I AM: A Movement Story
Chicago, Illinois | Theatre
LGBTQ, Drama
I AM explores how transgender people see the world and how the world sees us, starring friendly characters and honoring the lives of our trans elders. This dance-theatre production follows Billy, a trans lawyer aiding his clients and friends as their guiding light in this dark world.
I AM: A Movement Story
Chicago, Illinois | Theatre
LGBTQ, Drama
2 Campaigns | Illinois, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $3,250 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
47 supporters | followers
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I AM explores how transgender people see the world and how the world sees us, starring friendly characters and honoring the lives of our trans elders. This dance-theatre production follows Billy, a trans lawyer aiding his clients and friends as their guiding light in this dark world.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Set in 1990s Chicago, this story follows Billy, a young trans man and lawyer dealing with familial hardship; Quinn, a non-binary person navigating sobriety; and August, a trans-femme in search of a chosen family in a new city. Told in two acts, Act One of I AM features vignettes of each main character, getting a glimpse into each of their lived trans experiences. After a tragic incident occurs, Act Two follows these characters as they come together to advocate for visibility and justice within their community and for other underserved folks.
I AM is a culmination of the movement research Reign Drop has been doing since 2022. Starting with a solo exploring confrontation of transphobic familial relationships and the power of choosing yourself, this dynamic solo work was performed at Jello, We Are Collective, Queer Dance Freakout, and Loud Bodies performances. A pivotal moment in this solo was the section performed to the poem Harold MOUTHFUCKS the Devil by Cyree Jarelle Johnson. Reign was exploring movement ideas that celebrated liberation, addressed the audience with a fire of passion, and ended with an expansive dream of a more accepting future for trans folks everywhere.
Art by Black Lodge Press
In 2023, the work continued with Synapse Arts as a part of their New Works series. Reign divided the development of the initial alter ego into three different characters to create a trio with Virginia Vanlieshout and Nikolas Graves. As a group, we dove into movement research about the queer culture of Chicago in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Punk attitudes, community building, and survival instincts in the midst of persistent bar raids filled this dance with thrashing movement and gentle touch to display the duality of being a queer person. We also continued to integrate poetry and introduced dialogue into the soundscape to support the work, and a bigger idea was born.
After developing three characters showcasing three different trans experiences, the work started to become more than a dance. Reign yearned to develop a play to tell the story where dancers perform movement to the dialogue from the actors while the dancers and keep their own time and using breath to add rhythm to the scenes. Working with Moon Abbott and Ray Post to develop the story, I AM was reborn.
In 2024, Synapse Arts invited Reign to be a part of their Studio Series residency with a showcase at their celebration and fundraiser later on in the year. In June, the team got to work. We expanded our team to six dancers/actors and developed the first vignette of the story, focusing on the character Billy. Billy is a homage to my late uncle, William Hensel, whose life was wrongfully taken at a young age. He lived his life as a gay man in Chicago who was known for spreading smiles and taking care of people. I AM is a reimaging of what his life could have been and has him live on through art.
In 2025, Reign was awarded the DCASE Independent Artist grant to continue to develop I AM into an evening-length work. With the support of this grant, the rehearsal process is made possible, but the expenses to put on a professional production are not covered. We are determined to show this important piece of work to as many trans people, allies, and open-minded folks as possible. That’s where you come in. Help Reign and their team produce this vital story showcasing the trials and magic that make up trans lives.
BILLY
A gay trans man in his mid-twenties has been transitioning since he was a young child and had top surgery when he turned 18. He passes as cisgender in the courts where he works as an immigration lawyer. His family respects his transness but carries some shame and has a sort of don’t ask, don't tell policy around his queerness that causes him to suppress himself. He finally receives acceptance from his family when it’s almost too late.
QUINN
A punk butch person in their late twenties. They come from a broken home, their mother is an alcoholic, they struggle with a positive self-image, and they deal with mental illness. They spend their free time riding skateboards and attending sober community events. They are very sympathetic and caring, always looking out for their chosen family. They are on a journey finding their confidence and self-worth. With a little help from their friends, they are able to feel loved without the validation they crave from their birth family.
AUGUST
A classy trans woman in her thirties comes from a loving and supportive family that she is very close with. A college graduate, she recently moved to Chicago from Connecticut. She is struggling to find community in the queer scene in the city and navigates isolation from traditional gay spaces. She meets a drag queen aaloca bar nd their love is instant and softens her hard shell. Her journey is one of finding romantic love and becoming a part of her lover’s chosen family.
JEAN SCHWARTZ
A drag queen who works the local scene. They are well into their career and very established. They are also a political activist that is always speaking out against injustices and rallying the community to create change. They lead the charge in political activism in the second act, fighting for accountability from bystanders and those willing to watch trans people suffer.
ESPERANZA
A single mother who immigrated to the United States as a young child/teenager. She feels a connection to her culture and home country, but her community and family are in the US. She is a pillar in her community. She has a joyful demeanor and is down-to-earth. She works with Billy to build a legal case against her deportation.
ROSE
Billy’s sister. She is not the closest with her brother, but still sees him as family. She wants to maintain their relationship on her own terms as is almost always unable to meet Billy where he’s at. She believes in traditional family structures and although she is in Billy’s life, she is not an ally. Rose represents the “don’t ask don’t tell” policy that Billy’s family enforces.
STRETCH GOALS
If we make more money than our goal, we will invest that directly back into our cast by paying them more, being more elaborate with costuming, and hiring a stage manager.
HELP US SPREAD THE WORD
Share this message on your social media so we can meet our goal and make trans art!
Help fund “I AM” – a movement play about trans lives in Chicago! Any amount goes a long way and helps trans artists create important and impactful work. Support queer theatre and dance artists! Click this link to donate today: https://seedandspark.com/fund/i-am-a-movement-story
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Collaborator Pay
Costs $1,850
Our goal is to pay our collaborators a decent wage for their time and energy.
Show Week Rental
Costs $400
Rental of space for tech and performance at Chicago Danztheatre
Script Printing
Costs $50
Our script is long! It's important to provide everyone with updated copies of the script.
Marketing
Costs $200
Hiring graphic designers to do their thing, doing a promotional shoot, and printing and distributing flyers! Let's sell out!
Zine Design and Printing
Costs $350
It's essential to stay true to our punk inspirations with a zine that offers a wealth of information and inspiration for the project.
Costumes & Props
Costs $400
Help us make everyone look good on stage!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Story & Choreography by Reign Drop
Reign Drop (they/he) is a dancer/director/choreographer based in Chicago, Illinois. While completing their degree in Dance from Columbia College Chicago, they were mentored in choreography and improvisation by Darrell Jones and Lisa Gonzales. In the community, they have led an Improvisers’ Dance Jam for Chicago Dancemakers Forum, performed for Erin Killmurray, created work for Synapse Arts and Danceworks Chicago, choreographed for the iconic Shea Coulee’s "Rewind" music video, and are the co-founder of We Are Collective. They are also a Company Member for LOUD Bodies and a teaching artist through Synapse Arts. Throughout all of their artistic practices, they focus on researching contemporary movements that demonstrate autonomy, liberation, and connection. They also act as Company Lead for Queer Dance Freakout, which aids them in their mission to share their story and to honor the stories of all magical trans people.
Direction & Music Direction by Ray Post
Ray Post is a mover, a shaker, and a theater maker. They have been working on creating dance, theater, and music that imagines and creates worlds full of colorful queers since they knew how to create. A lifetime musician, actor, and dancer, Ray has continued those pursuits since moving to Chicago in 2021. They were involved in GenderFucked Productions' inaugural event and have since directed and danced with Queer Dance Freakout and performed with Trans Voices Cabaret consecutively over the last 3 years. In addition, they have done musical direction and accompaniment at Second City and played violin in Strawdog Theater's Hanukkah show. A devoted artist and collaborator, Ray Post strives to do it all.
Book by Moon Abbott
Moon Abbott (they/he) is a trans non-binary creative with a focus in writing, filmmaking, and education. Currently based in Chicago, IL, Moon is originally from the metro-Detroit, MI area. They have a Bachelor’s Degree in Cinema Art + Science with a Minor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from Columbia College Chicago. Their creative work often examines the concepts of gender and sexuality from various, authentic, and historical perspectives. Their portfolio includes a plethora of award-winning short films, screenplays, stage plays, and published articles and analyses. Some of their better known works include the short films “Rebound,” a romantic comedy about discovering one’s queer identity, and “When Life Gives You A Lawnmower,” a campy horror comedy with no dialogue set in suburban 1950s America. Moon is currently working on various projects including new films and plays including "I AM" created by Reign Drop. Moon is also the co-founder and Festival Director of Chicago-based film festival New Generation Filmmakers Forum.
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Dramaturgy by Alix Shillaci
Alix Schillaci is a choreographer, director, and producer loose in the city of Chicago. Her recent work includes performances in Grelley Duvall V, burlesque parody Twilight: After Dark, and Andy Slavin’s Slingshot; production support for Erin Kilmurray’s Nightshade and The Function; the premiere of Trash Babylon at Epiphany Center for the Arts and a restaging of her evening length work Sunset’s That Way at Color Club, as well as regular performances in Ordinary Peepholes and Lady Di. Schillaci is a performer, producer, and resident choreographer with LOUD BODIES, having previously performed with Project Bound Dance and for dancemakers Darling Shear, Erin Kilmurray, Sarah Ellen Miller, and others; as well as an ensemble member for The Fly Honey Show. She was a 2024 New Dances Choreographer and is a current Body Passages resident at Chicago Danztheatre. As a dancemaker, Schillaci is known for presenting highly cinematic dance theater works that exploit Americana imagery. Outside of dance, she does production design for theater, film, and commercials, and is co-founder of the found-object shadow puppetry sister act Bloofer Girl Puppets.
Composition by Desmond Inglis
Performances by Amy Delgado-Swanson, Audrey Hartnett, Erobus Petricho, Jean Wildest, Kimea Lawrence, Nik Graves, Virginia Vanlieshout, and more!
Virginia VanLieshout (they/them) is a Chicago performer, choreographer, and producer. Most notably, they are a producer, director, choreographer, and dancer for Twilight After Dark, a burlesque parody of Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight. Beyond slutty vampire performances, they are also a resident company member of the Hail Marys, We Are Collective, Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble, and Queer Dance Freakout, but can also be found freelancing with Robin Davis and Reign Drop. In addition to their conservatory-style training, they are fluent in multiple ballroom and Latin dance styles and frequent Chicago clubs as a Gogo dancer.
Audrey Hartnett (She/They) is a Chicago based artist with passions for performance and costuming. After graduating in 2021 with a BFA in Dance from Columbia College Chicago, she has been exploring a variety of repertoire that play with the relationship between classical and contemporary dance. Audrey is honored to be a current company member with Identity Performing Arts, Meadows Dance Collective, Meher Dance Company, and We Are Collective as well as a past member of 773 Dance Project. They also help run administration for Meadows Dance Collective with goals to make dance accessible and inclusive for audiences and artists alike.
and so many more talented artists!
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Set in 1990s Chicago, this story follows Billy, a young trans man and lawyer dealing with familial hardship; Quinn, a non-binary person navigating sobriety; and August, a trans-femme in search of a chosen family in a new city. Told in two acts, Act One of I AM features vignettes of each main character, getting a glimpse into each of their lived trans experiences. After a tragic incident occurs, Act Two follows these characters as they come together to advocate for visibility and justice within their community and for other underserved folks.
I AM is a culmination of the movement research Reign Drop has been doing since 2022. Starting with a solo exploring confrontation of transphobic familial relationships and the power of choosing yourself, this dynamic solo work was performed at Jello, We Are Collective, Queer Dance Freakout, and Loud Bodies performances. A pivotal moment in this solo was the section performed to the poem Harold MOUTHFUCKS the Devil by Cyree Jarelle Johnson. Reign was exploring movement ideas that celebrated liberation, addressed the audience with a fire of passion, and ended with an expansive dream of a more accepting future for trans folks everywhere.
Art by Black Lodge Press
In 2023, the work continued with Synapse Arts as a part of their New Works series. Reign divided the development of the initial alter ego into three different characters to create a trio with Virginia Vanlieshout and Nikolas Graves. As a group, we dove into movement research about the queer culture of Chicago in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Punk attitudes, community building, and survival instincts in the midst of persistent bar raids filled this dance with thrashing movement and gentle touch to display the duality of being a queer person. We also continued to integrate poetry and introduced dialogue into the soundscape to support the work, and a bigger idea was born.
After developing three characters showcasing three different trans experiences, the work started to become more than a dance. Reign yearned to develop a play to tell the story where dancers perform movement to the dialogue from the actors while the dancers and keep their own time and using breath to add rhythm to the scenes. Working with Moon Abbott and Ray Post to develop the story, I AM was reborn.
In 2024, Synapse Arts invited Reign to be a part of their Studio Series residency with a showcase at their celebration and fundraiser later on in the year. In June, the team got to work. We expanded our team to six dancers/actors and developed the first vignette of the story, focusing on the character Billy. Billy is a homage to my late uncle, William Hensel, whose life was wrongfully taken at a young age. He lived his life as a gay man in Chicago who was known for spreading smiles and taking care of people. I AM is a reimaging of what his life could have been and has him live on through art.
In 2025, Reign was awarded the DCASE Independent Artist grant to continue to develop I AM into an evening-length work. With the support of this grant, the rehearsal process is made possible, but the expenses to put on a professional production are not covered. We are determined to show this important piece of work to as many trans people, allies, and open-minded folks as possible. That’s where you come in. Help Reign and their team produce this vital story showcasing the trials and magic that make up trans lives.
BILLY
A gay trans man in his mid-twenties has been transitioning since he was a young child and had top surgery when he turned 18. He passes as cisgender in the courts where he works as an immigration lawyer. His family respects his transness but carries some shame and has a sort of don’t ask, don't tell policy around his queerness that causes him to suppress himself. He finally receives acceptance from his family when it’s almost too late.
QUINN
A punk butch person in their late twenties. They come from a broken home, their mother is an alcoholic, they struggle with a positive self-image, and they deal with mental illness. They spend their free time riding skateboards and attending sober community events. They are very sympathetic and caring, always looking out for their chosen family. They are on a journey finding their confidence and self-worth. With a little help from their friends, they are able to feel loved without the validation they crave from their birth family.
AUGUST
A classy trans woman in her thirties comes from a loving and supportive family that she is very close with. A college graduate, she recently moved to Chicago from Connecticut. She is struggling to find community in the queer scene in the city and navigates isolation from traditional gay spaces. She meets a drag queen aaloca bar nd their love is instant and softens her hard shell. Her journey is one of finding romantic love and becoming a part of her lover’s chosen family.
JEAN SCHWARTZ
A drag queen who works the local scene. They are well into their career and very established. They are also a political activist that is always speaking out against injustices and rallying the community to create change. They lead the charge in political activism in the second act, fighting for accountability from bystanders and those willing to watch trans people suffer.
ESPERANZA
A single mother who immigrated to the United States as a young child/teenager. She feels a connection to her culture and home country, but her community and family are in the US. She is a pillar in her community. She has a joyful demeanor and is down-to-earth. She works with Billy to build a legal case against her deportation.
ROSE
Billy’s sister. She is not the closest with her brother, but still sees him as family. She wants to maintain their relationship on her own terms as is almost always unable to meet Billy where he’s at. She believes in traditional family structures and although she is in Billy’s life, she is not an ally. Rose represents the “don’t ask don’t tell” policy that Billy’s family enforces.
STRETCH GOALS
If we make more money than our goal, we will invest that directly back into our cast by paying them more, being more elaborate with costuming, and hiring a stage manager.
HELP US SPREAD THE WORD
Share this message on your social media so we can meet our goal and make trans art!
Help fund “I AM” – a movement play about trans lives in Chicago! Any amount goes a long way and helps trans artists create important and impactful work. Support queer theatre and dance artists! Click this link to donate today: https://seedandspark.com/fund/i-am-a-movement-story
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Collaborator Pay
Costs $1,850
Our goal is to pay our collaborators a decent wage for their time and energy.
Show Week Rental
Costs $400
Rental of space for tech and performance at Chicago Danztheatre
Script Printing
Costs $50
Our script is long! It's important to provide everyone with updated copies of the script.
Marketing
Costs $200
Hiring graphic designers to do their thing, doing a promotional shoot, and printing and distributing flyers! Let's sell out!
Zine Design and Printing
Costs $350
It's essential to stay true to our punk inspirations with a zine that offers a wealth of information and inspiration for the project.
Costumes & Props
Costs $400
Help us make everyone look good on stage!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Story & Choreography by Reign Drop
Reign Drop (they/he) is a dancer/director/choreographer based in Chicago, Illinois. While completing their degree in Dance from Columbia College Chicago, they were mentored in choreography and improvisation by Darrell Jones and Lisa Gonzales. In the community, they have led an Improvisers’ Dance Jam for Chicago Dancemakers Forum, performed for Erin Killmurray, created work for Synapse Arts and Danceworks Chicago, choreographed for the iconic Shea Coulee’s "Rewind" music video, and are the co-founder of We Are Collective. They are also a Company Member for LOUD Bodies and a teaching artist through Synapse Arts. Throughout all of their artistic practices, they focus on researching contemporary movements that demonstrate autonomy, liberation, and connection. They also act as Company Lead for Queer Dance Freakout, which aids them in their mission to share their story and to honor the stories of all magical trans people.
Direction & Music Direction by Ray Post
Ray Post is a mover, a shaker, and a theater maker. They have been working on creating dance, theater, and music that imagines and creates worlds full of colorful queers since they knew how to create. A lifetime musician, actor, and dancer, Ray has continued those pursuits since moving to Chicago in 2021. They were involved in GenderFucked Productions' inaugural event and have since directed and danced with Queer Dance Freakout and performed with Trans Voices Cabaret consecutively over the last 3 years. In addition, they have done musical direction and accompaniment at Second City and played violin in Strawdog Theater's Hanukkah show. A devoted artist and collaborator, Ray Post strives to do it all.
Book by Moon Abbott
Moon Abbott (they/he) is a trans non-binary creative with a focus in writing, filmmaking, and education. Currently based in Chicago, IL, Moon is originally from the metro-Detroit, MI area. They have a Bachelor’s Degree in Cinema Art + Science with a Minor in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from Columbia College Chicago. Their creative work often examines the concepts of gender and sexuality from various, authentic, and historical perspectives. Their portfolio includes a plethora of award-winning short films, screenplays, stage plays, and published articles and analyses. Some of their better known works include the short films “Rebound,” a romantic comedy about discovering one’s queer identity, and “When Life Gives You A Lawnmower,” a campy horror comedy with no dialogue set in suburban 1950s America. Moon is currently working on various projects including new films and plays including "I AM" created by Reign Drop. Moon is also the co-founder and Festival Director of Chicago-based film festival New Generation Filmmakers Forum.
Dramaturgy by Alix Shillaci
Alix Schillaci is a choreographer, director, and producer loose in the city of Chicago. Her recent work includes performances in Grelley Duvall V, burlesque parody Twilight: After Dark, and Andy Slavin’s Slingshot; production support for Erin Kilmurray’s Nightshade and The Function; the premiere of Trash Babylon at Epiphany Center for the Arts and a restaging of her evening length work Sunset’s That Way at Color Club, as well as regular performances in Ordinary Peepholes and Lady Di. Schillaci is a performer, producer, and resident choreographer with LOUD BODIES, having previously performed with Project Bound Dance and for dancemakers Darling Shear, Erin Kilmurray, Sarah Ellen Miller, and others; as well as an ensemble member for The Fly Honey Show. She was a 2024 New Dances Choreographer and is a current Body Passages resident at Chicago Danztheatre. As a dancemaker, Schillaci is known for presenting highly cinematic dance theater works that exploit Americana imagery. Outside of dance, she does production design for theater, film, and commercials, and is co-founder of the found-object shadow puppetry sister act Bloofer Girl Puppets.
Composition by Desmond Inglis
Performances by Amy Delgado-Swanson, Audrey Hartnett, Erobus Petricho, Jean Wildest, Kimea Lawrence, Nik Graves, Virginia Vanlieshout, and more!
Virginia VanLieshout (they/them) is a Chicago performer, choreographer, and producer. Most notably, they are a producer, director, choreographer, and dancer for Twilight After Dark, a burlesque parody of Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight. Beyond slutty vampire performances, they are also a resident company member of the Hail Marys, We Are Collective, Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble, and Queer Dance Freakout, but can also be found freelancing with Robin Davis and Reign Drop. In addition to their conservatory-style training, they are fluent in multiple ballroom and Latin dance styles and frequent Chicago clubs as a Gogo dancer.
Audrey Hartnett (She/They) is a Chicago based artist with passions for performance and costuming. After graduating in 2021 with a BFA in Dance from Columbia College Chicago, she has been exploring a variety of repertoire that play with the relationship between classical and contemporary dance. Audrey is honored to be a current company member with Identity Performing Arts, Meadows Dance Collective, Meher Dance Company, and We Are Collective as well as a past member of 773 Dance Project. They also help run administration for Meadows Dance Collective with goals to make dance accessible and inclusive for audiences and artists alike.
and so many more talented artists!