What is it with all the MtF trannys in musicals?

Roger DeBris wears a rather gorgeous frock in THE PRODUCERS.

Kevin Aviance as Aida would work for me.

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You forgot Ruthless the musical

The trangression of Gender in theatre period is perhaps the oldest element that has managed to survive through all incarnations of theatre. "cross-dressing" dates back to the birth of "theatrical" experiences- there are records of prehistoric shamens transgressing gender and sometimes species and were in many ways the first celebrities. For some reason, its a gimmick that is successful, enjoyable, and intriguing to not just our society, but others. I can't quite explain what exactly it is, but its something I've spent a good deal of time reading about, examining, and investigating.

I've been doing drag since I was 15. I used to go to high school in drag(you should see my student IDs). I got a detention once because I refused to take off my wig. It was too big and students behind me coudnt see over it. I used to be critized for doing drag and wanting to play women- honestly- on the stage. People didn't get it, and I learned to supress it and didnt think that "drag" theatre was worthy of exploration and presentation.

I have since then, learned to embrace my personal obsession, and decided to start a theatre company "Transmission Theatre Project" who's primary goal is produce works which compassionately examine and illuminate the enduring aspects of the human experience through the exploration of Gender in theatre in relation to content, character and form. I've been shaped by the work of John Cameron Mitchell, Harvey Fierstein, Moises Kaufmann and Tectonic, Tony Kushner, Justin Bond, and many drag queens like Lypsinka, Porsche, Sweetie, Joey Arias and more. I want to explore traditional classical works and classical casting(all men), roles written for drag characters, roles with transgender characters and looking at untraditionally cast works.

As far as Broadway Trannies- I its a gimmick that will continue to flourish...last season/this season there was an abundance
Rent-
La Cage-
Taboo-
Bombay Dreams-
I am my own wife-
Chicago-
Producers-
Hairspray-
Dame Edna-
I'm sure im forgetting something.

My point is, us ladies arent going anywhere- Check out "The Changing Room" by laurence senelick. its a great encyclopedia of drag in theatre history. "Vested Interests" by Majorie Garber is great too. Also "Dressing Up" by Peter Ackroyd.

I am currently directing a peice from "Vanities" with all men.

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Updated On: 3/18/05 at 03:59 AM

hahaha it totally did.
READ about it here:
http://20below.mainetoday.com/press/verge/lead3b.shtml

That was on the front page of the newspaper. Theres a picture of the wig half way down. The part of the story that it is part of it appears right next to it.

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This is totally stopping the momentum of this post, but I don't care. Mandy Patinkin was in some flop Off-Broadway musical and played a woman or something crazy like that.

Mimi: Vanities with men? Interesting...

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Well, Mimi, I don't aprove of your teacher de-wigging you.
But that IS one HUUUUGE wig, dear. Your teacher did have a valid point.

A kicky Cher-esque 'fall' would show great consideration for your fellow students.

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Looking back I laugh at the scenerio. It WAS rather funny.
I wonder what happened to that wig.

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I wrote this from a slightly different username, but this is the same Sporkie who posted the orig. message.
Yo, you guys are all so dumb! Well a bunch of you.
In response to the 'Justice' who said I had something against these people you are just being defensive. Justice is truly BLIND!! Why?
1. I said, "Not that I'm complaining" about the dragginess.
2. I said crossdresser. Which Angel is.
3. I said crossdresser. Which, in a different sense, is what the actor playing Edna is
4. I AM TRANS-and I have something to tell you- I am a out FtM transexual in highschool dealing with mad discrimination, bladder holding, parental disapproval, and being kicked off teams and not being allowed to participate in school activities. So think before you flame-and get off your high horse. I was asking because I'm writing a paper on the topic. Would a transphobe cry at that monolouge from A Chorus Line?


I was really looking for someone who knew more about musical theatre than me to bring up some obscure musical starring someone like me, for me to connect to because musicals are so beautiful and feature such a diverse variety of charachters...I thought I'd ask without being super explicit. So yeah.


Oh, but also thank you to all the amazing people who gave really educational and interesting answers-I honestly appreciated them.

Updated On: 3/22/05 at 01:24 AM

Sporkie,
No disrespect or anything,
But, couldn't you have made yourself a little more clear in your original post?
I saw the "Not that I'm complaining" - regardless, your title is "What is with all the MtF trannys in musicals?" That right there sounds like a complaint.

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this entire thread is simply not needed. cross dressing can be traced back to even the very beginning of stage performance when women were not allowed on stage and men played all the male and female roles... even the original production of Romeo and Juliet cast a male as Juliet.

As I said the history of transgressing gender on stage dates to prehistoric shamen-predating any other aspect of performing.

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