When it came to helping About Face Theatre, Benjamin Sprunger ( pictured ) decided to do a brave thing: In April ( through May 1 ) , he competed in a series of contests held in bars ( including a jockstrap contest ) —and raised thousands for the organization, which is fighting to stay alive. After all the competitions ( and trauma ) , Sprunger talked with Windy City Times.
Windy City Times: What you did was pretty innovative.
Benjamin Sprunger: Well, it's funny because when I came up with that idea, I didn't think it was all that innovative. I finally sent out the e-mail that confirmed what I was going to do and locked me into it; I got all of these responses from people that said that was the greatest idea ever. I was taken aback because I didn't consider it to be that ingenious.
WCT: It was also pretty brave of you, I have to say.
Sprunger: That, and I knew that if I could engage a crowd to come out and support About Face I could get some money for that organization. It wasn't getting people out to see me, necessarily, with me showing my ass. [ Laughs ]
WCT: So do you have a direct connection to About Face? Not that you need one to do something like this...
Sprunger: I've done four shows for them since 2000, and I've worked with them on several occasions; they're really good friends of mine. When it was announced that they had to do this "Face the Future" campaign because of budget shortfalls and donor downturn, we were asked by the artistic director and managing director to brainstorm and come up with ideas. Somebody did a Schoolhouse Rock benefit performance at Mary's Attic; someone else did a Ride for AIDS thing that benefits [ Test Positive Aware Network and ] About Face Theater. Amy Matheny, who you work with, is one of the organizers of Flip Flop, where men sing women's songs and women sing men's songs. And they just had their benefit gala, Wonka Ball. But with all these things circulating, I am proud that I netted quite a bit of money.
WCT: You competed in five events...
Sprunger: ...and I couldn't compete in the sixth and most legit event— [ Windy City ] Gay Idol—because I'm a member of the actors' union, which means I'm a "professional."
WCT: Of the other five, which was the most horrifying?
Sprunger: The lube wrestling at Hydrate was the piece de resistance. I didn't know what to expect in [ most ] of these contests. The wet-boxer contest at Roscoe's ended up being the most revealing; once you get wet boxers, there's nothing to hide, really. [ Laughs ]
WCT: And you won $1,200, correct?
Sprunger: Yes. I won $1,200 and a friend/anonymous donor matched that $1,200. Then, there was a guy at Jackhammer who agreed that contest's prize, which was $200. So the total was $2,600. Some other people probably donated too, but they didn't tell me how much.
The money is great, and I'm glad that more people are aware that not only is About Face an award-winning theater with exciting new work in the LGBT community but they have this youth-theater program that is amazing and one-of-a-kind.
See www.aboutfacetheatre.com for more information and to donate.