Executive Overview
In the contemporary landscape of American performing arts, few organizations have matched the rapid, transformative impact of Breaking the Binary Theatre (BTB). Dedicated exclusively to the amplification, professional development, and production of work created by transgender, non-binary, and Two-Spirit+ (TNB2S+) theatre artists, BTB has emerged as a vital cultural incubator.
Now, the organization has officially revealed its expansive casting announcements and final programming details for the fifth annual Breaking the Binary Theatre Festival. Scheduled to run from October 5 through October 11 at The Susan & Ronald Frankel Theater within the Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space in New York City, this milestone festival continues its tradition of offering entirely complimentary tickets to the public, ensuring barrier-free access to groundbreaking queer and trans art.
However, this year’s festival carries a bittersweet undertone. As previously reported, Founding Artistic Director George Strus will step down from the helm of Breaking the Binary Theatre in December, marking the conclusion of a foundational chapter for the company. Co-conceived alongside Tony Award nominee L Morgan Lee, the upcoming festival acts as both a celebration of unprecedented artistic output and a transitional moment for an organization that has fundamentally shifted the paradigm of inclusive American theatre.
From marquee staged readings of provocative new plays to a star-studded gala finale highlighting years of commissioned literature, the fifth annual festival promises to be an unforgettable showcase of TNB2S+ talent. Moreover, the company’s autumn calendar extends beyond the October festival, culminating in a high-profile, one-night-only concert production of The Danish Girl at Lincoln Center in November to mark Transgender Day of Remembrance.
Detailed Chronology and Festival Lineup
A Week of Groundbreaking Staged Readings
The core of the October festival rests on a diverse slate of staged readings, highlighting the spectrum of theatrical forms championed by BTB—ranging from biting political satire and experimental drama to dazzling variety performance.
- My H8 Letter to the Gr8 American Theatre
Written by Zaza Diana Oh and directed by Miranda Haymon, this piece takes direct aim at the institutional structures and exclusionary histories baked into the traditional canon of American playwriting, offering a fierce demand for systemic reimagination. - Twitch
Penned by Liliana Padilla and directed by Jack Ferver, Twitch features a standout starring performance by Joslyn DeFreece, exploring contemporary anxieties through a distinctly trans lens. - The Magically Re-Imagined History of J.K. Rowling
Written by Jaime Jarrett and directed by Emilio Ramos, this provocative satire upends cultural mythologies and targets contemporary transphobia with theatrical wit. - Glitz, Glamour, Girls: A Variety Show
Directed by Noax, this high-energy evening features the dazzling "dolls" from the critically acclaimed Broadway revival Cats: The Jellicle Ball, blending high camp with exceptional performance artistry. - Red Ink
Authored by renowned community advocate and writer Cecilia Gentili, Red Ink is directed by Nic Cory and stars Qween Jean, bringing a raw, powerful voice to the festival stage.
The New Play Development Slate
In addition to these flagship presentations, the festival will mount readings of four brand-new plays developed through BTB’s rigorous writer workshops:
- our chronicle by DJ Hills, directed by Will Davis.
- Boids by reid tang, directed by Kedian Keohan.
- Before Then, There’s Now by Ianne Fields Stewart, directed by N’yomi Allure Stewart.
- Spin by Jake Brasch, directed by Sivan Battat.
A Star-Studded Ensemble Cast
The festival boasts an enormous, critically acclaimed roster of performers. Casting for the entire festival is overseen by Charlie Hano of The Telsey Office, with Esmé Maria Ng serving as festival producer and Is Perlman operating as assistant producer.
The expanded ensemble features a vibrant roster of stage and screen talent:
Alex Lugo (they/them), b (they/them), B Noel Thomas (she/her), Barsha (she/they), Bianca Leigh (she/her), Bryson Battle, Carl Clemons-Hopkins (they/he/anything with respect), Carmen LoBue (they/them/Bue), Che, Kabia (they/them), Cheeyang Ng (they/them), clew (they/them), Dani Martineck (they/he), Dom Martello (they/them/she), Ema Zivkovic (they/them), essence lotus (she/her), Evie Schuckman (they/them), fatima jamal, Futaba (he/him), Garnet Williams (she/they), Gigi Gatekeeper (they/she), Hari Nef (she/her), Hennessy Winkler (he/him), Ishmael Gonzalez (they/them), Jax Jackson (no pronouns), Jayae Riley Jr (she/they), Jess Barbagallo (he/him), Jesse James Rose (she/they), JJ Maley (he/they), Jonny Beauchamp, Julie J, Kalyn West (they/them), Kya Azeen (she/her), Kyr Siegel (he/him), L Morgan Lee, Leiomy (she/her), Mariyea (she/her), Marquise Vilsón (he/him), Marti Cummings (they/them), Mei Ann Teo (they/them), Murphy Taylor Smith (she/her), Nora Brigid Monahan (she/they), Nora Schell (they/them), Reed Northrup (he/him), Sabrina Wu (they/them), Sagan Chen, T Mitsock (she/her), Taylor Trensch (any pronouns), "Tempress" Chasity Moore (she/her), TL Thompson (they/them), and travis l. tate (they/them).
Supporting Context, Metrics, and Literary Legacy
Publishing the Future: The Canon of TNB2S+ Literature
Beyond week-long festival showcases, one of Breaking the Binary Theatre’s most enduring contributions to the global theatrical ecosystem has been its systematic generation of playable literature. Since the inaugural festival in July 2022, George Strus and Tony nominee L Morgan Lee have spearheaded the commissioning of over 50 short scenes and monologues.
Recognizing that regional theatres, academic institutions, and community spaces frequently cited a lack of authentic, accessible material for TNB2S+ actors as a barrier to inclusive casting, BTB partnered with Broadway Licensing / Concord Theatricals. Through this partnership, the organization has published four distinct anthologies of newly commissioned works: Overheard, Bliss, Dare, and Limitless.
The Grand Finale: Celebrating Four Years of Impact
The climax of the 2025 festival—taking place on October 11—will serve as a celebratory retrospective of this publishing milestone. Co-conceived by L Morgan Lee and George Strus, the grand finale will feature "greatest hits" selected from the four published collections.
The evening will showcase short works written by prominent contemporary dramatists, including:
- Chris Bush
- D.A. Mindell (he/him/his)
- Dante Green (they/she/he)
- Esmé Maria Ng (they/he/she)
- Jen Silverman (they/them)
- Jordan Ramirez Puckett (they/them)
- Kit Yan (they/he/she)
- Nora Brigid Monahan (she/they)
- Rob Madge (they/them)
- Sasha Velour (she/they)
- Sharifa Yazmeen (she/her)
This celebratory performance will be brought to life by an all-star ensemble featuring JJ Maley, Julie J, L Morgan Lee, Murphy Taylor Smith, Nora Schell, and TL Thompson.
Official Statements and Institutional Governance
A Collaborative Network: The Core Community
Breaking the Binary Theatre does not operate in a vacuum; its artistic governance is deeply rooted in community accountability. The organization is actively counseled by its Core Community, a voluntary advisory board comprising prominent TNB2S+ theatre artists, directors, designers, and advocates dedicated to expanding the company’s regional and national impact.
The Core Community roster includes:
- Adam Rigg
- César Alvarez
- Chris Burney
- David Mendizábal
- Jen Silverman
- John Cameron Mitchell
- KO
- Kit Yan
- L Morgan Lee
- MJ Kaufman
- Qween Jean
- Sara Ramirez
- Risa Shoup
- Tomás Matos
- Ty Defoe
- Will Davis
This governance model ensures that the artistic vision of BTB remains transparently tied to the evolving needs, conversations, and political realities of the communities it serves.
Future Outlook: Transition, Leadership, and the Road Ahead
Beyond October: The Danish Girl at Lincoln Center
Even as preparations for the October festival reach their peak, BTB’s production machine looks toward late autumn. On November 20, the organization will present a high-profile, one-night-only concert performance of The Danish Girl at Lincoln Center’s David Rubenstein Atrium. Produced specifically to commemorate Transgender Day of Remembrance, this event signals BTB’s increasing capacity to mount large-scale theatrical concerts in the city’s premier performing arts institutions.
A New Era for BTB
The conclusion of 2025 will, however, require a significant organizational pivot. Following the festival and the Lincoln Center concert, founding artistic director George Strus will officially step down in December after more than three and a half years of trailblazing leadership. Under Strus’s guidance, BTB has transformed from an ambitious grassroots festival into a nationally recognized institution that has successfully produced over 50 workshops and readings of new works by TNB2S+ artists.
Board representatives have confirmed that a comprehensive executive search and succession plan detailing the organization’s new leadership structure will be publicly announced later this year. As the theatre world watches closely, the impending transition offers an opportunity to evaluate how institutional spaces can institutionalize equity, ensuring that the infrastructure built by Strus, Lee, and their collaborators endures for generations of trans and non-binary artists to come.
Full programming details, accessibility information, and complimentary ticket reservation links for the fifth annual Breaking the Binary Theatre Festival can be found online at BTB-NYC.com.
