Shaw Ryan Dons His Gay Apparel at Feinstein's

Singer, actor, film producer and theatre teacher is already getting into the Christmas spirit, by sheer necessity.

"My December has always been about performing in other peoples holiday benefits," said Ryan in a phone interview from Los Angeles, where he was busy decorating a tree in the home he shares with his longtime partner, actor John Ainsworth.

Ryan isn't always so prepared. But his slew of holiday shows, including his gig at San Francisco's Feinstein's at the Nikko (Dec 6 & 7 at 7pm), have forced him to prepare in advance, since he'll be on the road for much of December.

"Our neighbors like to make comments about the tree as they walk by, since our window faces the street," he said. "But we won't turn the lights on just yet."

Ryan will be lighting up the stage at Feinstein's with a special holiday show packed with fun twists on some traditional, and not so traditional songs, and a witty take on Hollywood.

"I have a pretty good amount of material, and it all started with an REAF holiday benefit," Ryan said of his annual participation in the Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation's annual Help Is On the Way benefit concert. That show, on December 8, includes Jason Brock, Latoya London, and other talents.

With so many humorous holiday songs having become well known, Ryan decided to pen a few original tunes for his new show.

And yes, he will don his "gay apparel," a wacky Christmas tree costume that he premiered at a recent REAF benefit show, as well as a few other surprises.

"I have a few costumes changes, which means that I'll have a lot of special guests," he said. Ryan's show includes the Kelly Park Band, and guest singers Carly Ozard and The Coker Sisters.

And while the jokes may be a little saucy, Ryan keeps it PG-rated. "It's funny to perform in San Francisco, because I have my adult cabaret audience, and the kids from my theatre camps. It becomes a sort of a party."

Schoolhouse Rocks

Ryan is referring to his popular Young Actors' Theatre Camps, which are held several times a year in the nearby Santa Cruz Mountains (www.campyatc.com). The camp is inclusive to all participants ages 8 to 18. Guest instructors have ranged from Broadway and TV stars to composers and casting directors. Recognized as one of the top theatre camps in the U.S., Ryan speaks with a special pride when talking about the project.

"Thirteen years ago, we started with a one-week camp and 34 kids," said Ryan. "Now it's six or seven weeks a year, with 50 kids for each session. We're the only one that doesn't hold auditions for admittance. We don't focus on performance, although we do have a showcase. We do everything from acting for film to classical styles and stage combat. Students will be able to leave with a variety of options."

The next Winter camp runs from Dec. 28 to Jan. 3. And many of his former students also attend his cabaret shows.

Don We Now

"The really fun part for me with the cabaret show is that this is one of the rare times of years that I can do comedy where everyone's in such a great mood," said Ryan. "You don't have to win over an audience on the holidays. It's fun, but I also get to do some of the emotional fun stuff."

With his musical director, Ryan has adapted some pop songs with a twist, such as Florence and The Machine's "Shake It Off."

"I can pretty much adapt anything for voice, but in terms of the comedy, it has to be original and make me laugh," said Ryan. "Maybe the person delivering it doesn't do it justice. It can't be too over the top for me, which sounds weird. When writers send me stuff, sometimes it's cute, and I try to use it. But I want audiences to be rolling in the aisles."

One of those songs might include his parody of "All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth," where Ryan replaced a longing for teeth with getting a replacement foreskin.

"I'm not gonna call myself Rodgers & Hammerstein," he joked. "And that song might be a time where we suggest that the kids use the rest room."

Along with his independently produced music CDs, fans may know of Ryan from his numerous TV appearances. Ryan first came to national attention as a finalist on "America's Got Talent." Despite not winning first place, he went on to continued success, and actually had several years of it beforehand.

Recent roles have included a lauded role this year as a transgender character Destiny Childs on the detective series "Bones." "I thought I'd end up in sitcoms, but it turned out to be murder suspects," he said. The role was turned down by Jane Lynch.

"I love getting the opportunity to play those roles," said Ryan. "Playing roles in a female character, I'm so much less inhibited, and I got to flirt onscreen with David Boreanz, and then talk about being beat up as a kid, so the role had a great arc."

He's taken a few similar roles, accepting the fact that casting directors rarely see beyond type, or what an actor's just done. Ryan also has a small part (along with his partner Ainsworth, who's been on "Glee" and other TV shows) in the gay action comedy "Hot Guys With Guns," where the couple play characters based on themselves.

To push the limits further, the duo also finished directing, producing and acting in the short dramatic film, Charlie, with which Ryan and Ainsworth plan to make the film festival rounds next year. Guest stars include Jim Ohare (Parks and Recreation) and legendary cabaret singer Andrea Marcovicci.

"A lot of people are creating for themselves," Ryan said of his endeavors. "It's all self-creation all the way. You still see Academy Award winners producing work they want to do."

Charlie concerns a man who goes hysterically mute. "It's such a good script and fun to play," said Ryan, who gave his costars extensive monologues that played against their type.

Sweet Smell of Success

Ryan said fans sometimes recognize him from such TV roles, but still don't know about his extensive music successes, despite the fact that many dramatic actors, as he said, "all have musical theatre backgrounds. The industry pares us into one thing."

Before his America's Got Talent competition, Ryan had been playing clubs for five years, and had two CDs. "And then all of a sudden, 18 million people see you, and you're an overnight success."

Even so, Ryan is grateful. "Even if only a hundredth of viewers like you, you have 100,000 fans. Luckily for me, I was able to produce right afterward. It was funny, because when I 'lost' I went on to a 35-city tour that year."

Shortly after the show, Ryan received a Grammy nomination, and despite not being able to divulge his outside success on the talent show, he recalled mentioning that to cohost Regis Philbin, was also nominated. "He asked, 'did we win?'"

Not taking someone else's definition of winning is part of Ryan's continued success, adding, "You have to make up your own rules."

Ryan describes the very different success of performing for a small audience in a nightclub. "It's fun to have that one-on-one with your tightest fans. The greatest thing people say is, 'Why aren't you famous?"
Shawn Ryan (right) and his partner John Ainsworth

And while some perhaps more famous celebrities have gained headlines for coming out later in their careers, and celebrity couples can get a splashy lifestyle feature in major publications, Ryan and Ainsworth have maintained a comfortably out status for years.

"Being a gay celebrity, which I guess means you hang out with Jai Rodriguez and Bruce Vilanch all the time (they do, sometimes), as a couple, it's interesting," said Ryan. "It takes you to that next level where people are fascinated that two people with some notoriety sleep in the same bed. We're not very public with our relationship, but we are out. We've also been married for 14 years, so there's not much to discuss. In Hollywood, 14 years might as well be 100."

By days, the couple runs their own small production company that manages Ryan's concerts, their movie projects and the theatre camps.

"We don't have the adjustment period that other couples have, to come home from work," said Ryan. "We're at desks 15 feet away, so there's no decompression. We own the business and work together, so there are often times where we just quit for the day and go to a movie. We're able to live here and tend to travel several months a year, to recharge and get inspired."

The two are planning to visit Germany and Switzerland in 2016. Ryan mentioned that he wrote the first draft of the Charlie screenplay while on a beach in Spain.

Asked where he visits in between shows when in the Bay Area, Ryan said, "I love Union Square area. Colibri is my favorite restaurant, right across the street from A.C.T. San Francisco theatre is still some of the best." Ryan cited New Conservatory Theatre Center and The Marsh among his favorites.

As for dining out, "In the Castro, you can find me at Swirl or the Oyster Bar, I'm out in front and waiting. I'll probably be there each night!"

Perhaps he might get another screenplay idea while there.

"Anything can be an inspiration," said Ryan. "We've designed our lives to live that lifestyle. We worked for a really long time at this. At dinner, my friends have a laugh when a fan comes up while we're out, and asks for an autograph from me or John. My friends don't consider us famous."

But he is successful, on his own terms. And he shares that with his fans and his students.

"While not everyone's going to win an Oscar, you can have a career at this." Ryan recalled how his parents doubted the precarious nature of show business, and wanted him to pursue "'Something with more certainty.' But really, even if you decide to be an accountant, is there really any certainty in anything?"

Ryan described a recent audition call where he observed several young actors impatiently awaiting their turn. "Sometimes, people miss the moments of the each step of the way, how to measure true success. I have a ring on my finger with an amazing man. That is the meaning of success."

Shawn Ryan performs at Feinstein's at the Nikko, 222 Mason Street, December 6 & 7 at 7pm. $25-$40 ($20 food/drink minimum). www.shawn-ryan.com www.ticketweb.com