Bradford Louryk's Christine Jorgensen Reveals Moves To Theatre Row

Christine Jorgensen Reveals, which ended its limited engagement at Dodger Stages on January 28, is on the move. The show, created and performed by Bradford Louryk, will begin performances at the Studio Theatre within the Theatre Row complex on February 16 and run there through April 1.

"This experience continues to be a dream come true," Louryk told Broadway.com. "I'm absolutely on clouds."

In Christine Jorgensen Reveals, Louryk brings his lip-synched recreation of America's first famous transsexual's only recorded interview to life. George Jorgensen always knew he was different. In 1952, he traveled from New York to Denmark to undergo a sex change operation. When he returned as Christine, she was the subject of curiosity and controversy.

Christine Jorgensen Reveals is a piece about personhood and the nature of humanity in which Jorgensen--displaying extraordinary intellect, charisma, poise, and grace--speaks candidly about her sensational life. The interview used by Louryk was recorded in 1958. It took place between Jorgensen and Nipsey Russell and only exists in the form of a vinyl recording. For the stage show, Louryk lip-syncs to Jorgensen, and Rob Grace appears via a pre-recorded television video lip-synching to Russell's words.

The show, directed by Josh Hecht, previously had acclaimed engagements at 59E59 where it ran select dates from July 12 through July 28 and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where it played from August 6 through August 29. It began performances at Dodger Stages on December 29 and ran on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays on Stage 5 until January 28.

In his Broadway.com Review of the most recent mounting, Ron Lasko wrote: "Louryk enters dressed in a stunning outfit by designer Mary Ping as Jorgensen. On the TV screen Mr. Russell as played by Rob Grace pops up to address the audience. What follows is a truly fascinating interview about the life of Jorgensen… Louryk seems to be striving for a 100 percent authentic recreation and he achieves it. Anyone searching for a campy drag performance should probably look elsewhere. Grace is also skilled in the art of lipsynching."

After Theatre Row, Christine Jorgensen Reveals will appear at the Boston Center for the Performing Arts April 6 through April 29 and the Dublin Gay Theatre Festival May 8 through May 13.