Playwright Gabe Rivas Gomez (Level Up!): "I Should Not Let My Words Get In The Way Of The Play"
DENNIS ANYONE? with Dennis Hensley
Release Date: 04/16/2026
Playwright Janine Nabers & Director Michelle Bossy (The Peterson Show): "Theater Gives Me Myself"
DENNIS ANYONE? with Dennis Hensley
In this episode, Dennis is joined by playwright Janine Nabers and director Michelle Bossy to talk about their world premier play The Peterson Show, which is about five adult actors who played siblings on a Cosby-like TV show back in the day and what happens in their lives when a Cosby-like sexual abuse scandal gets exposed. Janine talks about why she wanted to write the play, the scandal-tarnished sitcoms besides Cosby that she took inspiration from like Martin, Family Matters and The Fresh Prince of Belair, and why it was important for the matriarch in the play's sitcom family to be...
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Playwright & Director Howard Skora (Texas Sodomy): "I Had To Get A Roulette Table In Tustin"
DENNIS ANYONE? with Dennis Hensley
In this episode, Dennis is joined by his friend playwright and director Howard Skora to talk about his new play Texas Sodomy, which tells the incredible true story of the landmark Supreme Court case Lawrence v. Texas. Howard talks about his extensive research process, including interviews with real people involved in the case like Lane Lewis, Mitch Katin, and Paul Smith, and how he worked to stay faithful to the facts while creating compelling drama. He also explains the historical significance of the 1999 case, which challenged Texas's law criminalizing gay sex and ultimately led to the...
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Writer-Filmmaker Darren Stein & Performer AJ Paramo (Jawbreaker: The Musical): "Judy Greer Is Coming Tonight!"
DENNIS ANYONE? with Dennis Hensley
In this episode, Dennis is joined by filmmaker Darren Stein & performer AJ Paramo to talk about Jawbreaker: The Musical, which is running at the Hudson Theater in Hollywood through September 27. Darren wrote and directed the 1999 cult classic film that the musical is based on and he also wrote the book for the musical. AJ stars as Fern Mayo / Vylette, the role originally played by Judy Greer in the film. But in the musical, unlike the movie, Fern is trans. Darren talks about the long development of the musical and how coming up with the idea of making Fern trans gave the story new urgency....
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Writer-Performer Christopher Moncayo-Torres (Before It's Too Late): "I Want Everyone To Cry All The Time"
DENNIS ANYONE? with Dennis Hensley
Dennis is joined by his friend and playwriting classmate Christopher Moncayo-Torres to talk about his unique and wonderful show Before It's Too Late, which is an autobiographical storytelling show about his family...that features his actual family in major roles. He somehow got his two elderly parents, who are long divorced, and his two sisters to appear (two on stage and two via Zoom) for an entire 3-week run! Christopher talks about growing up a lonely latchkey kid in Queens and how that loneliness led to create this show. He also talks about how paying his dad to do the show, what it's like...
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Author Eliot Glazer (The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Gay): "All Roads Lead Back to Bea Arthur"
DENNIS ANYONE? with Dennis Hensley
In this episode, Dennis is joined by comedian, writer and author Eliot Glazer to talk about his book The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Gay, which documents all the various ways Eliot has been doing the gay thing wrong virtually all his life. Eliot talks about his inspiration for writing the book, the decision to be so candid about his sex life, and the positive reception he's gotten from readers so far. He also talks about his high school drama teacher from hell, gays and body image, his complicated relationship with social media, and bachelorette parties in gay bars. Other topics...
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Excerpts from Dennis Hensley's THE MISMATCH GAME: Totally 80's Edition
DENNIS ANYONE? with Dennis Hensley
This episode features excerpts from the live comedy game show Dennis Hensley's MISMATCH GAME: Totally 80's Edition, which took place on Friday, August 28, 2026 in Hollywood. On the panel were Jackie Beat as Bea Arthur, Julie Brown as Bjork, Danny Casillas as Reba Areba, Rebecca Kochan as Jennifer Coolidge, Dante as Christopher Lloyd and Melissa Peterman as Rena Z. The questions cover such 80's icons as Michael Jackson and Bubbles the Chimp, Cyndi Lauper vs. Madonna, Ronald and Nancy Reagan, Dolly Parton, The Brat Pack, The Golden Girls, Cats the Musical, Back to the Future, Charles and Diana,...
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Filmmaker David Kittredge (Boorman and the Devil): "It's a Kaleidoscope of Craziness"
DENNIS ANYONE? with Dennis Hensley
In this episode, Dennis is joined via Zoom by David Kittredge the director behind the wonderful new documentary Boorman and the Devil, which is about the legendary director John Boorman and the flop film that nearly killed him, The Exorcist 2: Heretic. David talks about why he felt compelled to make the movie, convincing Boorman to sit for an interview and the thoughtful and inspiring things the director had to say once the cameras were rolling. David also talks about interviewing the film's stars Linda Blair and Louise Fletcher and adoring both of them. Other topics include: David's first...
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Gay Days Anaheim Producer Eddie Shapiro & RDR performer Jackie Cox ("It's One Way To Spend A Life")
DENNIS ANYONE? with Dennis Hensley
In this Gay Days Anaheim sneak peak episode, Dennis is joined by the event's producer Eddie Shapiro and drag queen Jackie Cox, a Gay Days veteran who will be performing this year with her Drag Race compatriot Jan in a show called YKJ. Eddie shares the history of Gay Days, which is celebrating its 28th year, while Jackie discusses his personal connection to Disneyland, including working in the parade 20 years ago and having his first kiss on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride as a teenager. The conversation also covers the current political climate, with Eddie noting that corporate sponsorship...
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Noho Gym Co-Owner and Toluca Lake Pride Organizer J.P. Batista ("No One’s Really Like Super In Shape Here!")
DENNIS ANYONE? with Dennis Hensley
In this episode, Dennis speaks via Zoom with J.P. Batista, co-owner of the relatively new and proudly gay NoHo Gym in North Hollywood. J.P. talks why, after years as a personal trainer, he decided to open his own gym, what has surprised him about the experience and his advice to other entrepreneurs with dreams of starting their own businesses. He also talks about the last-minute Pride Festival he spear-headed in Toluca Lake Pride Festival in June and the overwhelmingly positive response he got from it. Other topics include: why he decided to proudly fly two rainbow flags outside the gym, the...
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Playwright, Actor & Teacher Bernardo Cubria ("The People of Pompeii"): "Look At These Magic People!"
DENNIS ANYONE? with Dennis Hensley
Dennis is joined via Zoom by playwright, screenwriter, actor and teacher Bernardo Cubria to talk about his hilarious and powerful new "dinner party gone wrong" play The People of Pompeii, which just opened at the Will Geer Theatricum in Topanga Canyon. (This is where Dennis first met Bernardo last fall as a student in his playwriting class.) The People of Pompeii is set in Topanga in the days following the evacuations from the 2025 fires and explores themes of community, climate change, and personal truth. Bernardo discusses his creative process, the importance of brutal honesty in...
info_outlineDennis is joined via Zoom by Gabe Rivas Gomez, the writer of the visually stunning and very moving new play Level Up! which is about a trans tween named Desi whose quest to be who she really is takes her into a spectacular and dangerous video game world. Gabe talks about where the original inspiration came from, finding the trans actress to play Desi, Mathias Brinda, several workshop productions ago and watching her grow up before his eyes and the technical challenges of trying to depict a video game on stage. He also talks about producing this show at a time when trans youth are under attack and what the reactions from audiences have been like so far. Other topics include: Gabe's career as a college professor and whether today's kids really are alright, taking inspiration from the book Ready Player One, what his own kids think of the show, his obsession with Lego and why some scenes just have to hurt.
https://www.latinotheaterco.org/levelup