Talks

"While program manager of a Jewish-arts college initiative working with 6 very different campus cultures/student populations, I rarely found an artist who was the right fit at more than one of my participating schools.  Dan’s material is so engaging and intelligent that, coupled with his versatile performance skills, he was a hit with students on each campus I brought him to.  Every college he visited expressed interest in bringing him back again the following semester." - Jackie Miller, Reboot

"Having known Dan for some time and followed his career, I knew he would challenge students, faculty, and community, and provoke an important conversation on campus. I knew he would be hilarious, too.  What I hadn't predicted was how warmly he was embraced - he made an instant and deep connection with many students that they were still talking about weeks later.  I hope to bring him back to campus before long." - Ed Webb, Professor of Political Science, Dickinson College


"Theater" and "music" have always felt like sneaky excuses to talk in front of large groups of people.  And so you can imagine my delight when I realized I no longer needed an excuse.  In September, 2008, I started traveling to colleges and community groups, giving "Talks."  No sets.  No costumes.  Just Talking.  Since then, Talking with a capital T has become one of my favorite things to do.  I'll Talk about virtually anything, but I'm listing a few zingers here.  These Talks are perfect for Jewish or queer cultural/political events like Coming Out Day, Pride Week, Passover, or even your typical Shabbas dinner or gay coffeehouse.  If you'd like me to come to your college (or your living room (or your bathroom)), please email me/someone at booking@danfishback.com.



You Never Get To Make Out: A Very Serious Talk on Queer and Jewish Identity
Dan Fishback is queer and Jewish and can't tell the difference between the two.  In this talk, the performance artist wonders why life in the shadow of death and destruction is so genuinely hilarious.  Through a combination of humorous anecdotes and serious intellectual analysis, Fishback explores the role of writing and suffering in the development of Jewish and queer identity.  Based largely on his new play, "You Will Experience Silence," Fishback created this informal talk as a way to casually discuss philosophical issues without the dramatic pretenses of character, set design and heavy lighting equipment. 


Why Gay Rights Might Be The Worst Idea Ever
With an unprecedented surge of gay images in popular media, life for many queer American teenagers lacks the mystery and misery that defined the childhoods of so many queer adults.  Reflecting on the relationship between homophobic oppression and queer cultural character, Fishback discusses the effect of popularity and comfort on the rising generation of queer Americans.


Narcissus Shrugged: The Self in Performance
In this interactive talk/workshop, Fishback leads participants through a series of exercises to explore the creative and political potential in seemingly mundane personal experience.  While this workshop is geared towards the development of theater pieces, students of all disciplines, artistic or otherwise, can benefit from the integrated perspective on life and art that these exercises offer.  No acting or theater background is necessary to participate, but students will be asked to register in advance, for pre-workshop exercises with Fishback via email. 


In My Dreams, I'm Michael Jackson (and other story-like things)
In this pleasingly un-theatrical theater event, Fishback reads a "greatest hits" collection of monologues from his many performances.  With moments both uproarious and tender, the pieces range in subject matter from the war in Iraq and the Holocaust to gay marriage and, yes, Michael Jackson.


Dan Fishback in Concert: a Talk with Songs
Armed with his acoustic guitar (and his ukulele), Fishback sings nerdy, wordy songs about gay love and gay life, punctuated by absurd stories of gay embarrassment and gay insanity.