On Friday, June 16, in celebration of Pride Month, the Ridgefield Playhouse hosted Chasten Buttigieg in conversation with Tony Award Winner and New York Times best-selling author, Harvey Fierstein, and author, columnist, and award-winning Broadway, television and film producer, Richie Jackson.
The event focused on the young adult adaptation of Buttigieg’s New York Times Best-Seller, “I Have Something To Tell You” (Simon & Schuster).
“I Have Something To Tell You” is a hopeful and refreshingly candid memoir by Buttigieg, husband of former Democratic presidential candidate and current Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg. The book chronicles the challenges of coming out and growing up gay in a small Midwestern town. The young adult adaptation is completely rewritten with new stories, including resources for readers, parents, and teachers about how to help young adults embrace their true identities.
“As Chasten, Harvey and Richie acknowledged on stage, they were each born in different decades, and thus have endured varying degrees of our social and political climate towards the gay community. They were exceptionally well-suited for this kind of event” said Jared Shahid, Managing Director, Talent & Marketing, the Ridgefield Playhouse. “It was an honor to host Chasten on his book tour (and coincidentally his 5th wedding anniversary!). We had a lot of parents of gay teens in the room, and they were visibly moved by Chasten’s candor, empathy, and relatability. It was an important event for our community.”
The evening was part of the Hearst Media Entertaining Conversation Series and the Adam Broderick Salon & Spa Whole New You Series.
Learn more about The Ridgefield Playhouse https://ridgefieldplayhouse.org/