On Broadway, baby
ON STAGE / Gregory Haney on his turn as a trans character in Bring It On: The Musical
S Bear Bergman / Toronto / Tuesday, May 29, 2012
http://www.xtra.ca/public/Toronto/On_Broadway_baby-12053.aspxGregory Haney laughs when I ask him what I think is the obvious question: was he a drag performer? Has he walked balls? Are there other trans or gender-playful roles in his background, professional or recreational?
"Honestly? This one time on a tour the entire cast and crew of Cats got done up in drag and went out. But other than that, no. In my case, I'm really playing a part. I was a football player in high school – now I'm playing this amazing high school dancer who is a transgender girl."
[...]
But Haney's role La Cienaga in Bring It On: The Musical is somewhat startling. She's one of two besties of Jackson High queen bee Danielle, a member of the school's elite dance crew, and not played for cheap laughs at all. She dances the girl parts, partnering boys without it ever being played for camp value. "She's written so well," Haney says "there would be no way to just do her as a caricature. She's not, she's a character, and no one laughs at her unless she's joking on herself a little bit. Jeff Whitty (who wrote the script) really made sure."
Of course, it begs the question: was there not a trans woman of colour available who could play this groundbreaking role?
