On the phone with Jeff Key

Over the phone his voice strong, powerful, determined, with a slice of authority. Not from what someone has told him, but from what he learned from experience and grounded instincts. Jeff Key has a story to tell on the stage and off.

Jeff Key in Eyes of Babylon at Theatre On Broadway at the New Denver Civic Theatre.

He opens Friday, August 22 in Theatre On Broadway’s Black Box Theatre at the New Denver Civic Theatre with his play Eyes of Babylon.

Jeff and his partner, Adam, just celebrated their first anniversary, and their first year living in Salt Lake City, Utah. They married a year ago in Southern California with both of their families present and proud. Now the two look forward to adopting a child.

Jeff grew up in America Junction, Alabama, at the tip of the Appalachian Mountains in Coal Country, a stop on the railroad tracks not far from Parrish, Alabama. Jeff knew at a very young age something about him was different. In his teen years, he came to terms with his sexuality, but it took him well into his 20’s before springing the news to his parents he was homosexual. As a Deacon in the Church of Christ, his father struggled over his position in the Church, standing in the community, his own beliefs, and his Faith. But he struggled, and in the end realized his relationship with his son weighed out with far more importance than anything else. Now he’s proud of who his son is and what he’s accomplished.

Jeff moved to Hollywood where he found a sense of acceptance he’d never before known. The acceptance built his courage, and fed his strong sense of Patriotism. In 2000 he joined the Marines. Following September 11, 2001, his unit was shipped to Iraq. Well aware of the Don’t Tell, Don’t Ask policy, Jeff knew two things. If friends asked, he’d tell them who he was. He never betrayed close friendships, and was honest if anyone questioned his sexuality. He never had to field a negative response. He also knew if for whatever reason he wanted to get out, all he had to do was tell the Powers That Be.

Coming out in Alabama took its own toll on Jeff. He resented being from that Southern State. Drinking became a salve as he worked on a theatre degree at The University of Alabama. He got his degree and sobered up. He couldn’t wait to get out of Alabama, and move to New York City. At this point in time and history, Jeff is proud to be from Alabama. After all, he said with a laugh, the South produced Truman Capote and Tennessee Williams.

What sparked Jeff’s drive to join the Marines was a strong built in belief that “representative government is worth saving. It’s the best the planet has to offer”. Patriotism to Jeff means “wanting to see everything that can be done to make the country stand. What better way to go than to move the country to a higher and better way?” Conviction becomes his exclamation point.

Jeff Key in Iraq.

In Iraq, Jeff kept a journal of copious notes concerning what he saw, what he thought, people he met, what he did, what he had to do, what he didn’t want to do, private thoughts revolving around internal struggles. He kept the detailed notes in case he didn’t make it back home. Seeing himself as a strong Patriot, Cherokee blood runs in his veins from his mother’s side of the family. Patriotism for country runs deep.

The more he saw and heard in Iraq, the more anger boiled in his veins. After he was injured, and sent back to the states for healing, his anger of American occupation in Iraq rose to the surface. He had a way out, and revealed to the Powers That Be who he really was. He hated the way the war was being mismanaged. He agonized over the way the estimated 64.000 gays and lesbians were being harmed serving in the armed forces. Many countries allow gay and lesbians to serve in the armed services with pride and honor. He had a choice to make? Which was worse? Crawling back into himself and killing hundreds of innocent lives for the sake of what he believed to be an illegal war, or get out from underneath the Marine sense of order and tell the truth to his commanding officer. He no longer could be true to himself and support the occupation. Yes, he has an honorary discharge, and freedom to tell his story. His disdainfulness with the government’s sloppy policy toward Iraq and his reasons why tumble out whenever he has opportunity to speak. It also rolls out in his one-man play, Eyes of Babylon.

Jeff directed his anger toward the war with a positive kickback. He sparked The Mehadi Foundation. The Foundation offers scholarships and assistance to service men and women suffering from Post Traumatic Stress. The name comes from a young Iraqi boy he met.

The Eyes of Babylon isn’t just about the horribleness of the war, although he doesn’t shy away from strong comments and observations. He knows what it means to be beaten down. He has experienced this all too many times. He also knows what it means to be empowered by truth and a strong sense of self. Very much aware of the numerous individuals feeling powerless, he’s eager to inspire them to take their power back, knowing they can. It doesn’t matter, he says, what has beaten an individual down: poverty, overweight, alcohol, drugs, depression, worthlessness, and loneliness. He’s been there, lived there, but no longer. This goes far beyond just being in the military or being Gay. More than anything he wants to inspire the powerless to claim their power. Eyes of Babylon does that. From the stage he sees eyes light up. With an Honorary discharge in hand, he read his journals and his love for the theatre nibbled at his imagination.

He workshopped Eyes of Babylon in October 2004, and it began to attract attention. As it played around the country off and on, it grabbed the attention of Director Vincent Dipersio and Producer Eda Halliman. Here was a man who loved his country, who wanted to speak out against the war, not because he was angry at the United States, but because he loved it. Here was a man who wanted to make a difference, who knew he could make a difference, and empower several others along the way. Eyes of Babylon became the documentary Semper, Fl: One Man’s Journey, and though it reaches unashamedly into the depths of Hell, it rises to the top of dignity and power. Jeff took a break from the Eyes of Babylon to make the documentary.

Following the run at TOB’s Black Box, Jeff will be on tour with his play for the rest of the year. The title Eyes of Babylon, come from Bible stories he remembers as a child, knowing the more things change, the more they stay the same emphasized during a meditation monologue. Toward the end he addresses President George W. Bush.

Jeff Key in Eyes of Babylon at Theatre On Broadway at the New Denver Civic Theatre.

Friendships are important to Jeff, and he keeps in touch with the guys he was deployed with. Yes, some are convinced we should be there. Most are convinced we shouldn’t be, but they will return, if necessary, to help the young Iraqis in any way they can.

Across the telephone wires I could see the beam in his eyes when he announced his brother Chad is a new Daddy for the third time, with son, Colby. His family, including two sisters, mean a great deal to him. He didn’t actually have to tell me that. I could have guessed. He’s a dog person with a four-year-old Yellow Lab, Sydney and a four-year-old Black lab, Willie.

Metaphysical thoughts topple into his speech with clarified punctuation. “We live in the world we create,” he muses. “If we look at the top religions of the world, a central theme runs through them all. It’s in our spiritual DNA.” He understands connection and energy. That’s what he’s all about.

Eyes of Babylon promises to be a production not to be missed. Jeff Key promises to be a man you’ll never forget.