Imago Foundation for the Arts (IFA) will present Ed Shea performing Doug Wright’s Pulitzer and Tony-award-winning play, “I am My Own Wife,” at Imago Gallery, on Friday, April 25 and Saturday, April 26.

The play depicts the gripping story of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, a celebrated East German Museum curator and preservationist who survived two of the last century’s most brutal regimes – the Nazis and the Communists—as an openly trans woman.

During his two-act performance, Shea will play 30 different roles as he depicts Mahlsdorf’s story. This tour de force performance is a new, stripped-down revival centered around themes of identity and contemplation. It was developed by Shea for his senior Contemplative Studies thesis for his recently awarded BA from Brown University.

A prolific Rhode Island theatre artist for more than four decades, Shea contributed to the area’s cultural climate as actor, director, teacher, and artistic director. Highlights include his years as a company member of Trinity Rep where he performed in over 30 productions, and his stewardship of 2nd Story Theatre in Warren. His work had a lasting impact on the RI theatre-loving community, providing memorable experiences to thousands—in the seats and on the stage.

Seating is limited to 60 people for each performance so please purchase tickets in advance on Eventbrite. Admission is $25. All proceeds will benefit Imago Foundation for the Arts.

More About the play

In Wright’s play, a personal fascination becomes a spellbinding historical mystery. Based on interviews with famed German icon Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, this searing one-person show was the winner of the Tony Award for Best Play and recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. When Wright is introduced to Charlotte, he decides he must write a play about her. At first, Wright finds her to be nothing short of miraculous. An LGBTQ pioneer, she somehow managed to survive both the Nazis and the Communists. The more he investigates, however, the more complex the story becomes. Soon, he must ask himself if what he needs to believe can hold up against what the truth demands.

More About Ed Shea

Ed is currently enrolled in the Harvard Divinity School Master of Divinity program focusing on Buddhist ministry. He is currently teaching meditation at the RI Department of Corrections Men’s and Women’s Facilities.