Motus Theater, with the support of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, developed an autobiographical monologue performance project called TRANSformative Stories in which transgender and nonbinary leaders present artfully crafted personal stories about their hopes, dreams, and experiences of negotiating oppression and liberation. The monologues disrupt dehumanizing narratives, lift up the humanity of monologists, and shed light on the root causes of injustice.

The project builds upon Motus Theater’s specialty: developing artfully crafted autobiographical monologues with leaders on the frontlines of violence and oppression in the U.S., putting them center stage as the protagonists in the American drama.

Each TRANSformative Stories performance includes musical responses to each story by transgender or non-binary musicians that celebrate the courage, beauty and heart of each monologist, and support audiences to feel the full impact of each narrative.

In the November 2023 premiere, internationally renowned American violinist, mezzo-soprano, and transgender activist Tona Brown presented musical responses to each monologue. She is celebrated as the first trans woman to headline a performance at Carnegie Hall.

In addition to performances where TRANSformative Stories monologists read their own stories, Motus Theater develops special performances in which leaders in politics, religion, medicine, educators and the criminal legal systems, whose work impacts transgender and nonbinary communities, co-read the monologists’ stories. These unique co-read performances expand the reach of the project across sectors, further supporting narrative change.