by Doug Wright
Directed by Andrew Volkoff
Scenic Designer: Brian Prather
Costume Designer: Bob Kuhn
Lighting Designer: John Kelly
Sound Designer: Sarah D. Espinoza
Projections Designer: Brock Alter
Props Designer: Vivian Knouse
Directed by Andrew Volkoff
Scenic Designer: Brian Prather
Costume Designer: Bob Kuhn
Lighting Designer: John Kelly
Sound Designer: Sarah D. Espinoza
Projections Designer: Brock Alter
Props Designer: Vivian Knouse
About I am My Own Wife
I AM MY OWN WIFE is based on the true story of transgender antique collector Charlotte von Mahlsdorf (born Lothar Berfelde) who, against all odds, survived the Nazi and Communist regimes in East Berlin living openly as a female. Traditionally staged as a one-person play performed by a male actor, Director Andrew Volkoff’s re-examination will feature transgender actress Delia Kropp and three additional actors. The new production will frame Charlotte’s story through a transgender lens, celebrating transvisibility through the life story of one of the most fascinating transgender women in the historical record.
The Sound Design
The following media is best experienced using headphones.
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Charlotte's Mirror Music
"I… PUT.. THEM… ON." Charlotte describes the first time she put on a dress and looked in the mirror. The sound design for this moment is simple but also reflects the initial vision of herself as she was meant to be for the first time as well as how it made her feel. |
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Charlotte's Memory of The War
"And it was spring! And the birds were singing in the trees! And it was an awful war." Charlotte begins sharing some of her records with Doug as she remembers what it was like growing up during the war. The sound design highlights how the music transports her to her memories which begin to overwhelm her until she latches back on to the melody and resumes her story telling. |
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The Ziggy Fluss Show
This is a sample of the intro we made for the Ziggy Fluss Show scene. The goal is to make a zany and exciting intro that would reflect the personality of Ziggy, the show host. It includes audience applause to show that he is a liked and respected TV personality. |
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Charlotte Being Questioned by the Press
Charlotte is being attacked by the press in this scene. As the pressure builds the low tones build and more and more clocks start ticking. The clocks represent her friend Alfred Kirschner who she supposedly turned in for being gay. She is frightened and alarmed by the constant questioning but ultimately calls it off and offers a story, "When I was almost forty years old, my mother was doing the laundry, yes? Hanging my stockings and my garters on the line. And she turned to me, and she said, 'Lottchen, it’s all very well to play dress-up. But now you’ve grown into a man. When will you marry?' And I said to her, 'Never, my dear Mutti. Ich bin meine eigene Frau. I am my own wife.'" |
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photos by Michael Brosilow