HYBRID EVENT: Casa Valentina by Harvey Fierstein

Our first(?) hybrid in-person/online event! Scroll to the bottom for details.

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About the play:

Based on actual events, Casa Valentina takes place in 1962 at a Catskills resort where a group of heterosexual men secretly gather to dress and behave like women. Away from their families, in their beehives and brassieres, these men enjoy a carefree camaraderie of cocktails and McGuire Sisters. But when challenged to publicly reveal their female alter-egos in the pursuit of political acceptance, “the sorority” must decide whether freedom is worth the risk of ruin. Written by Harvey Fierstein (Kinky Boots, Hairspray), Casa Valentina is a provocative, hilarious, and touching new play about gender identity, self-acceptance, and the struggle to find the right pumps.

The play was suggested by the book Casa Susanna*, written by Michel Hurst and Robert Swope, which collected photographs from a cross-dressing resort* of the same name.

(Synopsis sources: 1 + 2 / header image source: 1 )

Characters (in ABC order - will edit to reflect the part size soon):

• Albert/Bessie
• Eleanor
• George/Valentina
• Isadore/Charlotte
• Jonathon/Miranda
• The Judge/Amy
• Michael/Gloria
• Rita
• Terrence/Terry

The script will be displayed during the reading, and a few physical copies will be available in-person.

If you would like to dibs a character, please do so in the comments below.

If you are not able to attend the day of, please change your RSVP. Two no shows will result in being asked to leave the meetup.

THIS IS A HYBRID EVENT: IN-PERSON AND ONLINE.

Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86899669270

If you’re in the Seattle metro area, do join us on Mercer Island at Smitha’s apartment’s lounge! We’ll meet in a room and log onto Zoom to join the remote attendees.

• Location and getting there: address will be shared with attendees. There’s paid garage and free street parking, and it’s walking distance from the new Mercer Island Link station.
• Capacity: in-person, up to 8 people (conference room attached to the lounge). Total including Zoom: our usual 15.
• Time: our usual timeslot, 3-6ish PM. Feel free to arrive at 2:30-2:45 to hang out.
• Signing up: please comment below or message me directly if you want to attend in-person. If you RSVP but can’t make it, please let me know ASAP.
• Masks are encouraged. If you’re potentially unwell, please stay home and join us online instead.