Cleveland Play House announced the regional premiere of “The Christine Jorgensen Show,” a musical cabaret based on the life of Christine Jorgensen, the first transgender celebrity in America. The production is part of the theater’s 2025-26 season.

CPH Artistic Director Michael Barakiva, who directed the show’s Off-Broadway premiere, is bringing it to Cleveland. The play, written by Donald Steven Olson, recounts Jorgensen’s transformation from a returning World War II veteran into a 1950s cabaret headliner. Augustine Lorrie plays Christine Jorgensen and Scott Ahearn plays Myles Bell. The creative team includes choreography by Banji Aborisade, scenic design by Riw Rakkulchon, costume design by Suzanne Chesney, lighting design by Calvin Anderson, sound design by Jacqueline Herter, and production dramaturgy by Dr. Isabel Smith-Bernstein.

Barakiva said the production “is an inspiration for everyone that celebrates the joy that comes from finding your voice and being fully oneself.” Managing Director Rachel L. Fink described it as “a fascinating, witty, and deeply human story about one woman’s journey that captivated a nation.”

Source: https://www.clevelandplayhouse.com/news/2025/10/01/cph-presents-the-christine-jorgensen-show-based-on-the-first-transgender-cabaret-celebrity