HIR

FEB 17 - MAR 4, 2023

WRITTEN by Taylor Mac
DIRECTED by Epic Jones

Somewhere in the suburbs, Isaac has returned from the war in Afghanistan to help take care of his ailing father, only to find that his sister Maxine is now his brother Max and every expectation he had for a normal homecoming is turned upside down.

His mother Paige is inspired by Max’s transition to ride the tidal wave of shifting paradigms currently rolling through the traditional households of America!

Taylor Mac’s slyly subversive comedy will leave you gasping for breath between bouts of gut-busting laughter and incisive social satire that hits all too close to home.

Hir was presented in partnership with The Liam Foundation, a Trans Advocacy organization serving the Rockford Area. The Liam Foundation facilitated three Talk Back Q&A sessions where the audience was invited to stay after the performance to ask questions and discuss the themes of the play with the actors and artists in attendance.

CONTENT INFO

Hir is a hilarious comedy but also contains strong profanity, adult humor, and intense situations which may be offensive or triggering to some audience members.

The Liam Foundation compiled a detailed list of the content in Hir that may potentially be triggering to some individuals, including those in the trans community.

ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT

TAYLOR MAC

Taylor Mac is a theatre artist who prefers to write a bio in the first person.  Hello.  I’m also a theatre artist who longs to be rid of the usual bios that are lists of achievements.  Here’s something different.

In case you don’t know, my pronoun is judy (only capitalized when at the start of a sentence, like a normal pronoun).  A few people have claimed I use this pronoun as a joke.  They are uninformed.  It’s not a joke, which doesn’t mean it’s not funny.  It’s a personalized pronoun for someone whose gender (professionally and personally) is constantly changing. My gender isn’t male or female or non-binary (which oddly creates a binary between people who are non-binary and people who are binary).  My gender is “performer” (one day I’ll get it on the passport).  It’s also an art piece.  Imagine getting to have a pronoun that’s an art piece!  I’m here to tell you that it’s as annoying to navigate as it is delicious.  You too may change yourself. I suppose that’s why I’ve made a life in the theatre, because it’s a life geared towards the act of change…

…below is the traditional biographical list of shows (rituals), competitive kindnesses (awards), and debt (gratitude). It’s essentially an engorging towards catharsis.  Feel free to read it and decide for yourself which gives you the context you need to open your heart (perhaps neither… oh no, then we’ll have to put our hopes on the show).  Or as the drag queen with extra makeup time once said, “Yes, and...”.

Taylor Mac is the author of Joy and Pandemic; Gary:  A Sequel to Titus Andronicus; A 24-Decade History of Popular Music; Prosperous Fools; The Fre; Hir; The Walk Across America for Mother Earth; The Lily's Revenge; The Young Ladies Of; Red Tide Blooming; Cardiac Arrest or Venus on a Half-Clam; The Face of Liberalism, Okay, A Crevice, The Hot Month; and the revues Holiday Sauce; The Last Two People on Earth (created with Mandy Patinkin, Susan Stroman and Paul Ford); Comparison is Violence; and The Be(A)st of Taylor Mac.  Mac is the first American to receive the International Ibsen Award, is a MacArthur Fellow, a Pulitzer Prize Finalist, a Tony nominee for Best Play, and the recipient of the Kennedy Prize (with Matt Ray), the Doris Duke Performing Artist Award, a Guggenheim, the Herb Alpert Award, a Drama League Award, the Helen Merrill Playwriting Award, the Booth, two Helpmann Awards, a NY Drama Critics Circle Award, two Obie’s, two Bessies, and an Ethyl Eichelberger.  An alumnus of New Dramatists, judy is currently the resident playwright at the Here Arts Center.

Read judy’s full bio at taylormac.org

SHOW TIMES

FRI Feb 17 - 8pm - TALK BACK
SAT Feb 18 - 8pm
SUN Feb 19 - 4pm

THU Feb 23 - 7pm
FRI Feb 24 - 8pm - FREE FRIDAY
SAT Feb 25 - 8pm
SUN Feb 26 - 4pm - TALK BACK

THU Mar 2 - 7pm - TALK BACK
FRI Mar 3 - 8pm
SAT Mar 4- 8pm

Running Time: 120 Minutes + Intermission

FREE FRIDAY

WSSR believes everyone should have access to high quality performing arts, so on Friday, Feb 24th we are opening our doors to share HIR with the people of our community— free of charge.

DONATIONS ACCEPTED

Even though tickets are free, that doesn’t mean the shows are free for us to produce. The budget for HIR is over $6500.

If you are able to Add A Donation at checkout, you will help us keep theater accessible to everyone and support artists working on the West Side of Rockford!

COVID SAFETY

AUDIENCE MEMBERS MUST WEAR MASKS

Masks are not required in our lobby, but we ask everyone to please wear a mask during the show. You may bring your drinks into the theater.

Any questions? contact@wssr.org

CAST

AXANDRA SMALLEY | “Max”

they/them

As someone who is transgender, Axandra is thrilled for the opportunity to portray Max in Hir!  After working behind the scenes on the Show Room’s last two shows, they are excited to return to the stage following their debut as Peter in the WSSR’s production of Peter and the Starcatcher.  Axandra is immensely grateful for all the support from their family and friends

CHRISTOPHER PALMER | “Arnold”

he/him

Christopher has been involved in community theater since moving back to the area in 2005. He has served many different roles with the Byron Civic Theatre; including actor, stage manager and Board President. One of Christopher‘s favorite roles was McMurphy in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest for Pec Playhouse in 2017. He is excited to be Arnold in this production of Hir and to be a part of WSSR. Christopher loves Elizabeth.

CARTER CORYELL | “Isaac”

he/him

Hir is Carter’s first show at The West Side Show Room and he is excited to share it with all of you! Previously, he has appeared as Angelo in Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors at Starlight Shakes, and as Jason in Medea and Torvald in A Doll’s House Part II at University of Illinois at Springfield. Carter lives in the city of Belvidere, Illinois.

CAROLYN CADIGAN | “Paige”

she/her

Carolyn Cadigan is in her 8th WSSR production.  Most recently she was seen as Le Grue/Marie in Red Noses, Judge/Anna Politkovskaya/Madonna in We Are Pussy Riot, and Black Stache/Grempkin in Peter And The Starcatcher.  Thanks to Rufus for making the meals and Louie and Arnie for the feline affection.

PRODUCTION STAFF

DIRECTOR
Epic Jones

COSTUME DESIGNER
Maura Renicker

LIGHT + SOUND DESIGNER
Epic Jones

FIGHT CHOREOGRAPHER
Ky Rankin

INTIMACY COORDINATOR
Erica Terry

CARPENTERY
Matthew Rip
April Bieschke
Christopher Palmer
Adam Hagedorn
Silas Morales
Lenae Weichel

PAINTERS
Carolyn Cadigan
Sierra Goddard

STAGE MANAGER
Meredith Laubert

ASST STAGE MANAGER
Maura Renicker

PROPS COORDINATOR
Silas Morales

PROPS
Holli Connell

LIGHTING TECHNICIAN
Elise Campbell

WEST SIDE SHOW ROOM

ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Lenae Weichel

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Epic Jones

WSSR BOARD
Beth Edgerton
Epic Jones
Marilyn Lamar
Lenae Weichel

THE LIAM FOUNDATION

Phyllis Gallisath
Eden Brown
Skye Gia Garcia
Erica Terry

SPECIAL THANKS

Phyllis Gallisath