NEWS RELEASE
MOTUS THEATER
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Just in time for International Transgender Day of Visibility, on March 31st, transgender and non-binary leaders’ lives and experiences will be on center stage with the regional tour of Motus Theater’s TRANSformative Stories. After a powerful tour kickoff at CU Boulder’s TRANSforming Gender Conference and a feature on CPR’s Colorado Matters, TRANSformative Stories will perform on Thursday, March 28th at the Colorado Capitol for an event honoring Transgender Day of Visibility hosted by Representative Brianna Titone (HD27), Colorado’s first and only transgender legislator, and co-hosted by many State Representatives including: Leslie Herod (HD8), Judy Amable (HD49), Kyle Brown (HD12), Junie Joseph (HD10), and Sonya Jaquez Lewis (HD17).
Each year on March 31, the world observes Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) to raise awareness about transgender people. It is a day to celebrate the lives and contributions of trans people, while also drawing attention to the threats the transgender and nonbinary community faces. By hosting this event in the heart of Colorado's legislative center, Motus Theater aims to foster a dialogue that bridges the gap between cultural understanding and legislative action, promoting an inclusive and supportive environment for all Coloradans.
TRANSformative Stories performances not only celebrate the humanity, joy, and resilience of gender-diverse leaders but also challenge the dehumanizing rhetoric and policies they face. By sharing artfully crafted personal stories of hope, oppression, and liberation, the performances support Colorado communities to journey towards greater understanding and visibility for trans and nonbinary people and demonstrate that the arts have a crucial role to play in building equity, belonging, and inclusion within our communities. The performances mobilize the theatrical form of the autobiographical monologue and live musical underscoring and responses to provide a crucial counter-narrative to the "us versus them" mentality prevalent in today’s society, which underpins hateful rhetoric and anti-trans legislation.
According to David Breña, Motus TRANSformative Stories monologist and Project Strategist, TRANSformative Stories embodies what Transgender Day of Visibility is about: “TRANSformative Stories empowers our community to reclaim our narrative and challenge harmful stereotypes with the truth at the heart of our experiences: our shared humanity. As we tour Colorado, we bring this message of resilience and visibility to every corner, spotlighting the diverse voices and stories of our trans and nonbinary siblings.”
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES IN COLORADO TOUR
Colorado State Capitol Performance in Honor of Transgender Day of Visibility:
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FREE Performance at the Colorado Capitol in Honor of Transgender Day of Visibility: Thursday, March 28, 2024, from 8:00 am to 9:00 am, at House Committee Room 0112. Monologists include Colorado leaders: Ruby Lopez (she/her) and Dr. Morgan Henry Seamont (he/him). Hosted by Rep. Brianna Titone and co-hosted Leslie Herod, Judy Amable, Kyle Brown, Junie Joseph, and Sonya Jaquez Lewis; sponsored by Out Boulder County. The event is free and open to the public.
Boulder County TRANSformative Stories performances:
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FREE Performance at the Longmont Museum: Thursday, April 11, 2024, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Monologists include Colorado leaders: Raye Watson (they/them), Ruby Lopez (she/her) and Dr. Morgan Henry Seamont (he/him). Co-presented by the Longmont Multicultural Action Committee.
Denver TRANSformative Stories performances
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Denver Queer Immigrant Pride! Saturday, June 22, 2024, from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm, at The Evans School. This special intersectional, arts-based Immigrant Heritage Month and LGBTQIA+ Pride performance in collaboration with Redline Contemporary Arts Center features TRANSformative Stories monologists Ruby Lopez (she/her) and David Breña (he/him), as well as UndocuAmerica monologist Cristian Solano-Córdova.
More events TBA…
A Message from Kirsten Wilson, Artistic Executive Director:
"In the face of divisiveness, the artfully crafted personal stories in Motus Theater's TRANSformative Stories remind us of our shared humanity and the beauty and complexity of fully becoming ourselves. Join us as we celebrate Trans Visibility Day on March 31st – and every day – as we move towards a future of true inclusion."
Motus Theater invites the community and media to embrace these powerful narratives, which serve as a testament to the transformative power of storytelling in overcoming societal divides.
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For media inquiries and interview requests, please contact Cristian Solano-Córdova at [email protected] or (720) 434-4632.
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Tickets and more information: Visit motustheater.org/events to reserve tickets for these impactful events. All are welcome to join in solidarity, support, and celebration of the vibrant trans and nonbinary community in Boulder County and across Colorado.
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