Getting Uncomfortable

By Jacob Richards

Photos Courtesy of Get Uncomfortable Productions

Logo for Get Uncomfortable Productions. Courtesy of Get Uncomfortable Productions

Logan Shirley was walking around New York City one day in 2016, when he had a realization: “New York City doesn’t need the kind of theater that I want to do.” But Shirley knew that his hometown of Grand Junction, Colo., on the other hand, was exactly the kind of socially conservative community that could use a healthy dose of “advocacy theater.”

“I’m simply not interested in just entertainment. It doesn’t make my soul soar,” said Shirley, now the founder and creative director of Get Uncomfortable Productions in Grand Junction. He credits his interest to his time at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York City, which “stretched me as an actor. I fell in love with theater that pushes boundaries.”

For example, Shirley and Get Uncomfortable Productions just finished a performance of “Hand to God.” The play follows a puppet club that brings chaos to a church basement in Texas through sex, sin, and a foul-mouthed puppet named Tyrone. Shirley, who played the demanding dual role of Jason and Tyrone, said “‘Hand to God’ is a challenging play for audiences.

“They have only two hours to process what us actors have had weeks to process. We just about broke even on ‘Hand to God.’ The response has been very positive,” he said. “We have a remarkable amount of local theater in our community, much of which is family-focused, but I do think there is room for something for the adults; something worth getting a babysitter for,” said Shirley.

Shirley attended Grand Junction’s Bookcliff Christian School as a child but said he was “always uncomfortable in a Christian school.” Shirley said that despite growing up in the church and being the son of a pastor, religion never quite worked for him. Theater, on the other hand, worked well for him. He began acting locally at a young age with the now-defunct

Performing Arts Conservancy, under the direction of Rachel Nelson. He did his first paid acting gig for Nelson in a summer show called “Hold onto your Hats.” He also participated in choir and plays while he was a high school student.

Get Uncomfortable Productions is a family affair with his parents taking active roles on and off the stage. According to Shirley, his father Ray, and his mother Diana supported him in everything that he has wanted to do.

As creative director, Shirley has not shied away from difficult subjects. The company’s “Good Chaos” variety show last winter touched on themes of alcoholism, domestic violence, and LGBTQ+ issues. Get Uncomfortable also produced Shirley’s play, “The Earth Exposed,” which takes place in a fictionalized Grand Junction.

“I write about characters in extreme situations,” he said. “We did have two people walk out on that one … Not sure if it was the foul language or the joint that was rolled on stage.” Shirley said that other than those two people, Get Uncomfortable Productions’ shows have been generally well-received.

“Good theater is theater that surprises — that defies expectations — that often hurts. Good theater is something that hits you and knocks you back on your heels,” he said. Shirley’s productions certainly do that, but the next one will be a little lighter: William Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.” “We need a little reprieve from the heaviness,” he explained.

Get Uncomfortable Productions’ shows are produced on shoestring budgets and performed in a church basement. But what they lack in funds they make up for with talent and fearlessness. When the curtain comes up, Logan Shirley and the cast are sure to transport audiences out of their comfort zones.