Call Answered: Del Shores Interview: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Sordid Lives Writer, Director, and Producer
May 29, 2009
Del Shores (writer/director/producer/activist) has written, directed, and produced for film, television and theatre.
I was introduced to Del & his talent through his #1 hit TV series, Sordid Lives: The Series. After the show got cancelled by Logo, I jumped on the Save Sordid Lives campaign, but unfortunately, it did not get renewed.
In thinking of other ways I could help Del get exposure, I reached out to him to see if he would be interested in being featured on my website. I'm thrilled he said YES!
In this interview, Del answered my call to reveal:
- His unusual talents
- Who he still wants to work with
- His inspirations
- Who he'd like to dream about
- So much more
Connect with Del: Website, Facebook
Currently Del and various cast members from Sordid Lives are touring the country in Del Shores: The Storytellers. For tour dates and a complete bio on Del, visit his website above.
Del Shores and Me (Adam Rothenberg)
A Sordid Comedy Affair at NYC's Comix Comedy Club 2009
1. Who inspired you to become a writer, director, and producer? So many influences. But Mom told me first I was a good writer and should pursue that. Love Tennessee Williams, Horton Foote, Preston Jones (all playwrights). I'm always a writer first, then director and producer as an extension of that.
2. Who is the one person you haven't worked with that you would like to? Meryl Streep :-)
3. Is there ever a time you thought about quitting? No, not in my nature. This is what I do and no matter how I do, to what degree, whether small theatre or film or TV, it's my lifeline.
4. Who do you consider to be your hero? Today -- Harvey Milk!
5. Do you have any strange or unusual talent that no one knows about? I can twirl baton. My Aunt Reta taught me when I was a little boy.
6. If you could dream about anyone while you sleep, who would it be? Hmm...what an odd question. I guess my Mom, who passed away in 2001. I'd love to talk to her again, see what's up.
7. Favorite way to stay in shape? Spinning, pushups, sit ups -- sex.
8. Boxers or Briefs? Briefs
9. Favorite website? Facebook.
10. Superman or Wonder Woman? Superman.
Del ShoresMore on Del Shores:
Del Shores' career took off with the play Daddy's Dyin' (Who's Got The Will?), (1987) which ran two years at Theatre/Theater in Hollywood, winning many Los Angeles theatre awards, including LA Weekly's Best Production and Best Writing.
Sordid Lives, his fourth play, opened in Los Angeles May 11, 1996 and ran 13 sold-out months. The critics raved -- ultimately 13 of them awarding the production Critic's Choice. The play went on to win 14 Drama-Logue Theatre Awards, including three for Shores for writing, directing and producing. He was also nominated for Robby, L.A. Weekly and GLAAD Awards for writing, directing and producing.
In 1999, Shores wrote and directed the film version of Sordid Lives starring Beau Bridges, Delta Burke, Olivia Newton-John, Bonnie Bedelia, Leslie Jordan, Beth Grant, along with most of the cast from the play. The movie won many festival awards including Best Film at the New York Independent Film & Video Festival, Atlanta Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival. The movie has become a cult phenomenon.
On October 5, 2006, Shores was given a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars "for his lifetime achievement in the field of entertainment and contribution to the world of prominence of Palm Springs."
His new series Sordid Lives: The Series premiered on LOGO July 23, 2008 starring Olivia Newton-John, Rue McClanahan, Leslie Jordan, Beth Grant, Caroline Rhea, Bonnie Bedelia, Jason Dottley and many of the original stage and film cast including Newell Alexander, Rosemary Alexander and Sarah Hunley. Shores created, wrote, directed and executive produced all twelve episodes. The show became LOGO's biggest hit to date.
Southern Baptist Sissies is Shores most personal play -- a tragicomedy. It enjoyed a ten-month sold-out run in Los Angeles in 2000 and 2001, then enjoyed a sold-out run at the McKinney Avenue Contemporary Theatre in Dallas. The play opened at the Bailiwick Theatre in Chicago to rave reviews July 2002 and was the theatres' biggest hit during their "Pride" summer series, garnering two After Dark Awards for Best Direction and Best Ensemble. The original LA production of Sissies received 20 Los Angeles Theatre Awards, Shores alone receiving the LA Weekly, Robby and Maddy for Best Direction and the Backstage West Garland, Robby and Maddy for Best Writing. The play was also awarded the prestigious GLAAD Award for Outstanding Production of the Year.
In 2003, The Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife became his most critically acclaimed and darkest play to date. After a six-month sold-out run at the Zephyr Theatre in Los Angeles, Shores' won the prestigious Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle's Ted Schmitt Award for World Premiere of an Outstanding New Play. The Circle also awarded the play Best Production and Beth Grant Best Lead Performance.
In addition to Sordid Lives: The Series, in television, Del has written and produced for Maximum Bob, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Live Shot, Touched By An Angel, Ned and Stacey, Family Ties, and Dharma and Greg. He also produced for the last three seasons of the ground-breaking, acclaimed Showtime series Queer As Folk for which he wrote many episodes.
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