Paul Hallasy
- Actor
- Writer
As a child growing up on Long Island, I always knew I was different. Apparently not all young boys grow up singing show tunes in front of the living room mirror. Go figure!
It wasn't until college, however, that I was dragged kicking and screaming out of the closet and I've been kicking and screaming ever since. Because, as I say in my act, I'm "not gay enough for gay people and not straight enough for straight people." I'm what they call a "straight-acting gay." I'm a "stray."
After performing in community and college theater on Long Island with such future stars as Edie Falco (The Sopranos), Phil Rosenthal (Everybody Loves Raymond) and Nancy Cassaro (Tony 'n' Tina's Wedding), I moved to New York City to attend New York University and spent my early years there writing a semi-autobiographical novel (New York Trilogy), a play (Tear Me Apart) and performing as a singer at such clubs as CBGB, The Duplex and Don't Tell Mama.
Eventually I decided to try my hand at stand-up comedy and I haven't looked back. I perform regularly in New York City and have performed at clubs and colleges across the United States and around the world. A favorite of both gay and straight audiences, I was named one of "7 Funny LGBT Comics You Shouldn't Have Missed" by The Advocate.
I've performed my one-man show, "Take My Job, Please! Confessions of a Stand-up Doorman" (a.k.a. "Doorman Confidential") at Dixon Place and The Pit Loft in New York City.
I'm also the author of a book called New York Trilogy, a blog called The Gay Curmudgeon and a screenplay called All the Bands in the '80s.
It wasn't until college, however, that I was dragged kicking and screaming out of the closet and I've been kicking and screaming ever since. Because, as I say in my act, I'm "not gay enough for gay people and not straight enough for straight people." I'm what they call a "straight-acting gay." I'm a "stray."
After performing in community and college theater on Long Island with such future stars as Edie Falco (The Sopranos), Phil Rosenthal (Everybody Loves Raymond) and Nancy Cassaro (Tony 'n' Tina's Wedding), I moved to New York City to attend New York University and spent my early years there writing a semi-autobiographical novel (New York Trilogy), a play (Tear Me Apart) and performing as a singer at such clubs as CBGB, The Duplex and Don't Tell Mama.
Eventually I decided to try my hand at stand-up comedy and I haven't looked back. I perform regularly in New York City and have performed at clubs and colleges across the United States and around the world. A favorite of both gay and straight audiences, I was named one of "7 Funny LGBT Comics You Shouldn't Have Missed" by The Advocate.
I've performed my one-man show, "Take My Job, Please! Confessions of a Stand-up Doorman" (a.k.a. "Doorman Confidential") at Dixon Place and The Pit Loft in New York City.
I'm also the author of a book called New York Trilogy, a blog called The Gay Curmudgeon and a screenplay called All the Bands in the '80s.