California Repertory Company to Open 2015-16 Season with S/HE & ME, 9/25-10/11

California Repertory Company is proud to open its 2015-2016 season with the premiere of S/He & Me: A Theatrical Cabaret, written by Alexandra Billings, and conceived and directed by Joanne Gordon. Playing September 25th through October 11th, S/He & Me: A Theatrical Cabaret, explores the evolving relationship between Alexandra Billings and Scott - the boy she once was.

S/He & Me: A Theatrical Cabaret is a musical presentation born of an intimate collaboration between Alexandra Billings and Joanne Gordon. It tells a non-linear story of love and reconciliation through the spoken word and a wide variety of Broadway musical numbers. It celebrates the journey of transgender actress Alexandra Billings as she examines her relationships with her parents, her wife Chrisanne, and with herself - both as Alex and as Scott. Director Joanne Gordon is excited and honored to be involved in this "huge celebration of a pioneer in the transgender community." Billings stars in this cabaret, her second autobiographical show, with an ensemble of alums, graduate and undergraduate students and explains that it is "a story of our younger selves and what happens to them. The lessons that we get, and the gifts we receive, and how we give them away."

Alexandra Billings has been involved in the business of theatre since the age of 10. Originally from Southern California, she has worked as a showgirl, an actress, and an instructor across the U.S. Her first autobiographical show Before I Disappear has been seen Off-Broadway at The Producer's Club. Billings has appeared in several television episodes including Nurses, E.R., and Grey's Anatomy, which won a GLAAD Award for Outstanding Episode. She is currently appearing in Amazon's Golden Globe-winning and Emmy-nominated series Transparent. Billings is a faculty member and an alumna of the CSULB Theatre Arts Department.

Former Theatre Arts Department Chair Joanne Gordon is an award-winning director whose accolades include five Drama- Logue Awards, a Los Angeles Critics Choice Award and being named "Best of the Year" by the Los Angeles Times for Shadowlands at the Long Beach Playhouse. She is best known for her work on Stephen Sondheim and Charles Bukowski. Gordon directs and conducts workshops in both the U.S. and Europe. A native of South Africa, she completed undergraduate work in that country before earning a Ph.D. at UCLA.

S/He & Me: A Theatrical Cabaret opens Friday, September 25th, and closes on Sunday, October 11th. Performances run September 25th - September 26th, September 30th - October 3rd, and October 6th - October 10th at 8pm. There will be a matinee performance at 2pm on Sunday, October 4th and a 7pm performance on Sunday, October 11th. There will be a preview performance on Thursday, September 24th at 8pm. This production will be presented in the Studio Theatre on the CSULB Campus, accessible via West Campus Drive. Tickets are $17 for general admission and $14 for seniors and students (with valid ID). Parking is available next to the theatre for $5. For tickets and information, please call (562) 985-5526 or visit www.calrep.org.