According to the Los Angeles Times a new musical about the transgender mayor of Silverton, Oregon will be showcased at Seattle's Intiman Theatre in 2013.
"Stu for Silverton," follows the political career of mayor Stu Rasmussen. The mayor was born a man and still identifies himself as heterosexual man despite having breast implants and dressing like a woman.
A video posted by Intiman Theatre describes "Stu for Silverton" as a "story of change in a small town," and a cross between "Our Town" and "The Rocky Horror Show."
Rasmussen was elected mayor of the town in 1988 and 1990 when he still dressed like a man and then in 2008 in his transgender persona he was reelected in 2010 and again this November.
According to the Times, Rasmuseen was the first openly transgender mayor of any city in the United States. On his website he said. "I've been a cross dresser or transvestite my whole life."
The Times also reported in 2008 that Rasmussen said he sometimes goes under the name "Carla Fong." On his political career he said "My first two terms, I was a very straight-looking guy."
The musical at Intiman will be a part of a four-show line up at its summer festival that will run from June. 22 to Sept. 15.
The New York Times reported the festival's other productions were chosen to reflect issues of race, sex, politics, and money they include; "Trouble in Mind," Alice Childress's 1950s play about race relations inside a theater rehearsal room; "Lysistrata," the classic by Aristophanes about women withholding sex from their husbands in an effort to stop war; and "We Won't Pay! We Won't Pay!," a farce by Noble Prize winner Dario Fo about working-class housewives in an uproar over the rising cost of groceries.
Intiman Theater is looking to take another step towards financial security with the staging of the festival. Last year, the organization declared a financial emergency and was on the brink of collapse but a thanks to a pledge drive in which they earned $1 million, the venue was able to stay in business.
Stu Rasmussen
