Trans Voices Cabaret's HEROES & VILLAINS Returns to The Duplex

After selling out their first four performances, Trans Voices Cabaret returns to The Duplex with an even bigger cast of transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming performers on Saturday, August 18th, 2018 at 9:30pm, with direction by Donnie Cianciotto and musical direction by Anessa Marie.

The August show marks the first time Trans Voices Cabaret is presenting a show with a theme: HEROES & VILLAINS will highlight the best of the best and the worst of the worst, with appearances by super heroes and evil villains, angsty teenage wizards, fairy tale characters, and more all presented in Trans Voices Cabaret's upbeat under-rehearsed and over-dramatic style. While most music comes from the theater, standards, originals, and the occasional pop song will have you singing along and getting punches on your ally card.

Some of the cast's combined performance credits include 54 Below, Joe's Pub, The Met, NYMF, Steppenwolf, Laurie Beechman Theater, Carnegie Hall, The Cutting Room, The Public Theater, Musical Theater Factory, Lincoln Center, and several regional and community theater companies nationwide.

Donnie Cianciotto, TVC's creator and director, aims to keep the focus on TGNC entertainers and is a proponent and activist for authentic casting. "Almost all of the very few TGNC roles out there wind up going to cisgender performers, which can often do a lot more harm than good. We're told a lot by casting directors and the media that they simply couldn't find any transgender actors. I want to give TGNC people an opportunity to showcase their talents and hope casting directors, agents, and the media take notice because there are a ton of talented TGNC performers out there and we'd love the opportunity to tell our stories. We'd also love a steady paycheck."

Trans Voices Cabaret delivers standard NYC cabaret fare with a twist in a show combining your all time favorite showtunes, new works, and popular music. This is NYC's fifth installment of Trans Voices Cabaret, and the Chicago chapter - Trans Voices Cabaret CHI - debuted their inaugural performance on July 30th, 2018 at Stage 773. Find more information on NYC and Chicago shows at: www.transvoicescabaret.com.

Returning cast members Christian Appel, Andi Lee Carter, Donnie Cianciotto, Salem Corwin, Sandy Gooen, Felix Graham, Kat Griffin, Winter Laike, Jacob Michael, Futaba Shioda, Tonilyn A. Sideco, and Ianne Fields Stewart are joined by newcomers Preston Allen, Esco Jouley, Kai Pelton, Sydney Ronis, Shakira, and Ania Upstill. Bios available below.

Trans Voices Cabaret is being held in the cabaret theater at The Duplex, 61 Christopher Street, NY, NY 10014 at 9:30pm on Saturday, August 18th, 2018. Tickets are available for $10 in advance through The Duplex's website (www.theduplex.com) or for $15 at the door. Advance purchase is encouraged due to limited seating and previous shows selling out. Limited industry comps available. Email: transvoicescabaret@gmail.com for more information.

Direct link to tickets: www.purplepass.com/trans0818

BIOS

PRESTON MAX ALLEN: Preston Max Allen (he/him/his) is an NYC-based writer and composer whose work has been featured at the New Amsterdam Theatre, Signature Theatre, Musical Theatre Factory, New York Musical Festival, Feinstein's/54 Below, Joe's Pub, Second City Chicago, and Lululemon (it's a long story). Preston conceived, wrote, and composed WE ARE THE TIGERS (Hudson Backstage, L.A. Stage Alliance Ovation winner, Best Lyrics/Composition), NEVER BETTER (NYMF Developmental Reading Series), and CARRIE 2: THE RAGE, AN UNAUTHORIZED MUSICAL PARODY (Underscore Theatre, Jeff Nominee, Best New Musical). Additional projects include music/lyrics/book for AGENT 355 (collaborator Jessica Kahkoska), book/lyrics for FRANKLIN PIERCE: DRAGON SLAYER (composer Will Buck), music/lyrics for THE HUNTED: ENCORE (Charging Moose Productions), and music/lyrics for BRADICAL AND THE PINK SOCKS (Diverging Elements). For completely unprofessional updates and cat photos, find him @prestonmaxallen.

CHRISTIAN APPEL: Christian is a radical non-binary trans femme arts activist, performance artist, and musician. They co-founded The TransGenerational Theatre Project, a multigenerational devised theatre project for trans and gender non-conforming people, and they are proud to be facilitating the project for a third year in preparation for a performance in the Trans Theatre Festival. They are a graduate of the CUNY Masters in Applied Theatre program and work as the Women's Program and Arts & Culture Program Coordinator at the Edie Windsor SAGE Center. They create solo performance that explores trans rage, grief, and ritual, and have performed at Heels on Wheels and as part of Needing It (Brooklyn Arts Exchange). They took a seven year break from theatre before returning to the stage to portray Chelsea Manning in Won't Be A Ghost (The Brick).

ANDI LEE CARTER: Andi (he/him/they/them) is a New York-based playwright, composer, lyricist, singer, and comedian. He is a first year student in the NYU Tisch Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program. His first original full-length musical Rent A White Guy was dubbed "often very funny" by The New York Times. Andi performs regularly at the People's Improv Theatre with his sketch comedy troupe Adam's Summer Class. He is an Artistic Associate with Random Access Theatre performing in the hit series Drunk Restoration Comedy. He is a proud member of the Dramatist Guild of America and founding member of the Musical Theatre Factory and moderator of its monthly Women/Trans* Writers Representation Round Table. www.andileecarter.com

Donnie Cianciotto: Recent credits include Dr. Kirby in The Civility of Albert Cashier (Shakina Nayfack/NYMF), Jess in Mr. San Man (TJ Weaver/The Lark), Sam in Southern Comfort (Tom Caruso/The Public Theater), Charlie in A Charlie Brown Christmas (Ashley Gunsteens/The Secret Theater); multiple cabaret appearances at 54 Below, The Cutting Room, The Town Hall, Symphony Space, The Tank, The Duplex; Donnie has appeared in videos for NowThis and Buzzfeed, and is featured in Broadway for Orlando's What the World Needs Now dance remix music video. Donnie is an outspoken advocate for transgender visibility and equality, and is the subject of an Emmy award-winning documentary short film, "Donnie", highlighting his experience as a transgender man (dir. Ania Augustowska.) "Donnie" is currently in production to be re-released as a feature film. Donnie is the director and producer of Trans Voices Cabaret. Visiting his website is worth typing in this long address: www.donniecianciotto.wixsite.com/actor

Insta: thedonniecianciotto

SALEM CORWIN: (He/They) is a transmasculine actor and songwriter from the Catskill Mountains of NY. They graduated from SUNY Buffalo State college this past spring with a BA in theater and performance, and was a recipient of the Donald Savage Theater Award. Their most recent stage role was Victor in Cabaret at Buffalo State. Most recent film credits include Jimmy Neutron in Gotta Blast and Adrien in Pluck (a story about a family torn apart and reunited by gender identity, for which Salem won the SUNY Best Film Actor's Award this past spring). Salem is currently in the process of writing his own original musical, Aaand Cut!... so stay tuned! Their ultimate goal in life is to help kids who are struggling through mental illness and queer identity, as they once were.

SANDY GOOEN: Sandy (they/them or he/him) is a queer, transmasculine, Jewish, and neurodivergent writer/performer and peer advocate. Sandy is a rising senior, majoring in music at Barnard College. Writing: It Takes a Village at the Glicker-Milstein Summer Theatre Festival, In Circles with Scott Feiner at French Woods Festival, and the orchestrations for Ooh Kill 'Em at Columbia University. Sandy has performed domestically and internationally, but mostly in New York City, including David Geffen Hall, The Metropolitan Opera House, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and Carnegie Hall. Sandy's Twitter is @featSandyGooen.

FELIX GRAHAM: In another life, Felix Graham was an operatic mezzo, singing pants roles (a kind of operatic drag, where women sing the roles of young men). Since beginning his transition, however, he is refocusing his performing career - bringing that same gender fluidity to contemporary music through both traditional stage performance and in drag. Most recently, he produced and performed in Love is a Many-Splintered Thing, an off-broadway musical set in 1930s queer New York. Felix is thrilled to be joining the Trans Voices Cabaret, just in time for Pride! www.felix-graham.com

Kat Griffin: Kat (they/she/he), an actor/singer/creator living in NYC. Recent credits include Madeleine True (THE WILD PARTY, BAR New Haven) & Victoria (LUNA FEST, The Brick Theatre) Frequently seen in cabarets and short term engagements in the city: Songs By Us (Joe's Pub), FutureFest (54 Below), Here & Queer (Greenroom 42), Summerstuck (West End Lounge), Love is Love is Love Songs (The Laurie Beechman Theatre), and is a repeat guest with Trans Voices Cabaret (The Duplex). Coming up in September Kat will be playing the role of J in LOVE ME TENDER at The Wild Project Theatre.

Kat is a proud member of the Ring Of Keys national network - check us out on instagram @RingOfKeysorg https://www.katgriffin-actor.com/

ESCO JOULEY: Esco is an actor, singer, dancer and movement artist originally from Washington DC. NYC Credits: Interstate (Carly), Soft Butter (Soft Butter/ Cold Butter), Galatea (Chorus), The Demise (Magic Theater Player), Beowolf (Warrior), Marisol (Angel), Fat Kid Rules the World (Pepper), Girl Shakes Loose (Luc), Room For Cream (Sidney). Regional Credits: Man of LaMancha (Sancho Panza), Unnecessary Farce (Bille Dwyer), The Three Musketeers (Porthos), The Marvelous Wonderrettes (Betty Jean), Legally Blonde (Pilar), Anything Goes (Purity). escojouley@gmail.com.

WINTER LAIKE: (he/they) is a queer Brooklyn-based musician, storyteller, and Original Plumbing Magazine's reigning Mr. Trans Man NYC. His most recent works include a collection of songs based on Craigslist missed connections, a rock opera inspired by a series of dreams, and writing reality TV recaps for Vulture.com. He has performed in venues such as The Knitting Factory, The Bowery, Music Hall of Williamsburg, and The Tank. When not writing music, Winter enjoys making the internet accessible, riding their bike, making not-your-mother's Rice Krispie treats, playing with puppies, and eating all of the donuts and ice cream. After being an audience member for the first three installations, Winter is ecstatic to experience Trans Voice Cabaret as a performer.

Anessa Marie: Anessa is a composer/lyricist, music director, pianist, orchestrator, actress, and singer based in New York City. Her original musicals currently in development include A Glimpse of the Rainbow (book, music, and lyrics), Come From Terminal C (book and lyrics by Charles Baran, music by Anessa Marie), The Imperfect Hour (book by Michael Stang, lyrics by Kim Hawkey and Anessa Marie, music by Assaf Gleizner and Anessa Marie), and City of Runaways, a song cycle based on the lives of New Yorkers. Anessa works as a music director in the theatre community of New York City. NYC credits include City of Light (directed by Tony Award winner Cady Huffman as part of SHENYC Summer Theatre Festival), Lysistrata Jones (Ophelia Theatre Group), An Intolerant Vaudeville (The Secret Theatre). Off-broadway credits include Frankenstein, Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas, Stinky Kids the musical, The Bully, and Twinkle Tames A Dragon. Regional Credits include: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Parade, Fiddler on the Roof, 42nd Street, West Side Story, The Last Five Years, Songs for a New World, The Wild Party (Lippa), Sweet Charity, La Cage Aux Folles, and Ragtime. Anessa has also served as music director for various cabaret shows, and has graced the stage at Carnegie Hall, Feinstein's/54 Below, Green Room 42, and The Duplex, among countless others. Anessa's debut album will be released in early 2019. Anessa teaches private voice and piano lessons out of her studio in Astoria, Queens. She also is sought after as an audition coach, helping students develop confidence in their audition book. Anessa plays various auditions throughout New York City, and works closely with Theatre Resources Unlimited helping to develop new work. Available for commissioned work, Anessa specializes in composition for musical theatre, along with arrangements and orchestrations for all genres.

Jacob Michael: Jacob (he/him/his pronouns) is a Brooklyn-based trans-masculine actor/writer. Theatre credits include: Max (Hir, Island City Stage), Orin Scrivello (Little Shop..., Workshop Theater), Caldwell B. Cladwell (Urinetown, Rhino Theatre), Rod (Avenue Q, Porch Light Productions). He is a Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star recipient. For more information, please visit: http://jacobmichael.net

SYDNEY RONIS: Syd Ronis is a TGNC (Pronouns he/they) actor/musician who will do anything for a laugh. Recent credits include "Pass/Fail" (Trans Theatre Festival), "Void" (Laundryfest), and "Trilogy" (Nuyorican Poets Cafe). Syd has had the privilege of studying briefly at Point Park University,Hofstra University, and the Circle in the Square Conservatory. This is a terrific show and Syd is more than proud to be part of it. Thank you to all those involved for working your butts off and to everyone who came to support this incredible showcase of talent.

SHAKIRA: Shakira (pronouns: they/them) was born at a very young age, and has been alive ever since. Despite being unable to walk or speak upon entering the world, they triumphed over adversity to become something resembling a responsible adult, avidly pursuing two goals along the way: to learn as much as possible about almost everything, and to sing anything they can get away with. A queer, agendered, multiracial, classically-trained singer with eclectic musical tastes, Shakira has performed in a wide range of styles ranging from Renaissance to rock, and opera to hip-hop. They have sung on several continents and in over a dozen languages, made their directorial debut over the winter, and have revelled in transcending genre conventions along the way. You can check out some of their music at: https://soundcloud.com/shakira-s

Futaba Shioda: (they) is a graduate of NYU Tisch: New Studio on Broadway and an avid fan of marginalized persons taking up space. Recent credits include Galatea at WP Theater's Pipeline Festival and the RENT 20th Anniversary Tour. They hope to make the queer community more inclusive for people of color. Futabashioda.com

TONILYN A. SIDECO: Tonilyn is a proud booty-shaking genderqueer love warrior. The fourth child of Filipino immigrants, Toni was born and raised in San Francisco's Sunset District and is now a NYC-based writer, director and educator for both stage and film, teaching Creative Technologies at the New School for Drama. Toni sings with the professional Filipino performance company, Broadway Barkada and is a co-host for the PBS Digital Studio Series First Person, a show about gender identity, sexuality & queer community. -www.tonilynsideco.com-

IANNE FIELDS STEWART: Ianne (pronouns: they/them/their) is a black, queer, and Transfeminine New York based storyteller working at the intersection of theatre and activism. As a performer, Ianne has worked consistently in productions at NYC venues such as Manhattan Rep, NYC Fringe Festival '16, Shapiro Theatre, and more. In the spring of 2017, Ianne performed an excerpt of their one-person show, On the Train to Nowhere in Particular, at the legendary Joe's Pub. Ian can also be seen on Buzzfeed LGBT, the You Had Me at Black podcast, the #Safewordsociety podcast, and the Is it Transphobic Podcast. One of Ianne's most transformative experiences occurred in the summer of 2017 when they were selected out of over 500 applicants to be one of the 15 US Fellows for Humanity in Action's 2017 John Lewis Fellowship. For the month of July, Ianne shared space with and learned from various historic and current civil rights leaders in Atlanta, GA in order to better understand the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement and develop strategies for implementing effective change in contemporary political and social movements. Please follow them at: https://www.ianfieldsstewart.com

ANIA UPSTILL: Ania Upstill (She/they) is a physical theater maker and educator. They are a recent transplant to New York, having just graduated from the Professional Training Program at Dell'Arte School of Physical Theater. Since arriving in New York Ania has performed an original queer clown show, Piesexual, at The Tank's Pridefest and in To the Binary and Beyond! at The Brick's Trans Theater Festival. Before attending Dell'Arte Ania spent six years in New Zealand working as a director, performer and producer. Ania is passionate about queer representation and centers their theatrical practice around queer characters and stories. She is so pleased to be a part of this cabaret and let their genderqueer star shine!

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