A trans actress has been cast as the lead in the musical adaptation of The Danish Girl. L Morgan Lee will star in the adaptation written by Katie Lam and Alex Parker.
The actress will lead the workshops of the musical at the New Theatre Peterborough musical from April 26-30.
“I never would have guessed, in the middle of a pandemic, I’d be in my apartment in New York on Zoom with a creative team in London discussing a new musical,” Lee said.
“I’ve dreamed of getting my hands on this kind of material in a show but the reality is Black women, and even more specifically Black, trans women are so rarely, if ever, even considered.”
“This creative team has taken the time to truly see the artists they work with. They are committed to telling this story using not only a trans woman to play Lili but a variety of trans people in many of the other roles throughout the show with a cast that reflects the world we live in.”
Lee added: “The process has been such a testament to the potential of where our industry has the potential to go and I’m so honoured to be a part of that.”
“Inspired by discussions with our consultants and casts, we are committed to telling a joyful trans story. Lili of course struggled through the traumas inherent in transition and did not survive her final operation.”
“But for decades she was supported, accepted and loved by her wife, siblings, parents, friends and wider community. She found a surgeon who believed and understood her, and was able to make her emotional reality a physical reality; and all a hundred years ago.”
The musical will be funded by a government inititiave and will be taken from the Cultural Recovery Fund. This program seeks to support theaters, music venues, and cultural spaces during the CoVid-19 pandemic.
The 2015 film with the same title tells the story of Lili Elbe, a Danish painter, who was a transgender woman and among the first to undergo sex reassignment surgery. The film starred Eddie Redmayne, who was nominated for an Oscar for his performance as Lili.
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