ADAM J. RINEER | Third Sex: 1930s Transvestite Lieder

THIRD SEX:
1930s transvestite lieder

Music & Adaptation by Adam J. Rineer

Translations by Erica Kastner & Thomas Gurinskas

Based on Das. 3 Geschlecht, a transvestite magazine published from 1930-1932 in Berlin, Germany.

THIRD SEX: 1930s transvestite lieder — LIVE EP

Recorded by Irving Gadoury

Performed at Pete's Candy Store

Vocals: Jacey Ziev, Ezra Noel, Murphy Taylor Smith

Guitar: Will Shish

Drums: Nicole Patrick

THIRD SEX: 1930's transvestite lieder is a found text song-cycle/punk cabaret based on the short stories, articles, poems, and personal essays of Das 3. Geschlecht, a transvestite magazine published in five issues from 1930-1932 in Berlin before n*zis burned its publishing house to the ground. The magazine was largely thought to be lost until it was rediscovered and reprinted in 2016. THIRD SEX brings these forgotten trans and queer narratives to life through an eclectic score inspired by the punk and experimental electronic scenes of the last 90 years while examining the queer experiences of the past, present, and future through our vivacious stories of survival.

History:

2025 - Research & Development Workshop, Musical Theatre Factor @ Ars Nova (NYC)
2024 - Book Culture LIC (NYC)
2024 - Ant Fest, Ars Nova (NYC)
2024 - Witches, Queers, and Clowns Festival at HERE Arts Center (NYC)
2024 - Pete's Candy Store (NYC)
2023 - Musical Theatre Factory Collective Liberation Salon (NYC)
2023 - The Maker's Ensemble (NYC)
2023 - The Parkside Lounge (NYC)

DEMOS:

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2025 - Research & Development Workshop, Musical Theatre Factory @ Ars Nova, NYC

Jason Aguirre - Director/Choreographer

Thomas Gurinskas - Dramaturg/Translator

Caden Cristiano - Stage Manager

Nathalia Tavares - Line Producer

Cast/Musicians

Adam J. Rineer — Composer/Synth/Electronics/Vocals

James Rushin (B'way: Freestyle Love Supreme) — Bass/Music Assistant/Vocals

Jacey Ziev (Off-B'Way: The Civility of Albert Cashier) — Vocals

Lisa Stephen Friday (Trans Am; Lisa Jackson and Girl Friday) — Vocals

Caro Moore (B'way: Six: The Musical) — Drums/Vocals

Sushma Saha (B'way: 1776) — Vocals

Tẹmídayọ Amay (Helen Hayes Award Winner; Off-B'way: Black Odyssey) — Vocals

Will Shishmanian (Nat' Tour: Pride Anthems) — Guitar/Vocals

Photos by Abigail Grubb

2024 - Book Culture LIC, NYC

This event is made possible in part with public funds from the Queens Arts Fund, a re-grant program supported by New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and administered by New York Foundation for the Arts.

Cast/Musicians

Adam J. Rineer — Composer/Keys/Vocals

Jacey Ziev (Off-B'Way: The Civility of Albert Cashier; Drummer: One Hour Photo) — Percussion/Vocals

Will Shishmanian (Nat' Tour: Pride Anthems) — Guitar/Vocals

Simón Gómez Villegas — Vocals

Murphy Taylor Smith (Regional: A Transparent Musical; Podcast: Cancellation Island) — Vocals

Ezra Noel — Vocals

Artwork by Ezra Goren (@ezradogteeth)

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Photos by Maggie Loesch (@magsloesch)

2024 - ANT Fest at Ars Nova, NYC

Creative Team

Jason Aguirre — Director

Zack Lobel — Projects and Lighting Design

Cast/Musicians

Adam J. Rineer — Composer/Synth/Electronics/Vocals

James Rushin (B'way: Freestyle Love Supreme) — Bass

Jacey Ziev (Off-B'Way: The Civility of Albert Cashier) — Vocals

Lisa Stephen Friday (Trans Am; Lisa Jackson and Girl Friday) — Vocals

Murphy Taylor Smith (Regional: A Transparent Musical; Podcast: Cancellation Island) — Vocals

Natalie Joy Johnson (B'way: Lempika, Legally Blonde, Kinky Boots)

Caro Moore (B'way: Six: The Musical) — Drums

Simón Gómez Villegas — Vocals

Tẹmídayọ Amay (Helen Hayes Award Winner; Off-B'way: Black Odyssey) — Vocals

Will Shishmanian (Nat' Tour: Pride Anthems) — Guitar

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Artwork by Clay Brown (@claybrownplayground)

Comments:

"These words are so present and the musical world you have created brings them to life with such raw humanity."

"There have only been a handful of times when I’ve seen a piece of theatre that felt truly ground breaking, that felt immediate and essential, that felt compelling and necessary, that speaks to the moment and enrages, inspires and energizes you. @adamjrineer made something so fucking good. I cannot wait for this piece to blow the socks off everyone."

— Rob Rokicki (The Lightning Thief)

2024 - Witches, Queers, and Clowns Festival at HERE Arts Center, NYC

Witches, Queers and Clowns is presented through SubletSeries@HERE: a curated rental program, which provides artists with subsidized space and equipment, as well as a technical liaison.