Bo Frazier.
New York and Baltimore: Today Baltimore Center STGLE (BCS) and New York Break the binary theater launched a revolutionary national initiative, The Trans History Project. Created by the artist in residence of BCS, Bo Frazier, the project aims to command, develop and publish 10 new plays by 10 transgender writers and non-compliant to the genre (TGNC) on the true history of gender non-compliance, which “existed in all cultures from the start,” said Frazier in a press release.
The first cohort of five playwrights will be selected in the summer of 2025 through a Open submission process. Each playwright will receive commission fees of $ 10,000 and two -year development residences in a coalition of regional theaters across the country, including Diversion theater in San Diego, California, Rattlestick Theater In New York, Round House Theater in Bethesda, md., and BCS. Each summer during the project, BCS will organize an annual concession of dramatist ordered to share the work and be in community with other TGNC artists.
“The Trans History Project is part of our broader commitment to the central scene of Baltimore to focus marginalized voices in cultural conversation,” said BCS artistic director Stevie Walker-Webb in a declaration. “The Trans Rights Movement is in line with the civil rights movement, because trans rights are civil rights and human rights. Until the trans playwrights are produced as largely as Lynn Notage, David Henry Hwang, or María Irene Forné, one of which is not produced enough – we have work to do. As Toni Cade has declared that the role of the artist is during the artist's revolution, the role of the artist is during the Revolution is of the craftsman the transcendent creatives that I know.
According to the creator and program director Bo Frazier, the idea of the project came to them in 2018. Their original vision was to create a piece with many playwrights, each sticker on a non -compliant person of their culture. But an “dear friend told me to” dream greater “and therefore this project was born,” said Frazier. “Thanks to this work, we will educate the Cisgenre community and increase and empower the Trans community, while initiating the next generation of audiences.”
They added: “One of the major problems to be trans and not binary in 2025 is that many people think that we do not exist 10 years ago. They do not know the history of the world which has included people who have been varied in the sexes in all cultures for centuries. The binary and our regional theatrical partners are a dream come true, and I hope it inspires others to program, produce and order work in the TGNC community. »»
The theaters in partnership of the program shared the excitement for collaboration and maintained the importance of defending TGNC stories through this project. Breaking the Binary Theater devoted his participation in the Trans History Project to Z (formerly Aziza Barnes).
“While the Transgender community remains attacked, our stories and our societal contributions being eradicated daily, it is an excellent gift to start order 10 new documents written by members of our community to ensure that our stories are well documented and that other opportunities are presented to Tgnc Theatremakers,” said Breaking the Binary Theater, George Strus in a statement.
“Trans history is lgbtqia + history, and we are honored to defend it”, ” Diversion theater The artistic director Sherri Eden Barber said in a press release, noting that it was the 40th year of operation of the company. “The diversion is delighted and committed to continuing to promote relationships with trans artists, which provides a space where their stories can be developed, celebrated and shared with the world. We are an institution that raises trans voices and honors the depth and diversity of their experiences. ”
“The Trans history project aligns perfectly with the mission of Round House to be a theater for everyone,” said Round House Theater The artistic director Ryan Rilette in a press release. “We strive to produce a job that inspires empathy and demands a conversation, in particular at a time when our TGNC colleagues and our loved ones are faced with so much hostility.”
Rattlestick Theater The artistic director Will Davis said in a statement that it is “a vital initiative edifying from trans and non -binary voices. Rattlestick is proud to support this urgent work and help bring these essential stories on stage. ”
The Trans History Project was one of the five regional theater projects to receive National Theater Company Company subsidy subsidy of the American theatrical wing. Project submissions are now open and will be accepted until May 11 at 11:59 p.m. HE. The reading committee is made up of trans and gender artists across the country, as well as members of the BCS artistic team.
