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Southern Comfort

"A sweetheart of a musical."

The New York Times

More information

Description

  • Full Length Musical
  • Drama
  • 120 minutes

  • Time Period: 1990s
  • Target Audience: Adult
  • Set Requirements: Unit Set/Multiple Settings
  • Cautions: Alcohol, Mild Adult Themes, Smoking
  • Orchestra Size: Small/Combo

  • Performance Group:
  • Large Stage, Community Theatre, Professional Theatre, Blackbox / Second Stage /Fringe Groups, College Theatre / Student
Based on the 2001 Sundance Film Festival documentary, Southern Comfort follows the last year of Robert Eads, a transgender man in Georgia, as he is diagnosed with ovarian cancer. He surrounds himself with his chosen family, who are predominantly transgender, as they share monthly potluck meals. Like any family, they have their own trials and tribulations, but ultimately they all seek acceptance for who they are in their own skin.
REVIEWS:

CRITIC'S PICK! "A sweetheart of a musical."

The New York Times

"Beautiful and heartfelt show [...] bring the family."

Deadline

Premiere Production: Southern Comfort premiered at Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, MA in July 2015 under the direction of Thomas Caruso.

Characters

  • Casting: 3M, 3F
  • Casting Attributes: Multicultural casting, Ensemble cast, Non-Traditional casting
  • Chorus Size: Small

  • ROBERT - F to M transgender man: A wiry, 'electic' man in his 50s. He has the ability to seem like a wide-eyed child and a wise old prophet all at once.

  • LOLA - M to F transgender woman: A tall, broad shouldered woman; somewhat uncomfortable in her own skin. Professionally she still assumes the identity of John. (Mid 40s)

  • JACKSON - F to M transgender man: A little elf of man; full of warmth and mischief but struggling with a deep resentment and anger at the world around him. (Late 30s/early 40s)

  • CARLY - M to F transgender woman: Jackson's girlfriend. A naughty catholic school boy turned naughty catholic school girl. Tough, feminine and confident. (Late 20s/early 30s)

  • SAM - F to M transgender man: A hefty, introverted man. He might almost be intimidating, were it not for his extremely gentle and somewhat sad demeanor. (Late 30s/early 40s)

  • MELANIE - F woman: Sam's wife. Spirited and full of good humor but apprehensive of the world around her. (Early/mid 40s)

  • THE STORYTELLERS - An onstage folk band that serves as the 'orchestra' and storytellers for the show; acting as all the characters in the piece aside from the primary six. They are all passing the time and the changing seasons, Robert's parents, the haunting voices of his doctors and so on. They serve as the storytelling backbone to our 'Modern-Day Folk Tale' while also embodying the environment/atmosphere/world around our primary characters -- both physically and musically.

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