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WHO’S WHO WHAT ARE PERSONAL
Opera: Die Fledermaus (Props Run Crew),
The Golden Cockerel (Assistant Run Crew PRONOUNS AND WHY DO
Chief), The Revolution of Steve Jobs (Props
Run Crew), Apprentice Scenes - Night 2
(Assistant Run Crew Chief). Jamie would
like to thank her family and friends for their THEY MATTER?
continued love and support.
KENN MCLAUGHLIN (Artistic Director)
The 2020-2021 season marks Kenn
McLaughlin’s fifteenth season as Stages’
artistic leader, following five successful
years as the theatre’s Managing Director. In English, whether we realize it or not, people frequently refer to
Kenn has produced more than 100 us using pronouns when speaking about us. Often, when speaking
productions, including record-breaking of a singular human in the third person, these pronouns have a
hits like The Marvelous Wonderettes
and Late Nite Catechism series; The gender implied -- such as “he” to refer to a man/boy or “she” to
Great American Trailer Park Musical refer to a woman/girl. These associations are not always accurate or
and revivals of the theatre’s landmark helpful.
original musical Always…Patsy Cline; as
well as pivotal world and U.S. premieres Often, people make assumptions about the gender of another
such as De Kus, Black Pearl Sings, An person based on the person’s appearance or name. These
American Brat, Miss Teen nine original
Pantomime productions, and The Great assumptions aren’t always correct, and the act of making an
American Trailer Park Christmas Musical. assumption (even if correct) sends a potentially harmful message
He has directed over 30 shows for Stages. -- that people have to look a certain way to demonstrate the gender
Highlights include: Auntie Mame, Road
Show, Grey Gardens, Full Gallop, The that they are or are not.
Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in
the Universe, Mack and Mabel, Speech Using someone’s correct personal pronouns is a way to respect
and Debate, The Man Who Shot Liberty them and create an inclusive environment, just as using a person’s
Valance, Stupid Fucking Bird, The Blonde, name can be a way to respect them. Just as it can be offensive or
The Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead even harassing to make up a nickname for someone and call them
and the world premiere of Miss Teen.
He has also written the book for two of that nickname against their will, it can be offensive or harassing
Stages’ hit musicals: Panto Mother Goose to guess at someone’s pronouns and refer to them using those
and A Midnight Clear both with music by pronouns if that is not how that person wants to be known. Or,
composer David Nehls. This season, Kenn
has directed The Doyle and Debbie Show, worse, actively choosing to ignore the pronouns someone has
Salt, Root and Roe, The Fantasticks and stated that they go by could imply the oppressive notion that
will direct the world premiere of Hook’s intersex, transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming
Tale. Beyond Houston, Kenn’s musical, I’ll people do not or should not exist.
Be Home for Christmas (also written with
David Nehls) received its World Premiere When we refer to “personal” pronouns, we don’t mean that these
production at the Arvada Center for the
Arts and Humanities in Denver and was pronouns are necessarily private information (generally they are
nominated for a Henry Award for Best New not), we mean that they are pronouns referring to a unique and
Play/Musical. Outside of Houston, Kenn individual person.
recently directed The Threepenny Opera
