Jim Provenzano
Encyclopedia
Jim Provenzano is an American author
, playwright
, photographer and currently the Assistant Arts Editor
for the Bay Area Reporter
.
and attended Kent State University
from 1979-1980 as a theater major. After transferring to Ohio State University
in 1981, he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1985. While a student, he received summer scholarships from the Dayton Ballet
and Bill Evans Dance Company at Allegheny College
.
In 1985-1986 he lived in Pittsburgh and worked and toured with the Pittsburgh Dance Alloy
. After moving to New York City
in 1986, he performed with various modern dance choreographers, including Steve Gross and Bill Cratty
, touring with Cratty's company for a year, and at The Yard on Martha's Vineyard
in 1987.
Provenzano created his own dance and performance works from 1987-1992 in New York and performed at Franklin Furnace
, P.S. 122, Dance Theatre Workshop and several other venues. In 1988, he directed, wrote and composed a musical, Under the River, set in the World Trade Center
's PATH station.
In 1989 he began working as the publisher's assistant for OutWeek
magazine and also contributed his first news and arts stories, including interviews with Bill T. Jones
. He became the editor of the publication's offshoot, Hunt, an entertainment weekly, before both publications folded.
During that time, he was a member of both ACT UP and Queer Nation
, participating in protests for both organizations. He also wrote freelance arts features for Frontiers
, The Advocate
, High Performance and the The San Francisco Sentinel, including interviews with Clive Barker
, Chita Rivera
, and Paul Bartel
.
Provenzano moved to San Francisco in 1992 and he worked as an assistant editor for the Bay Area Reporter
from 1992-1994. He began his column "Sports Complex", covering the LGBT
athletics movement, in 1996, which continued until 2006. The column was internationally syndicated from 2004-2006. Among the topics covered were the controversies of the California AIDSRide
, financial controversies and accomplishments of the Gay Games
and Outgames, as well as interviews with, and articles about, gay
and lesbian
athletes, including Esera Tuaolo
, Jerry Smith, Glenn Burke
, David Kopay
, Billie Jean King
, Greg Louganis
, and several gay and lesbian Olympic
athletes. Provenzano has frequently been interviewed in print, television, radio and films for his expertise on the LGBT athletics movement.
In 1997, Provenzano completed a Master of Arts degree in English/Creative Writing at San Francisco State University. He guest curated the world's first gay sports exhibit, Sporting Life: GLBT Athletics and Cultural Change from the 1960s to Today in 2005 for the GLBT Historical Society in San Francisco. The exhibit closed in 2006.
He is also the author of three novels, most notably PINS (1999) about gay high school wrestlers. Monkey Suits (2003) about gay cater-waiters in 1980s Manhattan
, and Cyclizen (2007) about a gay bicycle messenger
in 1990s New York City
, both fictionalize his experiences in AIDS activism. Nearly two dozen anthologies include his short stories and essays.
Provenzano again began writing and editing full-time for the Bay Area Reporter in September 2006 as the publication's assistant arts editor. In May, 2010, he co-created and became editor of BARtab, the Bay Area Reporters monthly LGBT nightlife guide. Provenzano is openly
gay. He currently lives in San Francisco.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
, photographer and currently the Assistant Arts Editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
for the Bay Area Reporter
Bay Area Reporter
The Bay Area Reporter is a free weekly newspaper serving the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered communities in the San Francisco Bay Area; it is the oldest-continuously published, and one of the largest LGBT newspapers in the United States....
.
Life and work
Born in Queens, New York, James Thomas Provenzano was raised in Ashland, OhioAshland, Ohio
Ashland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Ashland County. The population was 21,249 at the 2000 census. It is the center of the Ashland Micropolitan Statistical Area...
and attended Kent State University
Kent State University
Kent State University is a public research university located in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university has eight campuses around the northeast Ohio region with the main campus in Kent being the largest...
from 1979-1980 as a theater major. After transferring to Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
in 1981, he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1985. While a student, he received summer scholarships from the Dayton Ballet
Dayton Ballet
The Dayton Ballet is a professional ballet company located in Dayton, Ohio.It was founded in 1937, making it the second oldest regional ballet company in the United States. It is also called the "Company of Premieres" as it is committed to presenting new works, including a new full-length ballet...
and Bill Evans Dance Company at Allegheny College
Allegheny College
Allegheny College is a private liberal arts college located in northwestern Pennsylvania in the town of Meadville. Founded in 1815, the college has about 2,100 undergraduate students.-Early history:...
.
In 1985-1986 he lived in Pittsburgh and worked and toured with the Pittsburgh Dance Alloy
Dance Alloy
Dance Alloy is a modern dance repertory company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's Friendship neighborhood.-History and mission:The Pittsburgh Dance Alloy was founded in 1976 at the University of Pittsburgh as an artistic collective of nine dancers...
. After moving to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1986, he performed with various modern dance choreographers, including Steve Gross and Bill Cratty
Bill Cratty
Bill Cratty was an American modern dancer and choreographer.-Life and career:Born William Anthony Cratty in Cleveland, Ohio, Bill Cratty began his dance training with tap and gymnastics lessons at the age of 5...
, touring with Cratty's company for a year, and at The Yard on Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard is an island located south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, known for being an affluent summer colony....
in 1987.
Provenzano created his own dance and performance works from 1987-1992 in New York and performed at Franklin Furnace
Franklin Furnace
Franklin Furnace, also known as the Franklin Mine, is a famous mineral location for rare zinc, iron, manganese minerals in old mines in Franklin, New Jersey, USA. This locale produced more species of minerals and more different fluorescent minerals than any other location...
, P.S. 122, Dance Theatre Workshop and several other venues. In 1988, he directed, wrote and composed a musical, Under the River, set in the World Trade Center
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
's PATH station.
In 1989 he began working as the publisher's assistant for OutWeek
OutWeek
OutWeek Magazine was an influential gay and lesbian weekly news magazine published in New York City from 1989 to 1991. During its two year existence, OutWeek was widely considered the leading voice of AIDS activism and the initiator of a radical new sensibility in lesbian and gay...
magazine and also contributed his first news and arts stories, including interviews with Bill T. Jones
Bill T. Jones
Bill T. Jones is an American artistic director, choreographer and dancer.-Early life:Jones was born in Bunnell, Florida and his family moved North as part of the Great Migration in the first half of the twentieth century. They settled in Wayland, New York, where Jones attended Wayland High School...
. He became the editor of the publication's offshoot, Hunt, an entertainment weekly, before both publications folded.
During that time, he was a member of both ACT UP and Queer Nation
Queer Nation
Queer Nation was an organization founded in March 1990 in New York City, USA by AIDS activists from ACT UP. The four founders were outraged at the escalation of anti-gay and lesbian violence on the streets and prejudice in the arts and media...
, participating in protests for both organizations. He also wrote freelance arts features for Frontiers
Frontiers
Frontiers is southern California's oldest and largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender magazine. It is distributed freely at gay bars, clubs and businesses throughout Southern California...
, The Advocate
The Advocate
The Advocate is an American LGBT-interest magazine, printed monthly and available by subscription. The Advocate brand also includes a web site. Both magazine and web site have an editorial focus on news, politics, opinion, and arts and entertainment of interest to LGBT people...
, High Performance and the The San Francisco Sentinel, including interviews with Clive Barker
Clive Barker
Clive Barker is an English author, film director and visual artist best known for his work in both fantasy and horror fiction. Barker came to prominence in the mid-1980s with a series of short stories which established him as a leading young horror writer...
, Chita Rivera
Chita Rivera
Chita Rivera is an American actress, dancer, and singer best known for her roles in musical theater. She is the first Hispanic woman to receive a Kennedy Center Honors award...
, and Paul Bartel
Paul Bartel
Paul Bartel was an American actor, writer and director. Bartel was perhaps most known for his 1982 hit black comedy Eating Raoul, which he wrote, starred in and directed.-Life and career:...
.
Provenzano moved to San Francisco in 1992 and he worked as an assistant editor for the Bay Area Reporter
Bay Area Reporter
The Bay Area Reporter is a free weekly newspaper serving the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered communities in the San Francisco Bay Area; it is the oldest-continuously published, and one of the largest LGBT newspapers in the United States....
from 1992-1994. He began his column "Sports Complex", covering the LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
athletics movement, in 1996, which continued until 2006. The column was internationally syndicated from 2004-2006. Among the topics covered were the controversies of the California AIDSRide
AIDSRide
The AIDSRides were a series of fundraising events organised by Pallotta TeamWorks which raised more than $105 million for critical AIDS services and medical research.About half of the money raised directly benefitted AIDS patients...
, financial controversies and accomplishments of the Gay Games
Gay Games
The Gay Games is the world's largest sporting and cultural event organized by and specifically for LGBT athletes, artists, musicians, and others. It welcomes participants of every sexual orientation and every skill level...
and Outgames, as well as interviews with, and articles about, gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
and lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
athletes, including Esera Tuaolo
Esera Tuaolo
Esera Tavai Tuaolo is a retired American professional football player. He was a defensive lineman in the NFL for nine years.-Early life:...
, Jerry Smith, Glenn Burke
Glenn Burke
Glenn Lawrence Burke was a Major League Baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Oakland Athletics from 1976 to 1979....
, David Kopay
David Kopay
David Marquette Kopay is a former American football running back in the National Football League who in 1975 became one of the first professional athletes to come out as gay....
, Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King is a former professional tennis player from the United States. She won 12 Grand Slam singles titles, 16 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, and 11 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. King has been an advocate against sexism in sports and society...
, Greg Louganis
Greg Louganis
Gregory "Greg" Efthimios Louganis is an American Olympic diver and author.He received the James E. Sullivan Award from the Amateur Athletic Union in 1984 as the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States....
, and several gay and lesbian Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
athletes. Provenzano has frequently been interviewed in print, television, radio and films for his expertise on the LGBT athletics movement.
In 1997, Provenzano completed a Master of Arts degree in English/Creative Writing at San Francisco State University. He guest curated the world's first gay sports exhibit, Sporting Life: GLBT Athletics and Cultural Change from the 1960s to Today in 2005 for the GLBT Historical Society in San Francisco. The exhibit closed in 2006.
He is also the author of three novels, most notably PINS (1999) about gay high school wrestlers. Monkey Suits (2003) about gay cater-waiters in 1980s Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, and Cyclizen (2007) about a gay bicycle messenger
Bicycle messenger
Bicycle messengers are people who work for courier companies carrying and delivering items by bicycle. Bicycle messengers are most often found in the central business districts of metropolitan areas...
in 1990s New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, both fictionalize his experiences in AIDS activism. Nearly two dozen anthologies include his short stories and essays.
Provenzano again began writing and editing full-time for the Bay Area Reporter in September 2006 as the publication's assistant arts editor. In May, 2010, he co-created and became editor of BARtab, the Bay Area Reporters monthly LGBT nightlife guide. Provenzano is openly
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
gay. He currently lives in San Francisco.
Fiction
- PINS (1999)
- Wrestling Team (German translation of PINS, 2003)
- Monkey Suits (2003)
- Cyclizen (2007)
Plays
- PINS (2002, adapted from his novel)
- Bootless Cries (1998)
- Under the River (1988)
Honors
- Legacy Award in Journalism, Federation of Gay Games (2007)
- 100 Champions Award, Gay Games Chicago, (2006)
- Bay Area Theatre Critics Award, PINS (2002)
Further reading
- "Exhibit Shows How Gays Have Shaped Sports", San Francisco Chronicle April 2, 2005