June 10-16, 2004

mixpicks

Technical Expertise

Photo By: Amelia G & Forrest Black

by Liz Harris

In the autobiographical show "Tales From the Sex Trade," two charming and eloquent former prostitutes, Michelle Tea and David Henry Sterry, share stories of their experience working in the sex industry.

Tea (pictured) is a well-established artist, who has written three memoirs and edited two anthologies. She will read excerpts from her illustrated novel, Rent Girl (Last Gasp), which she has performed as a part of several tours, including the Sex Worker's Art Show. In this autobiographical story, a young lesbian becomes involved in the sex industry through her girlfriend. "The second part," Tea says, "is about trying to get the perks (of prostitution) without actually having sex with gross guys" --the perks being good hours and a larger, tax-free salary than most low-paying jobs.

She'll be joined by Sterry, who will perform a portion of his book turned one-man show, Chicken (Harper Collins), which he has taken from Amsterdam to Australia. As a young college student, Sterry found himself in dire financial circumstances and turned to prostitution — he was a student the entire time he worked as an "industrial sex technician," as he prefers to call it.

Vicki Solot, the president of Blue Sky, the nonprofit organization behind the First Person Festival said, "I considered some other material (on the subject) but these two are just so warm and such good communicators. I think people will be intrigued by the material, but it's also material that delivers; it's powerful, emotional and funny."

"Tales From the Sex Trade," Thu.-Sat., June 10-12, 8 p.m., $15, The Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St., 215-569-9700.