On the surface, the touring production of “Mrs. Doubtfire” is no different than the myriad hit Broadway musicals that come through Ohio, this one a movie-to-musical adaptation based on the beloved 1993 film starring Robin Williams.
Yet here in Ohio, the musical has become something more. As the Republican co-sponsors of Ohio’s proposed ban on public drag have repeatedly name-checked “Mrs. Doubtfire” as an example of what they are not trying to ban, the conservative lawmakers have deemed the film and musical as “acceptable.”
But within the cast, the performers aren’t trying to distance themselves from drag. They own it and own it proudly, which you will be able to see them do when “Mrs. Doubtfire” appears at the EJ Thomas Hall in Akron (1/20-21), Veterans Memorial Civic Center in Lima (1/22) and the Schuster Performing Arts Center in Dayton (5/5-10). Tickets here.
The Buckeye Flame spoke with out LGBTQ+ performer and Ohio native Kirstin Angelina Henry about touring the country in a musical that has become a lightning rod for both controversy and pure joy.
To listen, click play directly below or read our (edited) conversation beneath the audio link.
Growing up in the Cleveland area – specifically Chardon – was musical theater always the goal?
I actually didn’t decide that I wanted to do musical theater until my senior year [of high school]. I had done a couple shows when I was in middle school and then I went down the soccer path. I was like, “I can’t do theater as a career,” even though my mom very much was doing it as a career. Once I got to my senior year, I thought that I could do forensic psychology or I could do musical theater.
And my mom was like, “I think you know which one you want to do. You just have to do it.” So I officially stuck with musical theatre.
You attended Kent State University and you were in a ton of shows, but I want to highlight one particular show that you were in. We have seen a ton of productions of “She Kills Monsters” canceled here in Ohio because of the ridiculously minimal LGBTQ+ content, but it’s also been a show where we’ve heard from marginalized youth who say they feel just plain seen by the show. What do you remember about being in that production?
That show was a blast. It was virtual, which was definitely something we had to get used to, but we got to do really cool effects on Zoom, like super cool dragon backgrounds.
We were led by Paul Hurley. You mentioned that it was kind of minimal LGBTQ+ themes and moments, but it was something that we very much had good discussion about, like how that affected Tilly – the character that I played – in her actual life versus like her Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) life.
It was beautiful. That cast was awesome and we laughed every day. Some of us had played D&D before, some of us had not. I was one of the ones who had not. So we all got together and played a campaign together, which was super fun. I look back at that experience and it’s one that I hold very close to my heart.
We love talking about the intersections of LGBTQ+ identity and the theater. Has the theater world been a safe place for you?
Absolutely. When I originally had come out, I was in college studying musical theatre. I went to all my friends and said, “So I’m feeling this way. I don’t know what it means.” And one of my friends who was already out said, “Baby, you’re gay.”
I went home to my parents and inched my way into their room and I was like, “Mom, Dad, I have something I need to tell you.” And they said, “Is everything okay?” And I just said, “I think I’m bi(sexual).” And they were like, “Okay, do you need anything from us? We support you and we love you no matter what.” Thankfully I had one of those experiences and I’m really grateful for that.
Continuing through my career, I’ve gotten nothing but support. I’ve been in really good rooms and really good companies that have always [prioritized] comfort.
On the other side of the spectrum, you’re touring the country, going to states – including here in Ohio – where there is a proposed ban on drag in the books. And then there’s this specific irony for you and your cast-mates where you have conservative Republicans who specifically say, “We’re not talking about things like ‘Mrs. Doubtfire.’” What is the experience like for you going to states, including your home state of Ohio, where drag bans have been passed or are proposed?
It’s ironic that you can sit in that theater and look at the show we’re doing and not just be like, “Oh, this is drag.” Because it is drag. I do not understand how you can look at something as beautiful as drag and not see it for the powerful, beautiful thing that it is.
But it’s nerve-wracking because you have people who try to tear down what we’re doing and what we’re creating. There are some people who don’t want to see “Mrs. Doubtfire” who say, “If [drag] is what’s at the forefront of your message or your themes, then we don’t wanna see it.”
But there are people who love what we do. There are people who love the drag community, and I promise you, we’re right there with them. We’re not up here trying to do anything less than that.
And I think that you’ll find that when you see “Mrs. Doubtfire,” there are more moments where we bring in our little sparkle and we’re like, “Yeah, it’s not all straight people up here, baby.”
There are beautiful moments – particularly in the song where we’re creating Mrs. Doubtfire – where you feel the love and you feel the support and you feel the community. Even when we go to these places that have their certain point of view, I think we all try to lead with joy. You might not support what we’re doing, but we’re gonna show you that we have a smile on our face. It’s something that brings us joy, unapologetically doing what we love doing. I think that sustains us when we go through those particular towns.
I was going to next ask you, “Sell everyone on going to see the show.” But I think you just did that! So I’ll ask you a final question: Give us that patented Kirstin Angelina Henry advice for LGBTQ+ Ohio youth who want to use their voice in the beautiful, authentic way that you use it.
One of the most important things that I have learned is the idea that – it sounds cheesy, but – I’m a garden. Weeds can only continue to bloom and blossom in my garden if I let them, whether [those weeds are] bigots or people in the world who are trying to bring down whatever joy and magic that I have. Something I’ve continued to tell myself is to keep pulling the weeds. You pull the weeds out and they can’t bloom.
I think you have to water your garden the best way that you can, whether that be with music, whether that be with art, whether that be with drag or anything you want to pursue.
No matter what anyone says, there’s a place for you as long as you continue to water your garden with joy and with a good community surrounding you. 🔥
IGNITE ACTION
- “Mrs. Doubtfire” will be appearing at the EJ Thomas Hall in Akron (1/20-21), Veterans Hall in Lima (1/22) and the Schuster Theater in Dayton (5/5-10). Get your tickets here.
- Follow Kirstin Angelina Henry here.
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