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AE: Who are your favorite actors and/or actor role models? Any actors or directors or writers who's example you feel has helped you formulate your own personal brand of autobiographical script writing?
MF: Robin Williams, Billy Crystal, Steve Martin, John C. Riley, Philip Seymour Hoffman, George Carlin, and Brian Regan- to name a few. Seeing Lily Tomlin in her one-woman show Search for Signs of Life in the Intelligent Universe was especially inspiring to me, as is the solo performance work of John Leguizamo and Deb Margolin.

AE: Have you written any theater works that are on different, non-autobiographical subjects?
MF: I am currently working on a solo show about male body image and eating disorders entitled Musclebound. That work is less autobiographical, but there are definitely many autobiographical moments within it. I don't believe one can write a non-autobiographical work; every piece has some element of self within it, and is thus a bit revealing and autobiographical.

AE: When you performed Jew Pain in Israel, did it meet with any protests from religious/moral conservative factions there?
MF: Surprisingly no. I was a little nervous about that at first, but everyone just loved it. I think if it wasn't so much of a celebration of my Judaism, it might've been met with more protests. But they were just happy that I was still trying to figure out how to be a Jew through my sexuality, because I knew deep down that Judaism, my heritage, is beautiful.

AE: Did you get to experience the gay scene in Israel? How does it differ from the U.S.?
MF: Unfortunately, I did not--there just wasn't enough time. I did get a letter from someone who saw the show in Israel and she said that she's bi and not out to her parents at all. She said she thinks it's much more difficult to be out over there, in Israel. I did notice that there's only one gay bar/club in all of Jerusalem. Nobody really discusses sexuality there.

AE: As you included them in your play, did your real life parents or immediate family, or the therapist you disliked so much, come to see you in Jew Pain? If so, what was their reaction?
MF: My therapist did not come, and only a few immediate family members came, and they loved it. My parents came to see it in The Fresh Fruit Festival for the very first time, and they really loved it. I was crapping in my pants knowing they were in the audience, but I knew they'd take it fine--I make them out to be wonderful, loving people by the end, which is who they are.

AE: By the end of Jew Pain, it appears you have gained at least some measure of acceptance and approval of your bisexuality from your conservative Jewish parents and family, even as they continue to wish you to marry (or at least date) a Jewish woman. Have you yet found a girlfriend who also accepts your bisexuality? A boyfriend who accepts it? How do you see this all eventually playing itself out as you seek to reconcile your bisexuality with your conservative family and your jewish identity?
MF: To be honest, I'm not sure at this point. I think who ever I end up marrying will have to be accepting of the cultural and religious identity I've forged for myself and decided to go with. Do the people I date (or marry) have to be Jewish? I definitely don't think so.

AE: Many queer actors today remain closeted to the public, and the issue is a hot one, especially as it pertains to the future of glbt artists in film, and films with queer content. With your candid autobiographical works, you have effectively "outed" yourself from the start of your career. Can you give some thoughts or feelings on the issue of being "out" as an actor in show business?
MF: Ah, yes. Like I said before, I just needed to write this show and come out to everyone. I never worried about "uh oh, how is this going to affect my career?" There are a lot of gay comedians I look up to, like Ellen, and I think I'm a lot like them. I don't think I've cornered myself into a market of only being able to do queer roles. I think what I've effectively done with my show is present myself as a “guy”, just like any other “guy”, except that this guy also likes other men. It's just an obstacle like any obstacle in any other play or movie, only it's about sexuality. Basically, I think because I'm charming and funny, and don't distance myself from the audience, but rather bring them closer, I feel like I get away with being out. I think when people just wax poetic about the hardships of what they're going through, and make it all internal, and don't let anyone into that world, then do they place themselves into a corner, and are trapped, and are only able to do one type of role.

AE: What are your future projects, both as an actor and a writer? What's in the works?
JF: Fresh Meat, my sketch comedy show, is an on-going project. We're constantly touring and also playing all over NYC. And Musclebound, as I touched on earlier, is a solo show, written and performed by me, about male body image and eating disorders. It's half-filmed documentary, half-solo show, so it should be quite interesting. It's already been such a fun ride to make. I've interviewed over 30 men from all walks of life who go to the gym for a variety of reasons.

Humor is very important to me. Making people laugh is one of my deepest passions. I believe that humor is not only a great tool for entertainment, but also for disseminating information and knowledge. I am committed to raising awareness through humor in live performance. I believe that the more you make people laugh, the more they listen”.

More on Feldman at freshmeatnyc.com and jewpain.com