Quendrith Johnson

by Quendrith Johnson, Los Angeles Correspondent

Terrence McNally is likely most known for the 1991 adaptation of his play ("Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune") that became hit movie FRANKIE AND JOHNNY, starring Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer, that was directed by Garry Marshall. But McNally, born in 1939 and gone in March of 2020, cast a wide net of influence inside the work of many other creative artists, not just through his Pride ties, but as an originator of deeply thought-through characters in complex contemporary situations. Before diving into the event coming up on PBS as part of the American Masters series, here's a look into his life.

by Screenmancer Staff

Los Angeles, CA - Floating World Pictures celebrates the life and legacy of the late Tony® Award-winning playwright and LGBTQ activist Terrence McNally through the award-winning American Masters documentary TERRENCE MCNALLY: EVERY ACT OF LIFE, streaming on pbs.org/americanmasters and the PBS Video app now - August 31, 2020. In addition, two special virtual online discussions and talkbacks with some of Broadway’s brightest stars will take place on July 8, as they remember and honor the legendary McNally.

FINAL VIRTUAL DISCUSSIONS : [OVEE DISCUSSION!]

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8 AT 5:00 PM PST/8PM EST Panel Discussion with Director, Writer and Producer Jeff Kaufman together with

Tony® Winning Actors Tyne Daly and Chita Rivera and

Tony® Winning Producer Tom Kirdahy

Moderated by David Rooney – Chief Film Critic of The Hollywood Reporter

TERRENCE MCNALLY: EVERY ACT OF LIFE, directed, written and produced by Jeff Kaufman and produced by Marcia Ross, traces McNally's life - from escaping his troubled home in Corpus Christi, Texas to becoming one of America’s most groundbreaking and honored playwrights. The film includes interviews with actors Nathan Lane, Angela Lansbury, Rita Moreno, Chita Rivera, F. Murray Abraham, Audra Macdonald, Edie Falco, John Slattery, and Billy Porter, to name a few, discussing McNally’s remarkable legacy. McNally sadly passed away from COVID-19 complications on March 24, 2020.

The film captures McNally’s essence and acts as a beacon of hope for future generations of writers, LGBTQ+ youth, and storytellers who also dream of living out loud. It premiered at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival to stellar reviews and endearing audience reactions. In June 2019, American Masters broadcast the film nationally on PBS. The film has been submitted for the 2020 EMMYS® consideration in several craft categories including Non-fiction Directing; Non-fiction Editing; and Non-Fiction Sound Mixing. 

TERRENCE MCNALLY: EVERY ACT OF LIFE is a production of Floating World Pictures in association with Lakeview Productions and Talu Productions. Jeff Kaufman is producer, director and writer. Marcia S. Ross is producer. Jay Alix and Una Jackman, Suzi Dietz, Tom Kirdahy, Mark Lee, Ted Snowdon and Duffy Violante, and Buddy Steves and Rowena Young are executive producers. Marion Swaybill is consulting executive producer. Asher Bingham is editor with music by Laura Karpman and Nora Kroll-Rosenbaum. Jordan Black, Autumn Eakin and Anthony Lucido are cinematographers. Michael Kantor is executive producer for American Masters.

Funding for TERRENCE MCNALLY: EVERY ACT OF LIFE is provided in part by National Endowment for the Arts, plus The Edward F. Limato Foundation, The Noël Coward Foundation, and The Hunter Ward Foundation.

WATCH THE FILM - TERRENCE MCNALLY: EVERY ACT OF LIFE. STREAMING ON PBS.ORG AND THE PBS VIDEO APP STARTING NOW - AUGUST 31.

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