By the time Josh Rivedal turned twenty-five, he thought he’d have the perfect life—a few years singing on Broadway, followed by a starring role in his own television show. After which, his getaway home in the Hamptons would be featured in Better Homes & Gardens, and his face would grace the cover of the National Enquirer as Bigfoot’s not-so-secret lover. Instead, his resume is filled with an assortment of minor league theatre and an appearance on The Maury Povich Show—a career sidetracked by his father’s suicide, a lawsuit from his mother over his inheritance, and a break-up with his long-term girlfriend. Tortured by his thoughts, he finds himself on the ledge of a fourth floor window, contemplating jumping out to inherit his familial legacy. In turn he must reach out to the only person who can help him before it’s too late. Based in part on his acclaimed one-man show, The Gospel According to Josh is a comedic and poignant true-to-life tale of love, loss, struggle, and survival—a gospel account of one young man’s passage into manhood—his twenty-eight-year Gentile bar mitzvah.
Joshua Rivedal is an actor, playwright, and international public speaker. His memoir "The Gospel According to Josh: A 28-Year Gentile Bar Mitvah" is published by Skookum Hill and is based in part on his 30 character one-man play "The Gospel According to Josh" which has toured extensively throughout the United States and Canada, and is set to open Off-Broadway in New York City in May, 2014. He wrote the libretto along with additional lyrics and music to a Spanish language Christmas musical "Rescatando la Navidad," which opened in Miami in November 2013. He writes for the blogs The Arts Entrepreneur and The BLOGospel According to Josh. As an actor, Josh has lent his voice to the role of Hippo in Scholastic's "Rabbit and Hippo In Three Short Tales," the narrator of Julianne Moore's "Freckleface Strawberry and the Dodgeball Bully," the narrator of "Cinderella Penguin," and numerous other audiobooks and animated projects.
He has spoken professionally about suicide prevention and mental health awareness in more than twenty-five U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. He serves on the board of directors for the New York City chapter of The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Review: The Gospel According to Josh is a wonderful poignant emotional roller coaster of a book. Josh's story sucks you in from the very first page and his journey is filled with utter sadness but also great hope - an inspirational read that anyone can enjoy.
No comments:
Post a Comment