The Role

Mason Burroughs is an actor on the verge of giving up after being turned away at audition after audition. But his life changes when he bumps into Kevin Caldwell, an old crush from acting school. Kevin helps Mason land a role that could make him the next Broadway star. However, as rehearsals begin, Mason learns that there’s a lot more drama than just what’s on stage. With a personal trainer claiming he can mold his body to resemble a Greek statue, an underhanded understudy waiting in the wings to replace him, a megalomaniacal director, and Kevin hellbent on breaking up Mason and his boyfriend, Mason must choose how much he is willing to sacrifice to make his Broadway dream a reality.

"The steamy debut novel adds an overlay of confused identity to what is essentially a fantasia, with a Cinderella makeover swirling Mason into the limelight and the affections of a previously unattainable hunk...and there’s a splendid supporting cast of colorful, well-drawn secondary characters." - Kirkus Reviews

“A dishy, gossipy, flirty, sexy, dramatic—and of course gay—romance of the theater. Richard Taylor Pearson introduces us to the players behind a would-be Broadway hit. The hunky leading man is adored by the nervous newcomer who is intimidated by the catty understudy, and all of them are getting stroked, cajoled, browbeaten and manipulated by a mad genius director who holds 'private sessions' before rehearsal. If you eat up backstage intrigue, if you have playbill.com bookmarked, if Tony night is your Super Bowl, you will definitely get into The Role!"
- David Pratt, author of Looking After Joey and Bob the Book