RTP Presents Mid-Atlantic Premiere Of TRANS SCRIPTS

Richmond Triangle Players presents the mid-Atlantic premiere of Paul Lucas's Trans Scripts for four performances only, January 31 - February 2 at 8 pm, with a matinee also on February 2 at 4 pm. Tickets are selling quickly and are on sale now. The production is presented with the support of Diversity Richmond, with proceeds benefiting Nationz Foundation.

Trans Scripts is an original stage play based on material assembled from more than 75 interviews conducted with people from around the world who identify as transgender. Its characters range in age, ethnicity, socio-economic status, educational level, and age at transition.

Trans Scripts, Part I: The Women, centers on the lives of seven transgender women (male to female). Their true stories, told in their own words, are honest, funny, moving, insightful and inspiring. But most of all, they are human, shedding light not on our differences, but on what all people share, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation or physical sex.

Playwright Paul Lucas began his journey creating the play when he conducted his first interview in late 2011. After several developmental readings, Trans Scripts premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2015, where it garnered rave reviews and multiple awards. After further development by Tuscon's Invisible Theatre and American Repertory Theatre (A.R.T.) in Cambridge (MA), the play held its American premiere at A.R.T. in January 2017, again receiving rave reviews for its boldness, its humanity and its honesty.

The Times (London) raved that the play was "thoroughly and hearteningly articulate ... a collage-like piece that is moving, funny and important." Boston Theater exclaimed it "pulsated with the vitality of The Vagina Monologues and the panoramic perceptiveness of Anna Deavere Smith ... a heartfelt call to understanding." Vagina Monologues creator Eve Ensler remarked "It was just incredible. The audience walked away totally transformed and changed."

One of the characters in Trans Scripts is based upon interviews conducted with Richmonder Zakia McKensey, founding director of the local Nationz Foundation. For the first time in the production's history, she will be playing the character - herself as she was eight years ago - on RTP's stage. The cast also includes two performers from the A.R.T. production, Marlo Bernier and Eden Lane, along with two other performers from outside Richmond, Vita Cleveland and Michael Stailey. Area musician Alex Davila and actor Boomie Pederson (RTP's Angels in America) complete the ensemble. The semi-staged reading format enables the actors to carry scripts while fully embodying the characters they will portray.

The production is co-directed by Keri Wormald and Melissa Rayford, with Scenic and Projection Design by Tennessee Dixon, Costume Design by Ryan Gardner, and Lighting Design by Margaret York.

All performances will take place at Richmond Triangle Players' home at the Robert B. Moss Theatre at 1300 Altamont Avenue, just northwest of the intersection of the Boulevard and West Broad Street. Reserved seat tickets can be purchased online at RTP's web site at www.rtriangle.org, on RTP's facebook page, or by leaving a message on the RTP Ticket hotline at 804-346-8113.

RTP's Robert B. Moss Theatre is a 4000-square foot performing arts facility accommodating flexible seating arrangements for up to 90 patrons. The building features fully ADA-compliant access and comfortable restrooms, as well as a generous bar, and catering capability, and is also available for cabaret performances and private events.

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