Real Me

We are excited to invite you and your family to experience the world premiere of Real Me, a professional musical premiering at Thatz Showbiz!

Real Me is the story of a family in transition; two siblings have near-opposite reactions when ‘Mom’ comes out as ‘Papa.’ Teen-aged Blair is unbelievably supportive, whereas 7-year-old Iris (played by Thatz Showbiz Artistic Director Sarah Magni) is unsure. Both big and small hearts are challenged in this heartfelt musical for all ages.

When: 7:00 PM, Saturday, September 28th, 2024.

Location: Thatz Showbiz’s Studio, which is wheelchair accessible and transit accessible 4300 Steeles Ave. W Unit 22 Vaughan ON L4L 4C2.

Cost: $10 on eventbrite and $15 at the door.

If you have questions about ticketing, or if cost is a barrier for your family, please Email Sarah: sarah@thatzshowbiz.com

(sidenote: *School shows Sept 25-27 for grades 4-8 at Roseneath Theatre at Dufferin and Dundas. For information please contact realmehanlon@gmail.com)

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A little bit more about our cast, crew, and creative team:

Hanlon Uafás-Álainn is a trans Dad, award-winning producer/film-maker/actor, and the playwright/director of Real Me, a play based on his experiences of gender-transitioning with young children.

Davrielle is a performer and songwriter who plays Papa and Henry, bringing zeir powerful voice and tender acting to these roles. Davrielle’s music can be found on all music streaming platforms.

Neorodivergent Blair is played by emotional powerhouse and enby film and stage actor/singer/producer Emily Nixon.

Spirited young Iris is exhuberantly embodied by Sarah Magni, founder of Thatz Showbiz, who has performed with the Famous People Players, in film and theatre, and sung on stages in Toronto and New York.

Brie Doyle brings warmth and humanity to a complex character in Aunt Jane and hilarity as Iris’s BFF April; Brie appeared on TVs Knock Knock Ghost and in several films.

Trans Music Director Rowyn Campbell has composed beautiful and complex arrangements of Hanlon’s original songs to suit the voices of this talented and diverse cast.

Brandubh Uafás-Álainn’s costume, set, and makeup designs can be found in numerous short films, productions, and a music video for Rich Aucoin. Bran is Under the Bus’s non-binary production designer and stage manager for this production.

Acclaimed Actor/Playwright Diane Flacks, known for her works Unholy and Waiting Room, has been seen on the Stratford Festival stage in the titular role of Nathan the Wise. Diane is the dramaturg for Real Me and has been from its beginning.

Andrew Lamb, Theatre for Young Audiences expert and Artistic Director of Roseneath Theatre, is a fountain of information and advice. Andrew's generosity with his time and knowledge has made the evolution of this play possible.

Dante Amo is the alternate stage manager and alternate for the character of Henry which they helped develop.

Thorne Brown, a black, mad, trans playwright/actor/screenwriter, and member of Under the Bus; Thorne workshopped the role of Blair in 2021 and consulted on the script in 2023. Thorne is also an alumni of Thatz Showbiz's 3 Plays In 30 Days program and that is where he first met Hanlon and they've been working together ever since.