Announcements
B4T
(Before Testosterone)
A Theatre Piece by Imani Henry
Synopsis
B4T is a smart, funny, and moving multi-media theatre piece that
explores race, sexuality and gender expression through the lives
of three Black, masculine, female-bodied people:
LaShawnda/Shawn – Through video installments of this character’s
life the audience witnesses what it is like to live in a butch
body, experiencing everyday struggles (which bathroom to use?)
and the confusion of others (Miss? Sir?) which too often end in
harassment and violence. Keith – Able to pass as male since
childhood, Keith describes the acceptance of his family and
friends, the realities of racism and transphobia (fear of gender
variant people). Imani – Through this Caribbean-American
character, the audience sees the hurt, humor, and strength
involved when a family rejects someone whose sexuality or gender
expression doesn’t fit their norm – and many will recognize the
common problems of three generations trying to understand each
other.
Ashanti – The graduate student who has a personal and
professional interest in researching Black lesbian and
transgender issues, and is hoping through her project to
reconnect with an old butch friend who has disappeared.
These voices are connected by threads of discovery, rejection,
and love. B4T’s action – from serious to funny – is framed by
videos of LaShawnda/Shawn’s life, and the characters are
connected through their relationships to Ashanti.
Not
all of the stories in B4T have happy endings, but audiences
regularly rise to their feet at the end of the piece because
they’ve been moved by the lives shared with them. When the
lights come up, the questions “What are you? A man? A woman?”
have become less important than “Who are you? What is your
story?”
For more information about B4T (Before Testosterone)
please contact Rosamond King
phone 718.219.3473 · fax 718.522.2934
Eating Artist Services · P.O. Box 23611 · Brooklyn, NY 11202
www.geocities.com/imani_henry
thank you
Imani Henry
™
