INTERVIEW: Ty Autry has a personal ‘tale’ to tell about the Deep South
Photo: Ty Autry wrote and stars in A Southern Fairytale. Photo courtesy of Mike Glatzer Photography #mikeglatzerphotos / Provided by Off Off PR with permission.
Writer and performer Ty Autry had a tough time growing up as a young gay man in the Deep South of the United States. He faced people who would not accept him for who he was, and he was at odds with his own Christian faith.
Instead of tearing him down, these early experiences emboldened Autry — but it certainly was not easy. Today, he has used the circumstances of his youth as inspiration for a new solo piece called A Southern Fairytale, which runs Feb. 19 to March 6 at the Kraine Theater in New York City as part of the FRIGID New York festival. Following the Big Apple engagement, which only consists of five performances, Autry will take the show on a tour of the United States and beyond.
The one-hour production looks at many serious issues that impact the main character’s life in the play, including conversion therapy, excommunication and a father who does not accept his son, according to press notes.
Autry is a graduate of Georgia Institute of Technology, where he studied electrical engineering. He eventually joined productions with a slew of southern theater companies, including Out Front Theatre Company, OnStage Atlanta, The Lyric Studio, Arís Theatre, Georgia Ensemble Theatre, Act3 Productions and Resurgens Theatre, according to his official biography. He has been working on A Southern Fairytale since 2018.
Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Autry about the new solo piece. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
For audiences considering taking in a performance of A Southern Fairytale, what can they expect?
They can expect to connect with the real trauma that words have over us, especially from those close to us like our family and religious institutions. On top of that, they can expect to be rolling on the floor with laughter at certain points. This show conceptually is dark, so we have designed the script and storytelling to be fun, joyful and optimistic about the future ahead of the character and the path set before him.
How autobiographical is the show?
I would say about 75% accurate. The backbone of the show is all true, but circumstances, conversations and other details have been changed to create a more engaging story for the audience to enjoy.
What was it like emotionally growing up in a society with many people not accepting who you were?
Is ‘hard’ too simple of a word to describe the full impact of what it is like growing up being surrounded by others who don’t accept you, and in turn you don’t accept yourself? Over the years, I built a box and put myself in a box, certain aspects of myself at least. That alone is very emotionally draining because you are constantly worried about getting caught, or making the wrong move while everything inside of you is screaming to just be authentic and not lie to the people closest to you.
How did these early experiences shape you as a person? Have you become kinder, more accepting yourself?
My upbringing was a double-edged sword. It hurt me at times, but it also gave me a number of tools to handle the experiences coming my way to better myself and grow from each trial. It made me recognize that strength comes from inside and is something you can cultivate. Over the years, it has made me a kinder person to myself and others in my life. Acceptance has come later through therapy. I started back in therapy for the first time since I was in high school last year, and that has helped me unlock a lot of my past and learn to be more accepting of the person I am today.
How physically draining is performing the show?
After an hour of talking, bouncing around on stage and playing a total of five other characters on top of the main character, I’m generally ready to sit down for a hot minute. The recovery period from a show like this generally takes about an hour to remove myself from the context and remember that it is in the past. I find that being around my partner or friends is what I love to do the most post-show.
Are you excited to see what an international audience will think of the play? How about audiences in the South?
Oh my gosh, I am so ready and excited to see what people think around the world! We got a taste of it in Dublin last year, and if they are any indication of what to come, I think it will be really well received. So far, we have found that audiences in the South are our most vocal audiences, finding so much more humor in the show. I think this is because they recognized more of trauma but also understand some of the more subtle jokes about the South and its very complex dynamic with faith and the queer community.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
A Southern Fairytale, written by and starring Ty Autry, will play Feb. 19 to March 6 at the Kraine Theater in New York City as part of the FRIGID New York festival. The production is directed by David L. Carson. Click here for more information and tickets.
