Mason McCulley turns grief into grace in Carole Cooke Died For My Sins

Actor Mason McCulley has appeared on the display screen in reveals equivalent to Mother and Younger Sheldon and might be greatest recognized for his function as Ken on Issa Rae’s Insecure. Mason is taking to the stage for his one-man-show Carole Cook dinner Died For My Sins, which premieres October 20 at Los Angeles’ Skylight Theatre and runs by way of November 10. (Get tickets HERE.)

The present, which Mason describes as a sermon and “a homosexual son’s love letter” tells the true story of the actor’s downward spiral into alcohol, intercourse and despair following the loss of life of his longtime pal Carole Cook dinner, the actress and homosexual icon referred to as the protégé of Lucille Ball who handed away at age 98 in 2023. You might bear in mind Carole from her memorable function as Grandma Helen in Sixteen Candles, however she additionally appeared in movies together with American Gigolo and The Unimaginable Mr. Limpet, in addition to hit tv sequence together with CBS’ The Lucy Present and Right here’s Lucy. Simply months after this devasting loss, Mason misplaced his beloved mom, Sheard McCulley. 

In Carole Cook dinner Died For My Sins, he ushers the viewers into the depths of darkness the place he faces magic and thriller, finally remodeling grief into grace, whereas celebrating intercourse, sobriety, and salvation with humility and humor.

We had the prospect to speak with Mason concerning the present and be taught extra about his particular relationship with a stage and display screen legend in our unique interview. We additionally put him within the scorching seat for the Socialite Seven. 

How did this present come about? 

The place do I start? So, what had occurred was in January of 2023 my expensive pal Carolee Cook dinner handed away – the prolific actress – and she or he was very a lot a fairy godmother to me. She was my dearest pal. She was a confidant. She was a muse, and she or he handed away, and life was at a low. Life was the bottom it had ever been, as a result of in 2015 my mom was recognized with a mind illness referred to as FTD, Frontotemporal Dementia, or Frontotemporal Degeneration. I am from Alabama, I used to be residing in Los Angeles, and Carolee and I received rather a lot nearer when mother received sick.

And basically, I received to all-time low as soon as Carole died. I went on a few two-week form of West Hollywood bender in any respect the homosexual bars, doing all of the issues – which I used to be no stranger to. I had finished that greater than a number of occasions in my life, however it was it was spiraling in the direction of all-time low.

After about two weeks, I had a little bit of an awakening. It wasn’t a full awakening. The complete awakening occurred later, however there was a bit of crack of sunshine and it was type of met with desperation. I knew that I needed to discover myself and I knew that if I began to clear particles in my life, then I may discover myself – and the primary piece of particles for me was quitting consuming. I give up consuming two weeks after Carole died and life began to divulge heart’s contents to me. I began to search out hope once more, and I began to search out myself once more, after which my mother died, therefore the title, “Carole Cook dinner Died for My Sins.” I actually believed that from the opposite facet, Carole type of mentioned, “get it collectively, child”. After which, after my mother died, I actually began to search out myself.

I began to expertise all of those truths and all these awakenings and what I name magic. I began to imagine in issues once more. When my mom first received sick, I type of gave up. I ended believing in every part, however my pal Carole introduced me again. And so, again in January of this 12 months, I felt pulled to New York by Carole.

I did not know why, however I knew it had one thing to do with my story. I knew it had one thing to do with sharing with individuals, anybody who would pay attention, these truths I used to be studying, these awakenings I used to be having and this magic that was occurring. I rented an condominium in New York, I did a sublease, and 4 days into me being in New York, I had this concept for this one particular person present.

I spotted then that in an effort to share the sunshine and to share the magic, I needed to begin with the darkness. And that is after I began writing all of it down. That is after I began going again and actually going by way of the journey of all-time low to those epiphanies – and that was the impetus for the present.

It is a 75-minute piece and it is simply me on stage, which is sort of daunting. However it’s all linear in that it is the journey of sunshine to darkish. However I’m additionally ready to return and discuss my mom, about me rising up in Alabama and popping out of the closet. I name it a love letter to each my mom and to Carole. That was a windy technique to reply that query!

You name the present a sermon. How did that phrase come into play?

It is humorous as a result of it is a play in that I am on a stage and I am saying traces that I wrote and I’ve an viewers, so subsequently it’s a play. However to me, I all the time say there’s nothing “play” about it. I am not enjoying fake. If something, it is a fact and It is an opportunity for me to inform my fact and inform my gospel. I grew up in conservative Alabama and I am type of pushing again on quite a lot of issues that I used to be taught.

I name it my sermon as a result of I wish to say, “Hey individuals, get up.” We’re all right here and we all know how it is going to finish. We’re all going to die and all of us have completely different concepts of what occurs afterwards, however within the meantime, what are we as much as and what are we doing?

I felt it was my gospel and it was my fact and it is a sermon as a result of it is my tackle issues. It is my tackle what spirituality is and it is a tackle what id is. It is a tackle what sobriety is and it’s my tackle hope and it is my message.

It is daring to name it a sermon. My niece, who’s 14 years outdated, she’s not in a position to see the play as a result of she’s not sufficiently old but, mentioned to me, “What about when individuals discover out that it isn’t an actual sermon?”  As a result of she thinks the sermon is a church and I mentioned, “Oh my expensive, a sermon can occur anyplace.” A sermon can occur in a espresso store. A sermon can occur on a sidewalk. My sermon is occurring in a theater. The theater has all the time been a sanctuary to me and a sanctuary to my pal, Carole. And so, it’s a actual sermon. 

What’s the expertise like sharing a lot about your private life on stage?

Effectively, I have never finished it but in entrance of an viewers…effectively, really, that is not true. I did a personal studying and that was very thrilling and releasing. You recognize, what occurred is as soon as I began writing, as soon as I made a decision that to ensure that the sunshine to be as vibrant as it may be, I needed to go to the darkish.

One of many greatest items that I communicate of in my sermon is disgrace. That is one of many themes of the piece and after I discuss sobriety, it does not essentially imply alcohol. After I discuss sobriety, I imply, one’s foundedness, one’s calm, one’s power – that is what sobriety is. You’ll be able to look again in your previous and look again on the issues that you have finished and understand that it was a mirrored image or a response to one thing that was occurring in your life.

I’m able to try this and it was getting simpler and simpler as I used to be writing it to look again and go I can write about that and I can inform these tales, as a result of I am not that anymore.  I haven’t got disgrace surrounding quite a lot of the tales that I inform. This present is not only disgrace stuffed. We start with disgrace stuffed, after which we discuss how we absolved ourselves of that. So, it was tough originally. Truly, at this time we have been in rehearsal, there is a second the place I share a chunk of fact that somebody mentioned to me. After I first began writing the piece, I did not suppose I used to be going to say these phrases out loud as a result of it was so uncomfortable to say them. And now I can not watch for the viewers to gasp after they hear what I am about to say. And I feel that that is me. You recognize, I do not wish to pat myself on the again and say that is progress, however it’s progress and it is forcing you to satisfy your self.

It is assembly your self and all of the items of you, whether or not you want them or not. And while you’re ready to do this – and I am nonetheless doing it each single day – I hope to be assembly myself till the day that I die. Whenever you’re in a position to meet your self and also you’re ready to have a look at the sunshine and the darkish, you are in a position to develop from it – and also you’re in a position to not do it once more but additionally perceive the why of why you probably did that, to label it and to grasp it.

What was it about Carole that was simply so interesting to you? 

I discuss this within the play. I first met Carole after I was 18 years outdated and she or he was doing Howdy Dolly in Birmingham, Alabama. She was the second Dolly after Carol Channing. She did it in 1965 and she or he reprised that function one time. And it was as a favor for Fannie Flagg, the writer who wrote Fried Inexperienced Tomatoes. Fannie’s from Alabama and she or he mentioned, “Carole, come to this factor. There’s this wonderful regional theater in Birmingham, Alabama, and so they’re gonna do Howdy Dolly.” And so, she received Carole to do Dolly.

So, I am 18 years outdated and I’m going with my mom and I see Carole Cook dinner in Howdy Dolly and I did not know who she was at that time. It was essentially the most sensible and thrilling efficiency I’ve ever seen in my whole life. Carole Cook dinner was a consummate performer.

When you met Carole Cook dinner on the road, she made eye contact with you and she or he drew you in and she or he did the very same factor on stage. I had by no means skilled something like that. And to me, she was a throwback. You recognize, her mentor was Lucille Ball. To me, I am an 18-year-old child in Birmingham, Alabama, dreaming of Hollywood. I might by no means even been to LA but. To me, it was like watching outdated Hollywood in entrance of me. 

I noticed the present like 4 or 5 extra occasions and I waited on the stage door. When she got here out on the stage door it was Carole and her husband, Tom Troupe, and she or he had worn a wig on stage. She did not have time to have her hair finished and she or he wore this beautiful black turban and she or he had on a giant cape and she or he had a carpet bag – which to the day she died, she would put all of her make-up in it and her issues for when she was preparing for a present. She seemed like Sundown Boulevard. I am ready for her and she or he got here out and she or he was simply so gracious.

I received to satisfy this lady that I noticed sparkle on stage and I used to be mesmerized by her.  After which, by way of the magic of Hollywood, I got here out to California. I’m going to highschool right here. I went to Pepperdine. I graduate. And finally, about seven years after I first met her, I ended up in the identical room together with her. She all the time would poke at me and say, “I gave you my phone quantity and also you by no means referred to as me.” I used to be in school and I used to be doing theater. I used to be distracted, however then she would say, “should you had referred to as me, it would not labored out. It labored out precisely the way it was speculated to.” The timing was the way in which it was speculated to be and we simply form of fell into one another.

She was, you recognize, in her thoughts on the finish of her profession and I did not actually have a profession. I used to be auditioning for something and every part. I noticed her and she or he noticed me. There was a 60-year age distinction and when she handed away, I bear in mind everybody reaching out and so they mentioned, “Oh, I am so sorry about Carole. I do know she was like a grandmother to you.”

No, no. Carole Cook dinner was not a grandmother to me. Carole Cook dinner was a pal and the explanation she was a pal is as a result of she handled me like a recent. She trusted me and I trusted her. We had one thing we had one thing very, very distinctive and it was an journey each single time I used to be together with her.

I nonetheless get excited speaking about Carole Cook dinner. To be clear, there was Carole, after which there was Carole Cook dinner. Generally I might be out to dinner together with her and her husband Tom, we’d go to this place referred to as Café de Toile in West Hollywood. We would be sitting at dinner. Carole can be having her martini, and I might catch her voice. And I might understand I used to be sitting throughout from Carole Cook dinner. I used to be sitting throughout from that actress that I fell in love with on stage.

And I used to be telling this to my director, Cameron Watson at this time in rehearsal. That feeling by no means went away.  And to the day that I instructed her goodbye and I did, in my very own means, inform her goodbye, that feeling by no means went away. She was a dream and I feel that is one of many causes I felt so compelled to put in writing this piece.  My two individuals left this realm. They did not depart – and you will find that out within the play. They did not depart. I discovered them once more, however they left this realm on the identical time and I knew it was going to occur that means.

My greatest concern was what if it occurs on the identical time? What do I do? They left this realm three and a half months from one another. And I am studying that I am believing in all types of issues once more, and on some religious degree, I feel Carole mentioned, I will go first. And I do know that sounds unusual to say, it isn’t like Carole Cook dinner deliberate her loss of life round Mason McCulley, I do not suppose that. However, you recognize, I do not know the way issues work, and I am studying how issues work by scripting this play, however I feel on some degree she says, I am gonna go first. 

She went first and I went cuckoo after which I heard her the day that I made a decision to let gentle in was the day that I mentioned no extra, no extra enjoying, no extra consuming. I heard her and she or he mentioned, maintain going.  And he or she gave me a present as a result of I received to be subsequent to my mom sober when my mother died.  And Carole would have finished that for me.  Carole would have finished that for me. 

That is simply so superior.  I imply, you had type of alluded to Birmingham, however are you planning to take the present on the street?

It is humorous you say that. I might like to take it on the street. My dream is to do some homosexual tour and take it to Palm Springs, San Francisco, Provincetown, Fireplace Island, Key West, New Orleans, all of the locations that Carole had quite a lot of followers. I wish to try this.

Mason McCulley Solutions the Socialite Seven

What’s your greatest pet peeve? 

Negativity. And it did not was that means. It did not was negativity, however on this new awakening of myself, it’s miles extra probably for one thing great to occur than for one thing dangerous to occur.

What’s your most cherished possession?

I used to be serious about this. I do not know what my most cherished possession is.  I do not know. My most cherished possessions are my individuals.

However I’ll say this. I’ve worn this specific bracelet. I will put on it on stage. I’ve worn this for an excellent, nearly 20 years. It was given to me by a pal’s mom. It is a bit of little bit of a security blanket to me. I put on it as a result of it jogs my memory of my individuals and I panic if I can’t discover this bracelet.

Who would you wish to play you within the film of your life?

I don’t know. I actually do not know. I used to be that query and I used to be like…we’re not allowed to say go, are we?

You possibly can say anyone you need. I’ve had individuals say “me”.

Me? Oh, I will pull a Joan Rivers. You recognize, Joan Rivers did that. She performed herself within the made for TV film. Effectively, you recognize what? I am type of doing that. I am not type of, I am doing that on this play. I am enjoying myself. So, you recognize what? I will play myself.

When you may get up within the morning with a superpower or a expertise that you do not have already got, what would you need it to be?

To dwell with out worry. To dwell with worry drives us in so many ways in which we do not even understand. It is driving us and doing this play has taught me that worry is just not actual and it creeps in and it might management issues. If I may dwell with out worry, I guess I may accomplish something I wished.

What are three issues you may’t dwell with out? 

Weight loss program Coke. In my, in my sobriety, it is weight-reduction plan Coke. I name it the final vice. I am making an attempt to not, however undoubtedly weight-reduction plan Coke. I do not know. God, I am not doing effectively with this. Laughter, weight-reduction plan Coke and music. That sounds so tacky.

What’s your concept of good happiness? 

Peace of thoughts. I feel that it goes again to that query of worry. Peace of thoughts is I feel the proper happiness. I feel that is the last word objective of spirituality when you may lay your head down and go, all proper, I did it. I attempted as exhausting as I may. It doesn’t suggest you bought it proper. It doesn’t suggest you bought it good, however it’s peace realizing that you simply made your greatest effort. I feel that’s happiness. I feel happiness comes when you will have a peace inside your self.

What’s the greatest piece of recommendation you’ve got been given?

Hold going. That is what Carole instructed me. She gave it to me in the way in which she lived and she or he mentioned it to me the day that I made a decision to maintain going, it doesn’t matter what. Whenever you suppose you may’t maintain going, maintain going, as a result of there’s one thing coming, and should you maintain your eyes open and you retain going, you’ll meet it. That is the message of this play. Hold going.

Carole Cook dinner Died For My Sins runs from on the Skylight Theater in Los Angeles. Tickets can be found at https://www.carolecookdiedformysins.com. Comply with Mason on Instagram.

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