Hometown Broadcasting Community Calendar

June is Pride Month, a fitting time for artists to explore ideas about identity, representation, and the experience of marginalized groups suffering both personal and systemic persecution. On June 9th, 10th, 16th and 17th, the artists of Rebel Alliance Theatre will address these themes in their first post-pandemic production,”I Am My Own Wife” by Doug Wright.

“I Am My Own Wife”, a 2004 Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize Winning play, chronicles the story of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, whom Doug interviews in post-reunified Germany while revelations on Stasi collaborators keep making headlines. A trans woman (self-described “transvestite” per the language available at the time), Charlotte survived Nazi Germany and then life in the GDR under the Soviets, wearing skirts instead of carrying a gun. “You are teaching me a history I didn’t know I had,” Doug tells Charlotte. But what sort of negotiations does a person have to make to live authentically? In 2023, Russia is invading Ukraine and the rights and the very existence of trans people is up for debate all over the United States. Marginalized groups are experiencing mass invasions of privacy, strict legislation, and the outright banning of the self expression that would allow them to be their true selves in public. In East Germany during the rule of the Stasi and the USSR, there were mass invasions of privacy, strict legislation and terror tactics to keep people in line. We must know our history so that we do not repeat it.

A single-actor piece, Rebel Alliance Theatre core member Keegan Burnett-Connelly performs over 40 roles including those of Doug and Charlotte. Performances take place on June 9th, 10th, 16th, and 17th at 7PM( house opens 6:30 PM) in the lower level of First Congregational Church Oshkosh, 137 Algoma Blvd. Tickets for “I Am My Own Wife” can be purchased at box or online at (site), starting at $18 (box office will have a sliding scale of $18-25 per ticket); there are 24 seats per performance. Due to the sensitive nature of the play, there are themes and language that may upset certain viewers. This play is for mature audiences only. Viewer discretion is advised. Follow Rebel Alliance Theatre on Facebook for more info.

Would you like to help Rebel Alliance create the magic that is live theatre? The auditions for the rest of Rebel Alliance Theatre’s LGBTQ+ 2023 program will be held on June 26th and 27th at 6:30 pm in the lower level of the First Congregational Church in Oshkosh. Watch the Rebel Alliance Facebook page and website for more information.

rebelalliancetheatre@gmail.com