It is so cool to be in the middle of things when life and art converge.

A few months ago when I auditioned for a part in the short plays that make up Left Coast Theatre Company’s new show, “Family Programming,” I thought it would just be another enjoyable stage experience.  Even when I was cast in James A. Martin’s “The Buck Naked Church of Truth” playing the father of one of San Francisco’s famous naked guys, I barely raised an eyebrow.  I don’t drop trou in this piece, but I’ve been naked onstage before so this wasn’t a big deal to me.  (As an absolute Kinsey Six homo, naked women are still far more startling to me, anyway.) 

Then, just as we were opening, Supervisor Scott Weiner started making noises about introducing legislation to ban nudity in the city.  Suddenly, the papers were abuzz, bloggers were blogging away, the naked guys were starting a petition to support their cause and we were no longer simply a little naughty.  We were topical.

Tuesday, Weiner introduced his proposed law and Wednesday and we hit the big time:  The Wall Street Journal.

This is all a little ironic, since I wrote a post a couple of months ago about how disturbing the naked is.  There’s an old “Seinfeld” episode about the difference between “good” naked and “bad” naked.  Sadly, a lot of the controversy about the naked guys is over the fact that they’re mostly “bad” naked.

Now I don’t walk around naked because I don’t want to, but if I did, I would understand that I’d have to earn that privilege in the gym.  Some would say I’m being superficial or just judgmental.  I think I’m completely egalitarian.  I don’t like seeing people in saggy, flabby, wrinkly clothes either.

All that said, “The Buck Naked Church of Truth” is a really good show – as are the other six plays in “Family Programming”.  It also features only “good” naked.  (Whew!)  If you’re in the San Francisco area this weekend or next, come down to the Shelton Theatre and check us out.

(“Family Programming” is playing through Saturday, October 13.  Click here for ticket info.)