Represented by Infin8 Artists and Bloc Agency, he strives to inspire and prove that dreams do come true. @theofficialdeonte
Scott Victor Nelson — Principal Cast Cover
Deonte Marcel (Tyron Garner) Understudy/Alternate — Performing two shows in October; dates TBA
Scott Victor Nelson — Principal Cast Cover
Scott Victor Nelson most recently recurred in the Emmy nominated THE REHEARSAL on HBO. Nelson appeared in the world premiere of Michael Golamco’s *Build *at the Geffen Theater and originated the roles of Mark in the world premiere of *Can I Touch It *and Hakkon Chevalier in the U.S. premiere of Oppenheimer with Rogue Machine Theatre. His
Scott Victor Nelson most recently recurred in the Emmy nominated THE REHEARSAL on HBO. Nelson appeared in the world premiere of Michael Golamco’s *Build *at the Geffen Theater and originated the roles of Mark in the world premiere of *Can I Touch It *and Hakkon Chevalier in the U.S. premiere of Oppenheimer with Rogue Machine Theatre. His voice can also heard in many commercials you have probably seen and heard.
@scottvictornelson IG
PRODUCTION TEAM
Howard Skora (Playwright/Director)
Mitch Rosander (Assistant Director/Stage Manager)
Mitch Rosander (Assistant Director/Stage Manager)
Howard Skora is a Los Angeles–based playwright, director, and screenwriter known for his comedic works: Freud on Cocaine, Gaslight House, Damaged Furniture, and Miserable with an Ocean View. With four world premieres at the Whitefire Theatre, he has established himself as a prolific voice in the LA theatrical scene.
Freud on Cocaine, his m
Howard Skora is a Los Angeles–based playwright, director, and screenwriter known for his comedic works: Freud on Cocaine, Gaslight House, Damaged Furniture, and Miserable with an Ocean View. With four world premieres at the Whitefire Theatre, he has established himself as a prolific voice in the LA theatrical scene.
Freud on Cocaine, his most recent work, had sold-out runs in 2023 and 2024 and earned seven BroadwayWorld Los Angeles Award nominations. Based on the true story of young Sigmund Freud’s decade-long personal use of and experimentation with cocaine, the play incorporates Freud’s own words from The Cocaine Papers. It was produced in Portland in 2026 by Fuse Theatre Ensemble and begins a European tour in October 2026.
Gaslight House (2022) received six Broadway World nominations, including Best Play and Best Direction, and earned rave reviews. Stage Raw praised it, saying, “Skora comes from a stand-up comedy background, and his mastery of humor shines in the show’s writing. ...This play is absolutely unpredictable from start to finish, in the best way, and the audience is consistently kept in suspense of what’s actually real. ...Gaslight House is an unforgettable experience...this writer cannot recommend it enough."
His 2018 play, Damaged Furniture, directed by Jim Fall, ran for six months and was the top-rated original comedy in Los Angeles on Better-Lemons for its entire run, earning a “100% sweet critic rating.” It later garnered an Ovation nomination for Featured Actress in a Play (Jessica Pohly), as well as Best Play and Best Writer nominations at the 2019 Valley Theater Awards, and returned in 2026 with a successful run at Boca Stage.
Skora’s first play, Miserable with an Ocean View, directed by Jim Fall, premiered in 2015, featured Oscar nominee Patty McCormack and Drew Droege, and ran for five sold-out months. It was named “Most Promising New Play” by Don Grigware in the BroadwayWorld Eddon Awards and earned multiple Valley Theatre Award nominations, including Best Play and Best Director.
Skora studied screenwriting at UCLA Extension, where he received the Diane Thomas Screenwriting Award for his screenplay The Trainer. He is also the first-place winner of the 5th Annual Scriptapalooza Screenwriting Competition and used the $10,000 prize to complete Nick Name and The Normals, his first independent feature-length documentary, which premiered in London at the National Film Theatre. He develops most of his work with the members of The Actor’s Gym, run by his longtime mentor, Oscar winner Bobby Moresco, and is grateful to collaborate with the actors and artists who continue to shape his productions. He also serves as a board member of the Desert Playwrights Retreat.
Mitch Rosander (Assistant Director/Stage Manager)
Mitch Rosander (Assistant Director/Stage Manager)
Mitch Rosander (Assistant Director/Stage Manager)
Mitch Rosander is an LA-based actor, lighting and sound designer,and director. A longtime board member of Loft Ensemble in North Hollywood, he is also the Production Manager at the Whitefire.
This is Mitch’s third Howard Skora production, after doing just about everything on the previous two—including acting in Freud on Cocaine as the Narr
Mitch Rosander is an LA-based actor, lighting and sound designer,and director. A longtime board member of Loft Ensemble in North Hollywood, he is also the Production Manager at the Whitefire.
This is Mitch’s third Howard Skora production, after doing just about everything on the previous two—including acting in Freud on Cocaine as the Narrator and Freud’s son, Ernst. For Texas Sodomy, he once again wears multiple hats.
Mitch would like to thank the cast and crew, Bryan Rasmussen, and especially Howard Skora for bringing him along on another wonderfully wild ride. Enjoy the show!
Bryan Rasmussen (Artistic Director of the Whitefire)
Mitch Rosander (Assistant Director/Stage Manager)
Bryan Rasmussen (Artistic Director of the Whitefire)
Bryan is the recipient of the 2016 Valley Theatre Award for Artistic Director Achievement, is now in his 20th year as Producing Artistic Director of the Whitefire Theatre, celebrating its 40th anniversary season. Bryan is one of the most prolific theatre producers in Los Angeles. He has produced over 1000 solo shows and hundreds of regula
Bryan is the recipient of the 2016 Valley Theatre Award for Artistic Director Achievement, is now in his 20th year as Producing Artistic Director of the Whitefire Theatre, celebrating its 40th anniversary season. Bryan is one of the most prolific theatre producers in Los Angeles. He has produced over 1000 solo shows and hundreds of regular plays, including numerous world premieres. Directing credits include the 35th-anniversary production of Sam Shepard's Buried Child, Billie!..backstage with Lady Day, Firehouse, The Bellflower Sessions, and Stella's Last JDate. He is currently developing theatre projects with Academy Award winner Bobby Moresco as well as launching multiple world premieres. He also produces the largest solo theatre festival on the West Coast called Solofest, where over 80 shows premiere in 90 days now in its 12th year. He also founded the famous Itchy Foot Cabaret in downtown LA in the 1980s as well as having been a member of the famed South Coast Repertory playing Young Scrooge for nine years, and when they won the Tony for Best Regional Theatre in 1985. Numerous film and TV credits as an actor include “24”, “Sons of Anarchy,” “The Mentalist,” and “American Horror Story” opposite Jessica Lange. He trained at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco after receiving his BA in theatre from Cal State Long Beach. Bryan is a proud member of the Actors Gym.
Ben Phen & Arron Mendoza (Costume Design)
Ben Phen & Arron Mendoza (Costume Design)
Bryan Rasmussen (Artistic Director of the Whitefire)
Ben Phen and Arron Mendoza have a shared background in wardrobe styling and a passion for collecting, curating, and sourcing distinctive, authentic vintage pieces. They opened L.A.G. Vintage in Virgil Village in 2012 and bring their carefully curated clothing pop-ups to iconic queer events throughout Los Angeles. They also create their ow
Ben Phen and Arron Mendoza have a shared background in wardrobe styling and a passion for collecting, curating, and sourcing distinctive, authentic vintage pieces. They opened L.A.G. Vintage in Virgil Village in 2012 and bring their carefully curated clothing pop-ups to iconic queer events throughout Los Angeles. They also create their own original clothing lines: Ben Phen Studios (@benphenstudios) and BOXDYES (@boxdyes).
Dusti Cunningham (Set Decor and Design)
Ben Phen & Arron Mendoza (Costume Design)
John Knowles (Video Production and Design)
Los Angeles–based photographer Dusti Cunningham grew up in a very clean single-wide trailer in rural Kansas. His family didn’t own a television, so they watched tornadoes. None of his dogs were named Toto. Dolly Parton and his mother were his heroes; both wore wigs. His inspirations include gypsies, pirates, circuses, 1970s glamour, and t
Los Angeles–based photographer Dusti Cunningham grew up in a very clean single-wide trailer in rural Kansas. His family didn’t own a television, so they watched tornadoes. None of his dogs were named Toto. Dolly Parton and his mother were his heroes; both wore wigs. His inspirations include gypsies, pirates, circuses, 1970s glamour, and the National Enquirer.
Dusti has worked on all of Howard Skora’s plays, creating the clown for Miserable with an Ocean View, the infamous “Versace Recliner” for Damaged Furniture, the gothic furnishings of Gaslight House, the Scarface-meets-Victorian world of Freud on Cocaine, and now the “bar-to-the-bar” furnishings of Texas Sodomy.
John Knowles (Video Production and Design)
Ben Phen & Arron Mendoza (Costume Design)
John Knowles (Video Production and Design)
John Knowles is a filmmaker, graphic artist, and caffeine enthusiast who enjoys making stoopid videos with his friends. His work includes the feature film Chastity Bites (2013), the short Fondue or Die in Grindsploitation 4: Meltsploitation(2018), and an impressive number of cat videos made during the pandemic.
This is John’s third Howard
John Knowles is a filmmaker, graphic artist, and caffeine enthusiast who enjoys making stoopid videos with his friends. His work includes the feature film Chastity Bites (2013), the short Fondue or Die in Grindsploitation 4: Meltsploitation(2018), and an impressive number of cat videos made during the pandemic.
This is John’s third Howard Skora production, mostly due to Mr. Skora’s relentless begging. He shot and edited the mind-bending commercials for Gaslight House, created the Tarantinoesque title-card sequences for Freud on Cocaine, and now brings his visual mischief to Texas Sodomy.
John is thrilled to be part of the production, though he would like to remind fellow Write Club member Howie that he “still has notes.” Love to Lotti, Barb and Star.
Arthur Goldiner (Special Effects)
Michael Donovan (Casting Director)
Michael Donovan (Casting Director)
Arthur was born and raised in New York City and holds degrees in Psychology/Sociology, Sociology, and Public Policy from Skidmore College, NYU, and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
What began as a hobby in special-effects makeup became Scarecrow Co., which Arthur founded in 1993. The company grew into the world’s leading manufacturer of ultra-rea
Arthur was born and raised in New York City and holds degrees in Psychology/Sociology, Sociology, and Public Policy from Skidmore College, NYU, and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
What began as a hobby in special-effects makeup became Scarecrow Co., which Arthur founded in 1993. The company grew into the world’s leading manufacturer of ultra-realistic, customizable vampire fangs, now sold in more than 35 countries and featured in television, commercials, and fashion campaigns including Pepsi, Diesel Jeans, CSI, America’s Next Top Model, and Dancing with the Stars. Scarecrow also spent more than a decade creating masks, prosthetics, props, and custom work for clients including Universal Studios California.
Arthur still takes on specialty effects projects when the right one comes along—and has created special effects for every Howard Skora production in Los Angeles.
Michael Donovan (Casting Director)
Michael Donovan (Casting Director)
Michael Donovan (Casting Director)
Michael Donovan is the recipient of 10 Artios awards, presented by the Casting Society of America for Outstanding Achievement in casting. Richie Ferris has 4 Artios awards. They have cast more than 1,200 shows produced at such venues as the Ahmanson Theatre, the Mark Taper Forum, the Hollywood Bowl, Pasadena Playhouse, the Kirk Douglas
Michael Donovan is the recipient of 10 Artios awards, presented by the Casting Society of America for Outstanding Achievement in casting. Richie Ferris has 4 Artios awards. They have cast more than 1,200 shows produced at such venues as the Ahmanson Theatre, the Mark Taper Forum, the Hollywood Bowl, Pasadena Playhouse, the Kirk Douglas Theatre, Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Colony Theatre, Laguna Playhouse, International City Theatre, Ebony Repertory Theatre, the Soraya Performing Arts Center, Laguna Playhouse, Arizona Theatre Company, Ensemble Theatre Santa Barbara, the Palazzo and Paris in Las Vegas, Milwaukee Rep and more– as well as several national tours, numerous films, and TV series. Michael is also the President of the Board for the Foundation for New American Musicals.