Maggie Keenan-Bolger Hosts Queer Theater Networking Event

On April 28, Maggie Keenan-Bolger and Honest Accomplice Theatre will host a networking event for Queer Women and Trans* People in the Performing Arts. The event is geared toward increasing the visibility and opportunities for queer women and trans people in the performing arts. As two of the most under-represented groups on stage, this event offers us the opportunity to collaborate and combine our resources to support the current and upcoming work of queer women and trans artists.

"I posted a call on Facebook for anyone interested and was overwhelmed by the response," said Keenan-Bolger, who is a performer and sex educator with the "I Love Female Orgasm" program. "Not only did I know a number of queer women and trans people in the performing arts, but many of the people who responded were interested in meeting with the other people I knew."

Keenan-Bolger, who is part of a theater dynasty that includes brother Andrew ("Newsies") and sister Celia ("The Glass Menagerie"), said that she was in a lucky position in the theatre world because she is connected to many of the people working on Broadway and Off-Broadway as well as a lot of the folks working in activist communities and with LGBTQ populations.

Companies and organizations doing work promoting the visibility of queer women and trans people will have the opportunity to promote their shows, classes, casting calls and organizational needs. Professionals and students in the performing arts will get the chance to meet with other companies and individuals interested in hiring, casting or otherwise collaborating.

"I think theatre in particular has done amazing things for the visibility and opportunities for cis-gendered gay men, but it's still very unusual to see queer female or trans characters or performers in the mainstream theatre, dance or music worlds," said Keenan-Bolger. "I think the performing arts are uniquely positioned to not only represent these groups in three-dimensional, empathetic ways, they are also a great mode for building community and connection."

Keenan-Bolger said that the best way to do this is to get more queer women and trans people on stage, behind the scenes, creating the art, casting and funding the work that's out there.

"New York is such a big city that sometimes the queer work can get lost in the shuffle," she added. "This evening is a chance for people from all different walks of the performing arts world to say 'this is what I'm doing, this is the help I need, these are the skills I have to offer.'"

So far, 20 people have RSVPd for the event, as well as a casting director from The Public Theater, as well as a number of other people who run LGBTQIA and/or theatre companies in the city. Posture Magazine will be covering the event.

This event is open to actors, administrators, agents, arrangers, casting directors, choreographers, company managers, composers, critics, dancers, designers, directors, dramaturgs, educators, general managers, historians, journalists, librettists, lyricists, musicians, performance artists, playwrights, press agents, producers, spoken word poets, stage managers, teaching artists and theatre technicians.

Keenan-Bolger said that she hopes the event will be a little more structured than free-for-all networking events, with activities geared towards identifying who is in the room, why they're there and what sorts of things they're looking for.

"Hopefully, it will end up being more fun than stressful and also a handy way of getting to know who is in the room. Everyone will get the chance to tell a little about who they are, as well as ask for any goods/services they need and offer their talents in return," she said. "From there, we'll move into a less structured atmosphere and eventually have a more social gathering at a bar in the neighborhood."