“Identifying as an asexual man was something I had struggled with for a long time, but that identity was completely unacceptable in the heteronormative world I lived in.”
WHO: Rebecca McGlynn
WHAT: “What does it mean to be a man in the 21st century? How does toxic masculinity affect those of us assigned male at birth? What’s so great about sex, and why won’t people shut up about it for two goddamn seconds and just let me play my video games in peace?! Written and performed by transgender artist Rebecca McGlynn, Asexuality! is an autobiographical musical comedy about Rebecca’s pre-transition life. The story follows Robert, an asexual man navigating a hypersexual world. Through music and comedy, he explores sex, romance, love, loss… and, eventually, her true gender identity.”
WHERE: Gilded Balloon Patter Hoose – Nip (Venue 24)
WHEN: 23:00 (60 min)
MORE: Click Here!
Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
Yes it is! I’ve spent a lot of time at the Hollywood Fringe Festival over the last few years as a writer and performer, but nothing compares to the Edinburgh Fringe! It’s been a dream of mine to bring a show here for years, and now it’s finally happening!
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2022 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
A lot of the learning process is still happening for me. Performing a one-woman musical every night for a month is a lot to manage. (I’m also running tech for two other shows.) Some days I want to go out and be as extroverted as I can–handing out flyers, going to see other artists’ shows, or networking at meetups. Other days I want to stay in with a cup of tea and meditate or chill out with a podcast. There’s a delicate balance between productivity and self-care, and I’m doing my best to maintain both. (This is a good lesson to learn in the rest of my life, too, but it’s especially relevant at the Fringe!)
Tell us about your show.
I started writing “Asexuality!” in 2017, right around when the #MeToo movement exploded. I realized firsthand at that time that male victims of sexual assault were (in certain circles) excluded from the conversation. As I reflected on my own life, I remembered all the times I had been silenced from speaking up–not just about my sexual assaults, but lots of times. I knew I wanted to write a show about my life, focusing on how toxic masculinity hurts people of ALL genders.
Over the next couple of years, I wrote this script. Identifying as an asexual man was something I had struggled with for a long time, but that identity was completely unacceptable in the heteronormative world I lived in. As many writers do, I masked the pain and the emotional triggers with comedy, which led to a very fun balance of hilarity and sincerity.
In April of 2020, my marriage completely fell apart, due in no small part to the fact that I was a closeted transgender woman. It took my wife leaving me to make me accept this new identity, which left more questions than answers. The show became not only about ace identity and toxic masculinity, but also about transgender issues and the relevance (or irrelevance) of labels.
It’s a very fun show. Ines Wurth is my producer in Edinburgh, and Jessica Lynn Johnson is my development producer in Los Angeles.
In addition to being a writer, singer and actor, I’m also a cinematographer and editor in the film industry. (I was even nominated for an Emmy in photojournalism.) My show prominently features three “inner voice” characters who only ever appear on video projections. This gives me the opportunity to interact with them on stage, and even sing in four-part harmonies with myself!
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
I highly recommend Ines Wurth’s other three solo shows. “Hollywoodn’t” by Lisa Verlo is her powerful #MeToo story with a famous film director in the 1980’s. “Breakup Addict” by Paige Wilhide is a transformational story about her struggles with love addiction. “Temporarily Yours” by Greta Zamparini is a show that delves into the stories of sex workers.
In addition, my boyfriend Laser Webber has an incredible show called “A Shark Ate My Penis: A History of Boys Like Me.” It’s a laugh-a-minute journey through his life and struggles with transmasculine gender identity, but also weaves an educational thread about trans men through history, proving that trans people aren’t new. We’ve always been here.
“Two Cats on a Date” by Griffin Kelly is one of the best and funniest pieces of solo theatre I’ve ever seen. (And I’ve seen a lot.) Her impression of two cats on a date goes wildly off the rails and honestly I don’t want to give too much away. It’s incredible.
Also I just saw “I Wish My Life Were Like a Musical” which is a must-see comedy cabaret-style musical for any fans of musical theatre. It’s all original music about the performers and audiences that love big Broadway and West End shows, expertly written and flawlessly performed.
LIKE WHAT YOU JUST READ? FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! OR SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST!
INTERESTED IN BEING INTERVIEWED TOO? CLICK HERE!
Get Your Coats On 