Recess Gender Clinic
About this Event
About the Performance:
Trying to make sense of her brother’s gender identity, Ellie sets up a "Gender Clinic" booth at recess, while Max, trying to make sense of the world’s response to his transness, vlogs about magic tricks and is guided by the Star Friends—magical manifestations of trans elders. This play weaves magic into a story about kids trying to take care of each other when the adults in their lives fail them, celebrating the wonder of transness & childhood. We’ll remember how trans kids should be treasured; how gender is the most confusing thing ever; and how all of us should be free to play.
Cast & Creative Team
Playwright: Tal Bloom
Directors: Is Perlman & Melañia Horowitz
Producer: Chiamaka Kanu
Stage Manager: Quinn Fastnow
About the Lead Artists:
Tal Bloom is a writer, dancer, choreographer, visual artist, and high school English teacher living in Brooklyn. They could not be more excited for their NYC playwright debut. Tal's artistic work centers conceptualizing transness as a form of magic, and exploring the body through memory, transition, anger, and tenderness. Their oil paintings and multimedia artwork explores the trans body through dreams, love, memory, and transition. Tal’s choreography credits include: Do You Believe in Magic? (Columbia, The MaMa Project), Newsies (CMTS), and REDACTED (Green Room 42). Bachelor of Arts in English (Creative Writing) and Human Rights from Barnard College.
Is Perlman (they/them) is a trans and Asian American theatre artist and arts administrator living in Brooklyn. They are passionate about theatremaking as a tool for building community and reckoning with identity, and love to make work that asserts queerness as magical. They recently worked in Manhattan Theatre Club’s Learning & Community Engagement department, and are pursuing a career at the intersections of theatremaking, social change, and sacred ritual. Recent projects include American Girl/די אַמעריקאַנערין by Lonnie Miller and A People by LM Feldman. Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Columbia University. @isliketheword on Instagram
About the CWP Evolution Festival
The fifth annual CWP EVOLUTION FESTIVAL presents original works of theater, dance, music, comedy, and interdisciplinary performance by NYC-based artists at venues across Manhattan in June and September 2026. Participants receive free performance & rehearsal space, marketing & technical support, a guaranteed artist fee, performance photography and archival videography, and more! Learn more about the festival and the 20+ other shows on the schedule at www.centeratwestpark.org/evolution-festival-2026
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00 to USD 55.20
