Happy Thanksgiving!

A very Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

We at New Suit have many reasons to be thankful this year.  We had a successful production of JedIraq this spring, our inaugural production!  We are in the midst of producing Rebecca Kling's Trans Form, which we are incredibly thankful to share with all of you.  We are thankful for our Chicago audience members, who come out to see our shows!  We are thankful that New Suit is comprised of a great group of friends who can continue to work on their art together.  We are thankful for these friends and others, for our families, for our health, and for working in a country where we have the freedom to share our art in an effort to educate others.

And lastly, we are thankful for this review from Paige Listerud at the Chicago Theater Blog:

Rebecca Kling’s one-woman show, Trans Form is decidedly, consciously intimate and low-key. It renders in minute detail the everyday ways in which transgender people can feel their personal authenticity subverted or denied. That Kling unsentimentally reflects on how she has denied herself in the past is one of the more intriguing and thoughtful elements of this one-act play, produced by New Suit Theatre and co-directed by Kristin Idaszak and Kate McGroarty. 

 Enjoy your holiday, and be sure to stop in between turkey bites and give a little thanks for all the wonderful things that happened this past year, big and small.

Transgender Day of Remembrance

From the Planned Parenthood Blog:

Chicago Transgender Coalition Remembers Those Lost

The Chicago Transgender Coalition has organized a Chicago Vigil for the Transgender Day of Remembrance on Saturday, November 20th. The vigil is being organized to remember the lives of sixteen (16) transgender individuals from the United States and Puerto Rico lost since last year's Day of Remembrance, a number that includes Sandy Woulard of Chicago.

 
What:  Transgender Day of Remembrance
When: 5:00PM
Where: Thompson Center, 100 W. Randolph St., Chicago, IL

The event is held every year across the globe in November, and began as an effort to honor the memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was murdered in San Francisco in 1998. It was in her memory that the first vigil was organized. The Transgender Day of Remembrance, that grew from this initial outpouring of grief, serves several purposes. According to the coalition, this event raises public awareness of hate crimes against transgender people, and also gives the LGBTQ community the opportunity to publicly mourn and honor the lives of our brothers and sisters who might otherwise be forgotten.

Contact the coalition to sign on as an organization sponsor.




Members of New Suit Theatre Company will be there for the Transgender Day of Remembrance.  Come out and join us in support and remembrance.

Don't forget to get your tickets to Trans Form, performing until December 5.  Find more information here.

Speaking of edu-tainment

See what Kate McGroarty, co-director of Trans Form, has been up to....

Kate's Month at the Museum of Science and Industry

Kate's MATM blog

"Tranny"

Take a look at this article on advocate.com, regarding a disagreement between Susan Sarandon and GLAAD.  Apparently, the television show Glee used the word "tranny" during an episode about The Rocky Horror Picture Show. 

GLAAD objected to the use of the word, with their spokesman, Richard Ferraro, saying, “The word 'tra**y' has become an easy punch line in popular culture and many still don't realize that using the term is hurtful, dehumanizing and associated with violence.”

Susan Sarandon feels that GLAAD is becoming "like PETA--way out of control," and insists she has friends who proudly declare themselves "trannies".

Meanwhile, Dan Savage jumped into the fray, opposing GLAAD and claiming, "There are just too many queers out there—including awesome trannies like Murray Hill here—using the word 'tranny' with humor and pride and without a moment's thought or hesitation for you guys to keep up this 'tra—y' bullsh*t."

What do you think about the word?  Is it hurtful and dehumanizing, or to be said with pride?  Or does it depend solely on the intent behind the usage?  Share your thoughts in the comments.

The Reviews Are In!

And they are great!  Be sure to click each link to check out the full review.
A great review in Gapers Block:

Trans Form was a powerful and educational experience that captivates on both theatrical and educational levels. The autobiographical nature of the story hits an emotional note that allows outsiders to shed their preconceptions on Transgender identities, and leave the theatre without any labels or stereotypes in mind- just a sensitivity and appreciation for the struggle that Rebecca Kling and others like her have survived.

We're also Recommended by NewCity Stage:

 ...when she is specific about her unique experiences (her parents’ reactions, taming the dreaded DMV bureaucracy) Kling’s story becomes accessible and enjoyable. And the journey, as difficult as it may be, comes to its only possible ending.

And from TimeOut Chicago:

There’s ample pop cultural discourse on promiscuous “trannies” (Kling’s word) and damaged souls caught in the wrong body (see Oprah), but Kling doesn’t want to tell these stories. Happily, she neither sells these narratives out nor denies them as she (innovatively) rewrites trans life as mundane.

What would you say about Trans Form?

 Trans Form runs through December 5. Tickets and more information are available here.

Trans Form is officially open!

Trans Form opened this weekend!  Do you have your tickets yet?

It's a fantastic show, and we've been getting some wonderful questions at the talkbacks.  Did you already see it?  Do you want to share your thoughts on the show, or a question you didn't get a chance to ask at the talkback?  Leave it here as a comment or email us at questions4newsuit@gmail.com.


For another inspiring story, check out a this story on Kye Allums, a transgender man playing on the George Washington women's basketball team, here.  Allums identifies as a male, but does not take any hormones or medication, which keeps him eligible for the women's team.  According to Allums:

GW has been supportive during this transition.  I told my teammates first, and they, including my coaches, have supported me. My teammates have embraced me as the big brother of the team. They have been my family, and I love them all.

Let us know what you think!

Trans Form

Trans Form opens this weekend.

Did you get your tickets yet?