Q&A with Matthew LaBanca, the man who wrote and performed "Communion."
Q: What was the process like to transform your experience into the story “Communion” now tells?
Matthew LaBanca: In the fall of 2021, I was summoned for two meetings with representatives from the Diocese of Brooklyn. Something told me to keep a record of the meetings, so I recorded them both on my phone.
When I was fired, the Diocese offered me a severance package, which I decided to turn down. Instead, I shared a video with my community about the truth behind my termination (something I could not have done had I signed the severance agreement). That video went viral, was picked up by the press, and a media frenzy ensued over the next 2 weeks. It was a very, very, overwhelming time. By mid-November, the dust had settled, and I recalled that I had these recordings on my phone. I started to listen and transcribe them. The recordings were painful to sit with for long amounts of time, so that process took months. But as I listened over and over, and then read the transcriptions, the actor in me realized that there were these scenes at my fingertips. I started writing more scenes. I joined a writer’s group and kept at it over the next year. I held table reads and Zoom reads and shared the script with creators I trust. I eventually sent the script to director (and friend) Kira Simring in early 2023, and with her guidance, shaped it into the solo show we ultimately presented – and filmed – Off Broadway.
Q: What have the reactions to “Communion” been like from the people who knew you and worked with you in the Catholic school and church?
ML: I was very touched by the MANY people from the school and church who attended “Communion.” The vast, vast majority of those people were absolutely heartbroken by this decision, so saying it to their faces was cathartic for all of us. They laughed and they cried and dealt with the guilt. And, like me, they lived the story all over again. I learned about their perspectives, about their timelines, about their side of the story. Some ultimately left their jobs. Some moved on from the faith. Some have remained. And many of us have continued to keep in touch. My choir, as an example, still meets for brunch several times a year. They are very special people – truly loving. For them to revisit this story and continue to stay in my life when the institution chose not to is a real act of support. Seeing them in the audience — and now in my real life — is deeply moving to me..
Q: Has there been any feedback to your story that really surprised you?
ML: The phrase I’ve heard over and over is “I wish my parents could see this.”
Q: You performed “Communion” Off-Broadway, and now have a film version of your story; what is it like to continue to revisit this very intense period of your life?
ML: It’s both sad and meaningful. Most times, I want to do it because it gives that chapter in my life purpose. I’m paying the story forward to the possibility of a progressive shift in the mindset of the church, and putting my life and story to offer hope. But every so often, there are times where I don’t wish to revisit it because it is very painful. Ultimately, that’s what actors do, and what I’ve done for decades of my life: to allow my natural instincts and impulses to come forth in service to the storytelling. It just happens to be my own story that I’m telling. And I think it’s what makes Communion SO powerful.
Q: There have been tremendous reactions and support among many Catholic communities. You plan to screen the movie and host conversations about it on college campuses, Catholic churches etc, what kind of conversations do you hope “Communion” will spark in those contexts?
ML: I hope that those in positions of religious authority will be willing to bear witness to the pain that’s inflicted at the hands of religious discrimination. I hope that they will witness the miracle that comes from shifting into a space of inclusivity and love. My story is not unique. Many people have been affected by religious exclusivity, whether it’s themselves personally, or someone they love, or even those performing the discriminatory acts. The blessing of Communion is that I maintained the freedom to speak out about it, in the hopes that people will listen. Communion is ultimately a coming-of-age story, and I think many people these days have collectively matured to a point where they see this type of exclusivity as incompatible and unacceptable. Society, including religious society, can come of age, too.
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