triangle productions Addresses TRANS-FORMATION Controversy

In recent days triangle productions has been receiving push back for the upcoming production TRANS-formation, due to the casting of a male in the lead.

Some have asked for the show to be cancelled or postponed until a trans-actor can be found to step into the role. In response, director Don Horn stated that an open casting call was issued through various channels for not only Portland area actors but actors up and down the west coast. Those who responded were NOT asked their sexual preference nor, Don states, should it have been a thought, "I was seeking the best person to be the lead in this production, as we always do."

triangle marketing department reached out to organizations such as Basic Rights of Oregon and their reply was, " I talked with our leadership here, and, unfortunately, they've decided not to partner on the project. While we're not an arts organization, on our social media we often share stories about the importance of trans representation in entertainment, and, specifically, about transgender actors playing transgender parts. Because of that, there's a sense that participating in TRANS-formation would not be consistent with ideas and values we've shared publicly. I wish you the best with this project. Thank you for reaching out to me, and I hope we can partner in the future. Best, Mikki"

Rehearsals were open for them to also attend and no one has. During a phone conversation on Friday, January 12th with Co-Executive Director of BRO, Amy Herzfeld-Copple said, "We stand by Mikki and her appraisal. She is a well respected member of the trans community,"

TRANS-formation is NOT about the gay rights movement, though what George/Christine did back in 1947 definitely changed the tone of the "Lavender Scare" the Joseph McCarthy had going on through the senate hearings of the "Red Scare". However, George/Christine always stated, "God made a mistake which I have corrected." Christine, before even taking the estrogen pills and having surgeries insisted that she was a woman and wanted to be 100% female.

In the 50's another successful surgery took place, Aleshia Brevard. She was an American author and actress of stage, screen, and television. She worked as an entertainer, actress, model, Playboy bunny, professor of theater, and author. She underwent one of the first sex reassignment surgery procedures performed in the United States. [Unlike Christine who had to go outside the US because at that time, it was illegal]. Aleshis stated and Christine defended, "I never t self-identify as trans, nor did I seen that way. Inf act, my husbands didn't even know of my operations until I wrote my book." Once her memoir came out in 2001, she started to become labeled a "transsexual writer" and "transsexual actress". When she was being interviewed in 2013 about her second book did she say, "I'd been labeled-forced into a transsexual mold. Professionally, both as a film/stage actress and, later, as a university professor of theatre, my life was lived outside the gender community. Only after publishing two memoirs, when in my 60's and 70's, did I first hear the term "transgender" and become aware of the community's stated agenda," . She also said in April 2017 "I did not go through gender reassignment to be labeled transsexual. I look at that as an awkward phase that I went through-sort of like a really painful adolescence. I don't even think of myself now in terms as transsexual. That's something I experienced and [something] I was". Brevard went on, "For me, as well as for my early sisters, the goal was never to live with a 'T' before our names. Our objective was to blend so thoroughly that the things mixed could not be recognized. It was a choice, made not because we felt any shame about our transsexual history, but because our goal had always been to live fully as the women we'd been born to be."[

TRANS-formation honors the modern pioneer for having 'corrective' surgery - from male to female. To be, as Christine stated, "Live a life as who I was born, female."

The play, for the first 95% of the show is a male seeking and working on this transition and the final 15 minutes is Christine obtaining her name and having two surgeries then returning back to America. In fact, the Duke and Duchess of Denmark were on the plane, and it was Christine that received a grand reception and became front page news.

This play is about ensuring that one person's story will be told. This is the first time that a play directly portrayed Christine through her transition. Walter Cole/Darcelle said in an interview, "Do not, not do this piece. It's history and should told." And recently in a NPR interview, RuPaul (famous drag queen) stated, "It's not about gender identity is about who you are - you have to work it girl! It's on the inside. No label can be put on the inside of you."

"It was stated to me," said Don Horn in an interview, "That if I didn't or couldn't cast a trans-gender actor, I should have cast a woman. What is the difference on who is cast if that person can do the role and honor George AND Christine? The show will go on with or without support from the organizations that so this historical piece can be brought to the stage. Let's have the conversation after people see it, and hopefully will understand that at least the dialogue for our forebears are being told. WIthout them, we would not be where we are today - in a more accepting society. And just remember, this play is in an historical context. It begins in 1947 when it was illegal to be queer - and George took it upon himself to seek out assistance to transform from a male to a female. This journey took him out of the US. Upon her return several years later in 1952 was when she was known as Christine. There were no pronouns, she was just elated to be whom she thought she was "female".