Neil Ellis Orts

Hi! I'm a life-long Texan. YAY QUORUM BREAKERS!!!! #gerrymandering #Texaslege #specialsession

New Works Festival Thunderclap Productions is proud to present a festival featuring several local playwrights, lyricists, and composers showcasing excerpts from their new plays and musicals. Join us to get glimpses of n...

Tickets here: matchouston.org/events/2025/...

Cabarets and festivals take the spotlight in Houston's 8 best shows in June We get a bit of a theatrical breather this month before some of the biggest mysteries, comedies, and musicals of the year arrive in July. But June still brings plenty of new shows for theater and danc...

CultureMap has named the New Works Festival, produced by Thunderclap Productions, as one of the top 8 productions to see in Houston this June. Check it out here and get your tixs at the MATCH website! Get a first glimpse at my full-length play, Jacob's People!
houston.culturemap.com/news/arts/ju...

The irony of complaining about Pride month is that if queer humans just existed without any discrimination, there would be no need for us to assert our humanity every June with parades and history lessons. (Same goes for other history months, btw.) #pride2025

Pride Month under 47 feels like it might be a special event. Here we go. Hold onto your freedom. Assert your humanity. Hang onto your community.

Catechesis - Open Book Neil Ellis Orts I. The faithful, each in their way, according to what they were taught, how they were taught, keep silence, repeat prayers, sing old or new songs, play instruments or don’t, making one...

New writing is up at Soul by Southwest, the arts and literature journal of Seminary of the Southwest, my semi-alma mater. I'll be reading "Catechesis" tomorrow (4/25) night on campus at the journal's release party. #writing #spirituallit #faith #doubt #idontknowwhat
openbookssw.org/post/cateche...

Two Daughters, their Fathers On October 12, 2022, I was glancing at fiction shelved on the wall of books in our great room when I spotted a novella I had no memory of purchasing, no memory of shelving there.

Some very kind words from writer and teacher, David Meischen about my novella, Cary and John.
davidmeischen.substack.com/p/two-daught...

Gravity In Memory of Steve Paxton

I wrote this shortly after Steve Paxton died. I couldn't find a home for it so I put on my Substack. Not my usual Crumbs post so give it a shot if you're a dance fan. Share with your dance pals if they might appreciate it. #Dance #StevePaxton #ContactImprov crumbsatthefeast.substack.com/p/gravity

New Works Festival Thunderclap Productions is proud to present a festival featuring several local playwrights, lyricists, and composers showcasing excerpts from their new plays and musicals. Join us to get glimpses of n...

Thunderclap Productions is producing a New Works Festival and a scene from my play, Jacob's People, is in it. Limited seating, one night only. Houston come out and support new theater WIP. Let me know if you have questions! #WIP #NewTheater #NewPlays #HoustonTheater
matchouston.org/events/2025/...

Beloved Ash perfect love casts out fear

Last minute Ash Wednesday reflection.
open.substack.com/pub/crumbsat...

I suppose if I was really honestly truly concerned about pride, I would publish under a pseudonym instead of under the name Mama gave me!

There's a story of Flannery O'Connor being asked by a college class why she was a writer. She answered, "because I'm good at it." The class gasped at the hubris of it all! But a gift is a responsibility & I am happy about the email! I should be more careful about being a goof in front of strangers.

I'm mostly a goof. Seeing my name in print never gets old. But the Desert Abbas and Ammas constantly warn about pride. I take that seriously. I think I'm called to this writing thing. I would stop it if I could. 😀

This afternoon brought me my first acceptance email for some creative writing for 2025. I write without getting these but I do send out the writing to get them. So, getting acceptance emails are gratifying. I'm grateful. But I try not to live for them. But I kind of do.

Humility is hard.

5 people in upstate New York charged with murder after allegedly torturing, killing Minnesota transgender man | CNN Five people have been arrested in New York and charged in connection with the disappearance and murder of a 24-year-old transgender man from Minnesota, whom police say was tortured and abused for week...

www.cnn.com/2025/02/15/u...

Trans people already know this happens and may skip. People who are comfortable in the sex assigned to them at birth, I'd like you read the link in the first comment. This is not an ordinary murder. If nothing else, you have to admit this. My love for my trans friends comes with this concern (fear).

The T stays. I haven't seen it myself yet, only reports of trying to remove the T from LGBTQ+. But to be clear, on this account, the T stays. Period.

The Great Emancipator Few choreographers have the audacity to wring from the stirring speeches and tragic life of Abraham Lincoln an evening-length mixed-media dance theater work. Fewer still have the talent to do it witho...

I should give the source, too:
www.advocate.com/arts-enterta...

Is that how small you want me to be? I live my whole life with my dukes up in this pugnacious stance, and a lot of it has to do with keeping the motherfuckers away with their stupidity and their reduction, because I am mystery to myself and I am certainly not an open book to you."
2/2

"I have to be constantly saying no to people who are trying to define me either in or away from their camp. 'He's a gay artist?' Well, what do you mean, I'm a gay artist? I'm gay. I happen to be an artist. 'He's a black artist?' I'm black, it's true, but how do you define a black artist?

This quote from Dancer/Choreographer Bill T. Jones will take a few posts because BSKY doesn't like long posts but here we go. I think it applies most humans.

I'm super complicated. I couldn't explain myself if I tried.

Niemoller is an especially complicated hero. I read a biography of him 8 years ago (timing of the reading is pointed). He gets quoted a lot, of course, and he did a lot after WWII to try to redeem himself.

“Haunting” Featured Artist Neil Ellis Orts Synkroniciti is happy to welcome back Houston writer Neil Ellis Orts with an atmospheric piece of flash fiction, “Ancient Grains,” which we nominated for the Best Microfiction Anthology…

Digital journal, Synkroniciti, has posted their profile of me and a synopsis of my flash fiction, "Ancient Grains." Find it here and follow the links to get your own copy of their Haunted issue. synkroniciti.com/haunting-fea...

I came her to follow you and offer support. I've read your work for decades. Admired you for being out as a Christian. Admire you now for finding this strength. Blessings on the way forward.

Prodigy Comics #1 A 76-page anthology comic from a spectrum of creators, Prodigy Comics #1 introduces a new universe of superheroes, aliens, and magic. This book takes the classic anthology format of the 1930s and 1940...

2 more days to get your Prodigy Comics #1 Hurry. FASTER!
zoop.gg/c/prodigy-co...

Right and Wrong and Hope and Love Looking for Guidance in this 21st Century

What's on my mind is a lot and it's rambling. So I turned to my dormant Substack.
open.substack.com/pub/crumbsat...

How to Keep Tabs on ICE Agents Who May Be Surveilling Your Neighborhood Here’s a step-by-step guide.

Teen Vogue brings it again.

www.teenvogue.com/story/ice-wa...

I just don't know how Teen Vogue became The Place. But I'm here for it.

Washington bishop’s plea to Trump: ‘Have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared’ [Episcopal News Service] Washington Bishop Mariann Budde, in her Jan. 21 sermon at Washington National Cathedral’s Service of Prayer for the Nation, called on all Americans to strive for a renewed …

I do not want to be mistaken for being naive (though I am AND I am not) and I do mean to appear hopeful for things that I'm not really deeply hopeful for. But I find this a hopeful act. Speaking bluntly to the Bible seller like this is hopeful. episcopalnewsservice.org/2025/01/21/w...