SURFING to SUCCESS

John Fortson has been a fixture behind the bar at Milano’s Cucina

Italiana on Brand Boulevard since it opened in 1992, but tending bar

is only half his story.

Acting is where his true heart lies and Milano’s patrons who have

come to know him well, both for his ability to shake a great martini

and from his television and film roles including “My Big Fat

Independent Movie,” “7th Heaven” and “ER,” have banded together to

support his new venture.

His new solo-performance play, “Loveswell,” in which he stars,

will take you on a journey of a man getting in touch with his

emotions. The world premiere will be on Oct. 21 at the Two Roads

Theatre in Studio City.

The play is also the directorial debut for Terrie Silverman, a

writer, performance artist and educator. Silverman met Fortson when

he signed up for her Creative Rites workshop a few years ago and has

watched this play evolve into its final draft.

“John has an amazing capacity to allow his vulnerabilities to come

out and it’s amazing to hear him talk about the things he talks

about,” Silverman said.

This intimate, hilarious and sometimes thought-provoking play

looks at married life from nearly every angle, from who is supposed

to eat the bananas in the fruit bowl in the kitchen to finding enough

space to crawl into bed after a long tiring day of work.

“It will appeal to anyone who has passion or anyone who is trying

to figure out love in their relationship because he embodies all the

difficulties, the absurdities and the ironies about his own

relationship and how he’s trying to navigate through it,” Silverman

said.

Told through his passion for surfing, a sport he has participated

in for the past 25 years, Fortson explores the ever-changing nature

of a relationship and examines what goes on behind closed doors when

no one is looking.

“It’s really about true love because this man wants to be all he

can be -- he wants to change, he wants to grow -- all in the name of

love,” Fortson said.

On baring it all, he said he’s not worried because the show’s

producer is the love of his life and his biggest wave so far, his

wife actress Christie Lynn Smith.

“We share all of this really honest raw stuff, so for my wife to

produce this show -- it’s pretty incredible,” Fortson said.

Smith, whose credits include films and television shows such as

“Gods and Generals,” “Bruce Almighty,” “7th Heaven,” and “Malcolm in

the Middle,” is more than happy to lend her support.

“It’s pretty wonderful that we can be so open with each other and

that’s what makes this play special,” Smith said. “We talk about

stuff all the time and it makes us stronger as a couple and it allows

people to see that you don’t always have to be perfect.”

Nearly two dozen sponsors, including his surfing idol, six-time

surf champion Shaun Tomson, who will attend the opening gala, have

backed the show so all proceeds can be donated to charity.

Proceeds will go to The Roy and Patricia Disney Cancer Center,

which will be built adjacent to the Providence St. Joseph Medical

Center in Burbank, and the Malibu chapter of the Surfrider

Foundation. Both charities are close to his heart.

“In the play, I get some of the most important advice from my

grandparents -- to follow your heart,” Fortson said, adding that most

of his grandparents have passed away from cancer. “I want to turn

this play into something that can benefit and bring awareness to

causes that I really believe in.”

The Providence St. Joseph Foundation, whose responsibility is to

raise funds for the building projects, has been raising money to

build this new multimillion dollar cancer center, funded in part

through philanthropic donations from large corporations.

Dr. Kerry Weiner, a gastroenterologist on staff at Providence St.

Joseph Medical Center and active member of the Providence Health

Systems Foundations, said that although Fortson’s donation may be

just a drop in the bucket, it only takes one person to make a big

difference.

“Philanthropy is important no matter how big or small because

centers like this cannot be built without this kind of support,”

Weiner said. “It’s very cool for this guy [Fortson] to do this

because he’s making people aware of the cause.”

The Surfrider Foundation, a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization,

is an environmental nationwide group that works to protect and

preserve the coastal waters.

“We depend on donations from the community 100 percent,” said

Jessica Stefan, spokeswoman for the Surfrider Malibu chapter.

“It’s rare that you find someone with this kind of initiative to

do this on their own and for him to donate everything to causes he

believes in is really admirable,” she added.

FYI

WHAT: World premiere “Loveswell”

WHERE: Two Roads Theatre, 4348 Tujunga Ave., Studio City

WHEN: 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays; Opening

Gala is Oct. 21 and runs through Nov. 20

ADMISSION: $20 opening night, $15 all other performances

CONTACT: (818) 342-4707 or visit www.loveswell.com