2nd Stage Musical Celebrates The Bonds Of Chosen Families

Stagecrafters proudly presents Southern Comfort on Stagecrafters 2nd Stage, Friday, April 26, through Sunday, May 12, 2019.

Southern Comfort is based on the life of Robert Ead, a transgender man with ovarian cancer, who lives in rural Georgia with his chosen family of transgender friends. Like all families, they have their struggles and sometimes fall short, but ultimately they hang on with tenacity and hope, refusing to be sidelined by any obstacles. The folk and bluegrass-infused score features soaring melodies and beautiful harmonies in an uplifting celebration of the true meaning of family and being your authentic self.

The play premiered Off-Broadway in 2016 at The Public Theater in New York, earning accolades for composer Juliette Wick Davis and lyricist-book writer Dan Collins, who received a $10,000 Larson Grant, given to new artists whose work introduces a "contemporary, joyful, urban vitality" to musical theatre. Their musical adaptation was based on a 2001 documentary of the same name, which won several awards, including the prestigious Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.

Stagecrafters' production of Southern Comfort is a Michigan premiere. One of the reasons director Jay Kaplan is thrilled to bring it to the stage is that it is one of the few productions anywhere to feature transgender people and their lives. As a longtime staff attorney for the ACLU of Michigan's LGBT Project, Kaplan said he has seen the harm that's been done to the transgender community due to discrimination and misunderstanding. He hopes that the play will dispel misconceptions about what it means to be transgender or gender non-conforming.

Kaplan is also quick to point out that the play is relatable to everyone, "whether they have ever met someone who is transgender or gender non-conforming." He says audiences "will be able to relate to the characters in Southern Comfort and the challenges that they face" and will see themselves and their families in the characters and their struggles. "Although the show is ostensibly about the lives of transgender people, I wouldn't call it a transgender musical-- it's a musical about being a family," he adds.

Megan Meade-Higgins plays the role of Robert Ead and believes this is a story that must be told. "It is critical that we show both the ordinariness and the extraordinariness of these people we have the honor to portray ... to help others see the richness and beauty of their lives as the people they authentically are," she says. Alonzo Luzod plays the role of Lola, a transgender woman who is Robert's love interest. "For any role, research requires introspection and empathy .... the challenge of putting myself in the shoes of a transgender woman has been humbling, as I begin to realize my personal privilege ... of not having to face the turmoil--both internal and external--that transgender people experience daily and throughout life," says Luzod.

In the end, Kaplan hopes that audiences will not only be entertained by the beautiful ballads and upbeat, melodic music, but will come away with a greater understanding and sensitivity to a long-misunderstood community. Says Kaplan, "The main thing that I hope audiences will take away is that to be one's authentic self is a very brave thing and it should be supported. Despite all our differences, love is love is love."

Tickets for Southern Comfort are now on sale at Stagecrafters.org, or by calling the ticket office at 248-541-6430, Monday through Friday, 10:00AM to 2:00PM. Tickets are $20. Discount tickets available for Veterans and Students for Thursday performances. Due to the intimacy of 2nd Stage and the proximity of the stage to the door and seating area, there will be NO LATE SEATING. 2nd Stage is wheelchair accessible via our elevator, however, there is no space for wheelchair parking to watch the show. Patrons must be willing to transfer to a seat (steps involved) if they would like to attend a 2nd Stage production. Please call the office in advance of purchasing tickets if you are a wheelchair user.

Wednesday, April 24, is open to the public as a "Pay-What-You-Can" (PWYC) night. The admission price is at the discretion of the patron. There are no advance sales and doors open at 7PM and close at 8PM (no late seating). Patrons are encouraged to pay cash; credit/debit cards require a $5 minimum. Admission is general seating, first come, first served, with no refunds/exchanges.

There will be a special talk-back after the matinee performance on Sunday, May 5. The talk-back will feature members of the trans community sharing their stories about chosen families and transgender lives.

Southern Comfort is proudly sponsored by Five 15 located at 600 S Washington Ave, Royal Oak, MI 48067.

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