Jeff Kaufman, 2018, USA, 93 min

Terrence McNally says he goes to the theater, “to see characters strip themselves of their secrets, to let us see into their hearts.” He walks the talk in this candid documentary of his work and of his life. With plentiful footage of Terrence himself, this documentary is an honest and loving portrait of a man who has lived his life out loud and gave voice to a generation of not only LGBT actors, but LGBT people across the world. The multiple Tony award winner (Love, Valor, Compassion; Master Class; Kiss of the Spider Woman) humbly acknowledges his high school teacher, Mrs. McElroy, as the impetus to his career and is just as candid about the many loves of his life. With readings from Meryl Streep and Bryan Cranston, along with interviews with Edie Falco, Christine Baranski, Audra McDonald, Nathan Lane, Rita Moreno and so many others, Every Act of Life, is not just a review of the life of a brilliant playwright, it is a love letter to the theater and its treasured place in our lives. (SH)