The University of Wyoming Theatre and Dance Department is putting on a one night only staged reading of the play “A Sissy in Wyoming” this Friday, September 30th. The reading starts at 7:30 p.m. in the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts Thrust Theatre and tickets are $5.
Written and performed by Gregory Hinton, “A Sissy in Wyoming” is the true story of the Wyoming native Larry “Sissy” Goodwin. A dad, veteran, peace activist, and public speaker, Sissy enjoyed building airplanes and riding motorcycles—all while wearing women’s clothing. Because of this, he suffered unlawful arrests, transphobic threats, and beatings. Through it all, Sissy enjoyed much success as a power plant control operator and college professor. “A Sissy in Wyoming” is a triumph of will, a cry for courage, and a love story spanning 50 years.
The reading also stars Jedediah Huntzinger and Zachary McCulley, is produced by UW Theatre and Dance faculty members Cecilia Aragón and Patrick Konesko, and is directed by UW Theatre and Dance Faculty member Matthew Greenberg.
Greenberg states, “as a director, getting to tell the story of the real Sissy and Vickie Goodwin is an honor and a privilege. It has been great not only having our playwright Gregory here to share his words, but also, having Zachary and Jed, two Wyoming Natives, be a part of this story, is really wonderful and provides more authenticity. Sissy’s story teaches us to see the good through the adversity, and his story feels both timeless and transcendent in our current climate.”
“A Sissy in Wyoming” is a part of the UW Theatre and Dance Department’s WYOpen Stages project, and the staged reading will be toured across the state of Wyoming after debuting in Laramie. WYOpen Stages is an initiative dedicated to developing, producing, and presenting socially-conscious and thought-provoking work that encourages community dialogue on diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as increasing and diversifying recruitment, retention, production, and casting practices and facilitating broader participation in diverse productions. This production season, WYOpen Stages is focusing on telling LGBTQIA+ stories.
Tickets for this one night only event are $5 a person and can be purchased at: https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/uwyo/6984