• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Travel
  • Sports
  • Law/Justice
  • Celebrities
  • Film/TV/Stream
  • Republicans
  • Madonna
  • Books
  • Men
  • Trans Rights
  • Tech/Science
  • Royals
  • Monkeypox

5 Actions to Take Now Inspired by Michael Moore’s ‘The Terms of My Surrender’ on Broadway

Naveen Kumar August 21, 2017 Leave a Comment

Michael Moore in The Terms of My Surrender photo by Joan Marcus 1

If you’re lining up for The Terms of My Surrender, Michael Moore’s one-man Broadway debut which opened August 10, you likely have a pretty clear idea of what you’re in for. Aside from the lone Duck Dynasty extra chanting feebly from behind a “Drain the Swamp” poster on the evening I attended, those flocking nightly to the Belasco Theatre are squarely in the liberal choir, assembling to hear one of their most fervent preachers in a rare live appearance.

Moore jokes at the outset that his show is like a 12-step program, but it’s somewhere closer to the five stages of resistance. Over the course of these 100-plus minutes, smoothly directed by Michael Mayer, audiences are faced with many of the fiery emotions that have erupted in a majority of Americans since election night. It begins with anger, as Moore lays out the harsh facts with his signature vehemence (and a tinge of “I told you so”) in a rally-style opening monologue.  

Michael Moore in The Terms of My Surrender photo by Joan Marcus

Though outrage is never far from the surface, Moore proceeds to uplift with stories of personal triumph in the face of adversity — how his entry in a speech writing contest at 17 led to racial discrimination legislation, the Jersey librarian responsible for saving his 2002 best-seller from the shredder — to show that big change starts with small action. Though he’s led an exceptional life, Moore still plays the everyman, and his anecdotes are enough to light a fire under every seat in the house.

So, if you’re looking to effect big change, here are five actions you can take now, inspired by Michael Moore’s Broadway show.

1. 5calls.org: When Moore plugged this ingenious app, the woman seated in front of me wrote it down on her bare hand. This mobile app identifies pressing issues on a given day based on your selected priorities, provides phone numbers and scripts with talking points, and even dials your reps for you — all you have to do is stay on the line.

Michael Moore in The Terms of My Surrender by Joan Marcus 2 1

2. Be part of the “swarm of bees”: One of Moore’s metaphors for the resistance comes from the cartoons. You know when the bad guy has his head engulfed by a cloud of insects? That’s what we need to do to Trump, Moore argues — surround him, piss him off, and throw him off balance. So keep tweeting @realDonaldTrump and get yourself blocked like Chrissy Teigen.

3. Show up: The evening Trump returned to New York having refused to denounce the white supremacists who caused deadly terror in Charlottesville, VA, Moore bused his Broadway audience to protests outside Trump Tower in Manhattan. Mark Ruffalo, Olivia Wilde, and Zoe Kazan were among the crowd. When the resistance assembles, as they did again in Boston this weekend, show up and be heard.

Michael Moore in The Terms of My Surrender by Joan Marcus 3

4. Run for office: As Moore attests from personal experience, some elected positions are well within reach — even for an 18-year-old hippie, and especially at the local level. If running for office isn’t for you, even better. Moore makes a good point: The people who really want to run aren’t the ones he’d like to see in office; it’s regular folks who have no interest in politics who he thinks would do a better job.

5. Get inspired: If you’ve reached the point where just reading the news is exhausting, Moore will help get your head back in the game. It’s not the sort of escape many people turn to Broadway for, but it’s a welcome recharge for your convictions. Fortunately, the entire mezzanine is being sold for $29 a seat. Smile at the “Drain the Swamp” dude on your way in, he loves that.

Recent theatre features…
Broadway’s ‘1984’ Won’t Make You Vomit — At Least Not for the Reason You Think: REVIEW
Bette Midler Cannot Be Played Off and 6 Other Truths From the 2017 Tony Awards
Michael Urie Will Keep You Laughing About Russia in ‘The Government Inspector’ Off-Broadway: REVIEW
Bette Midler Is Back on Broadway in ‘Hello, Dolly!’ and You Probably Can’t Handle It: REVIEW

Follow Naveen Kumar on Twitter: @Mr_NaveenKumar
(photos: joan marcus)

Topics: Theater, towleroad More Posts About: Daily Resist, Entertainment, Michael Moore, Naveen Kumar, New York

Related Posts
  • HRC Fires President Alphonso David Over Alleged Connections to Cuomo Sexual Harassment Scandal; David Promises Legal Action
  • The “Inner Circle” That Kept Andrew Cuomo Governor Faces Scrutiny: HRC Investigates Leader’s Involvement; Roberta Kaplan Resigns From ‘Time’s Up’
  • NY AG Details HRC Leader Alphonso David’s Roles in Cuomo Scandal; Sparks Scrutiny By Staff, Partners, Press And Calls To Resign
  • Elliot Page: ‘Never thought I would love a passport photo’

    Elliot Page: ‘Never thought I would love a passport photo’

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Elliot Page has shared his new passport photograph. The ‘Umbrella Academy’ actor – who announced he was transgender in 2020 – took to Instagram to share his updated passport picture and …Read More »
  • Adele gifts VIP concert access to fan in exchange for Pride flag

    Adele gifts VIP concert access to fan in exchange for Pride flag

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Adele gave a fan VIP access to her concert, in exchange for borrowing their Pride flag. The 34-year-old star draped herself in a rainbow flag at her concert at British Summer …Read More »
  • Lourdes Leon Top Social Media Thirst Trap Moments: Photos

    Lourdes Leon Top Social Media Thirst Trap Moments: Photos

    Published by OK Magazine mega She got it from her mama! Lourdes Leon never fails to wow her followers with the sultriest of snaps on social media. The ultra famous daughter of Madonna knows how to …Read More »
  • Why Norway is making influencers warn when ‘beautifying’ their bodies

    Why Norway is making influencers warn when ‘beautifying’ their bodies

    Published by DPA Media experts have warned that unhealthy body images on social media can be particularly dangerous for younger users, who are discovering their own bodies and are often dissatisfied with their looks. Benjamin Nolte/dpa …Read More »
Previous Post: « Trump Nominee Sam Clovis: Being Gay is a Choice and LGBT Rights Will Lead to Legalizing Pedophilia – WATCH
Next Post: Upscale D.C. Restaurant Tells Gay Couple Two Men Can’t Share Dessert Because it ‘Doesn’t Go with the Ambiance’ »

Primary Sidebar

News

  • Margot Robbie & Ryan Gosling Skate Through A Day Of Filming ‘Barbie’ In Venice Beach: Photos

    Margot Robbie & Ryan Gosling Skate Through A Day Of Filming ‘Barbie’ In Venice Beach: Photos

  • Six killed in shooting during US July 4 parade

    Six killed in shooting during US July 4 parade

  • US drought exposes murky mob past of Las Vegas

    US drought exposes murky mob past of Las Vegas

RSS Partner Links

  • Today’s Morning Man: Patrick Wilson!
  • Tom Daley and Dustin Lance Black take in some Wimbledon matches – from the Royal Box!
  • OMG, WATCH: Drake performs with The Backstreet Boys on stage in Toronto
  • OMG, WATCH: Kesha will encounter ghosts in upcoming Discovery+ series ‘Conjuring Kesha’
  • Happy ...
  • Happy Fourth of July!
  • Weekend Tennis Roundup

Most Recent

  • Ohio city Akron imposes curfew after protests over police killing of Black man

    Ohio city Akron imposes curfew after protests over police killing of Black man

  • Elliot Page: ‘Never thought I would love a passport photo’

    Elliot Page: ‘Never thought I would love a passport photo’

  • Adele gifts VIP concert access to fan in exchange for Pride flag

    Adele gifts VIP concert access to fan in exchange for Pride flag

  • Lourdes Leon Top Social Media Thirst Trap Moments: Photos

    Lourdes Leon Top Social Media Thirst Trap Moments: Photos

  • Why Norway is making influencers warn when ‘beautifying’ their bodies

    Why Norway is making influencers warn when ‘beautifying’ their bodies

  • Can I get monkeypox from a contaminated surface? Possibly, says study

    Can I get monkeypox from a contaminated surface? Possibly, says study

  • Pope defrocks retired German priest after drawn out proceedings

    Pope defrocks retired German priest after drawn out proceedings

  • Lebanese civil society groups condemn anti-LGBT crackdown

    Lebanese civil society groups condemn anti-LGBT crackdown

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy
[towleroadmr] [towleroadtn]

Footer

Copyright © 2022 · Log in