"This story of transformation is inspirational, deeply moving, and sacred. Anyone who has ever struggled with addiction, identity, or sexuality must see this show."
Press & Media
— Craig Tyrl, Producer, Wayward Artist
AS SEEN IN / FEATURED BY
Critical Reviews
Features & interviews
CSUF News — Most Recent
Austin Nation, associate professor of nursing, sat down with LGBTQ Archives — a YouTube channel with more than 18,000 subscribers that documents and shares the stories and experiences of the LGBTQ community — to share his story of resilience and transformation.
Daily Titan
"Life Comes Full Circle as Nursing Professor Austin Nation Gives Back to CSUF" A profile on how Austin's journey from student to professor came full circle at Cal State Fullerton.
OC Register
"Becoming Austin Nation: How an Addict Went from Crack to Ph.D. to Drag Queen" A deep dive into Austin's life, work, and the show that brought it all together.
CSUF News — Nursing Professor Shares Life Story in New Show
Coverage of Becoming Austin Nation and the reception it received from the campus community at the Maverick Theatre in Fullerton.
CSUF News — Nursing Faculty Member Shares Life Story in Performance
Feature on Austin's Maverick Theater run and the response from students, faculty, and peers.
CSUF Titan Spotlight — Two Favorites (with photos)
Two of Austin's most personal and visually rich features were written during his early years at CSUF.
The audience speaks
"The realness, honesty, and vulnerability were a joy to experience. I didn't think I would become emotional but I couldn't stop the tears from falling."
"As a queer individual, this entire performance was incredible and empowering. Inspires me to want to get involved with HIV and my LGBT+ community."
"The show was enlightening for a straight person. Education is so important."
"This was deeply personal to me. My identity has always been difficult and drugs and suicide is a massive part of my story. The courage it took to face any of this was empowering and inspiring."
"I didn't think I would become emotional, but I couldn't stop the tears from falling."
"The performance was amazing. It felt real and raw... It was like a history lesson and I was so engaged and I learned so much."
"It was such a beautiful story and honest depiction of the challenges of a variety of issues we struggle with today, racism, homophobia, and the phobia of HIV."
"Walking alongside his vulnerability encourages one to be vulnerable also."
