EDGE San Diego

Jeff Stryker is one of the most recognizable stars of adult entertainment. Dazzling millions of fans in both straight and gay productions, Stryker has proven his versatility by merchandising his iconoclastic looks, modeling for fashion designers, and even singing country music. Now Jeff Stryker is taking his act to the stage in a solo show written by Bruce Vilanch, "A Sophisticated Evening With Jeff Stryker." Provincetown Magazine was lucky enough to chat with the star about what theatergoers can expect when Stryker brings his "Sophisticated Evening" to Provincetown.

How did the play you’re bringing to Provincetown come about?
It all started years ago when Bruce Vilanch was doing a major show in town with Shirley Jones and I believe David Cassidy and Shawn Cassidy, and it was called "A Tribute to Gershwin," and he wanted me to be part of it, as part of his particular skit. So I agreed to do that, I said, ’Yeah, I’ll do it, but you owe me one.’ So over 15 years later, I had already done the play "[Jeff Stryker Does] Hard Time" and it was a real big success, but the problem was you had to be dependent on other cast members, so I thought I want to put something out and do it by myself. So I went and talked with Bruce and I said, ’Well, it’s time to call that favor.’ [laughs] And he remembered, and he said, ’All right, let’s do it.’ And we’ve been good friends, you know, forever. So Bruce had me write out my story, and give it to him, and he made it a comedy.

How long were you working on it?
We worked on it for probably six months, maybe a year.

Then the play premiered in LA, and how did it go over in its first run there?
It went great. But when I did it, see, Bruce wanted me to rent a theatre just to rehearse it, get it done, and break it in. So we got a theatre, the Celebration Theatre, and before he knew it, I was selling tickets! [laughs] So literally I was reading out of the script the first time I ever did it. And the audience loved it, so that’s where it began and came all about. I played there I think six weeks, and it was just a very receptive crowd, a great, great run. And now I’m taking it around to the rest of the United States, well at least the big cities.

Are you taking the show elsewhere before Provincetown?
No, I’ve been really limited on the amount of bookings I did. I’ve been talking with New York, the Actors’ Playhouse, and trying to get something squared away there. They’re really eager to get me back in there. I did my first stage show there, which was for Ronnie Larsen, called "[All-Male] Peep Show." That was my first theatrical stage show, and when I did that I learned, you know, I did everything I could to learn every aspect of theatre, because we can’t be porn stars forever. [laughs] So I hope to move into mainstream, I’m sure all adult actors do, but I’m not one to... I embrace my history and background.

How does "A Sophisticated Evening with Jeff Stryker" compare to your last show, "Jeff Stryker Does Hard Time"?
When we put "Hard Time" together, they were closing all the strip clubs and everything at the time. So "Hard Time" was a play built around a strip dance at the end, so it was a comedy and it had seven or eight cast members, but it was just put there so that we could do a strip show. And this is Bruce Vilanch, so this is a real comedy, and of course I always throw in the strip show. [laughs]

How are you looking forward to Provincetown? Have you been here before?
Never. I’m really excited about it. I’ve heard great things forever - it’s like THE vacation spot.

I’m sure you have a lot of fans here.
I’ll have a blast! It should be a lot of fun.

Do you enjoy doing these stage shows?
I really do, because I get to meet people, see people who have followed my whole career. I get to entertain them and watch them be happy and excited, and leave a memorable moment in their life.

Do you ever get stage fright?
Oh yeah. [laughs] Only in the beginning. It’s like the more you do it, the more at ease you feel. But because this is my life story, there’s nothing to be frightened about. Basically it’s just telling people about my life, and having a good time with them.

Do you have any other projects coming up?
No, that’s it. I’ve been working on a Stryker special for mainstream television, and I’ve been working on a reality TV series for a good five years. But right now my number one focus is theatre, because it’s a steppingstone into mainstream.

-----

"A Sophisticated Evening with Jeff Stryker"
July 2-Labor Day
Post Office Cabaret
303 Commercial St.
508.487.3892