Digital Program

Playwright's Note

“What’s that word you used . . . when you were talking about prejudice against trans women?” Leela asks Astrid early in Trans Femme. Leela herself is newly out and, like most of the characters in the play, finds her circumstances largely defined by the answer: transmisogyny.

How to best cope with this dynamic is a matter of debate. Should one fight back, blend in, or indulge one’s inner victim or persecutor in the confines of her relationship? When the only people with whom to explore these questions are the ones society has taught you to hate - along with yourself, of course - discovering this answer can be difficult, if not impossible.

In 2011, when more of the events depicted here than you might imagine occurred at and around the Trans Femme support group I attended, I remember feeling overwhelmed. “Who were these people?” I thought, not realizing I was stirring the pot just as expertly as the ladies I found myself flummoxed by.

Life at that time felt like a high-stakes drama, graduate level gender studies course and ridiculous soap opera all smashed together, which I think might constitute an apt of description of the resulting play.

For all the internalized stigma we carried at the time, watching the show now my dominant response is compassion, along with a thought I wish had occurred to me back then: trans is beautiful, and anyone unable to recognize that is poorer for their error.

Mikki Gillette – October, 2026

Cast & Crew

Bio to come soon!

Robin Amico is a nationally recognized Puppeteer whose work has been featured across North America. She is thrilled to return to acting after nearly a decade away. She created puppets for Hand2Mouth's Danse Macabre (2021), Piercing the Veil (2023) with Musica Universalis, and Artists Rep’s Everybody (2018). She also earned a Drammy Award for Excellence in Puppetry for Oregon Children's Theatre's The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show (2018). She holds a BA in Studio Art from Lewis & Clark College and served in the Art Department at LAIKA. Catch her newest show, Alien Bodies, at the Stage Fright Festival!

Robin Amico (she/her)

Leela

Bio to come soon!

Nicki Darling is a Portland based performer originally from Kailua, HI. You may have seen her last in “Generations Share the Love” with Rogue Pack, or exclaiming in the park as a member of Original Practice Shakespeare. She is ecstatic and more than grateful to be given the opportunity to help bring this play to life.

Nicki Darling (she/her)

Kat

Bio to come soon!

I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.

Emilia Harrison

Astrid

Bio to come soon!

I am a trans writer and activist, and I’m deeply interested in making Queer art that gets to be messy and intense.

Naomi Mcusic (she/her)

Sloan

Bio to come soon!

Lena Way is a Portland born artist/musician. Beautiful, talented, gracious, and very humble. A quiet woman, with a soft voice and a subdued spirit. She spends her days sitting in silence and making no sort of noise or disruption at all. Yes, that's her: the paragon of feminine serenity. At least, that's what I heard.

Lena Way (she/her)

Sunny

Bio to come soon!

Morgan James (they/them) is a Portland based theatre artist. Their local credits include: Goblin / Ensemble in Maze: A Labyrinth Parody Musical (Chapel Theatre), Doris / Ensemble in Groundhog Day: The Musical (Lakewood Theatre Company), Medium Alison in Fun Home (Metropolitan Performing Arts), and more.

Morgan would like to thank, Bryce Britton for reminding them of their dreams. As well as, Keaton Fields for being the most supportive partner and for pushing them to keep growing. Finally, Morgan would like to thank the audience for coming to see this incredible show and for supporting local art and artist

Morgan James (they/them

Fran