On this episode, Caroline, Jordan, and Kevin meet Augustine Lorrie, a queer and transfemme singer, writer, and performer making their Cleveland Play House debut in The Christine Jorgensen Show, a musical cabaret inspired by the life of America’s first transgender celebrity.
Together, they explore Augustine’s journey from a rural upbringing in Northern California to the international stage, tracing a path through UC Santa Barbara, the Yale School of Drama, and performances across Europe. Augustine shares how their identity as a transfeminine artist shapes their craft, how mentorship and method ground their approach to character, and what it means to embody Christine Jorgensen—a figure whose courage redefined gender and media visibility in the 1950s.
This conversation bridges art, activism, and ancestry, examining how storytelling can reclaim trans history and transform public consciousness. Through humor, empathy, and rigorous artistry, Augustine brings Jorgensen’s voice back to life for a new generation, reminding us that liberation begins in truth-telling, and that performance itself can be an act of historical repair.
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Augustine Lorrie is a queer and transfemme singer, writer, and performer making their Cleveland Play House debut in The Christine Jorgensen Show. A graduate of UC Santa Barbara and the Yale School of Drama, Augustine has appeared in productions such as Julius Caesar, Next to Normal, and original solo works performed internationally in Prague and Sicily. Their artistic practice integrates theatre, music, and storytelling to explore trans identity, legacy, and liberation through performance.
TICKETS CAN BE FOUND AT https://www.clevelandplayhouse.com/
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About the Podcast
The Trans Narrative Podcast is a storytelling platform centering trans voices through authentic dialogue and lived experience. With over 130 episodes across four seasons and listeners in 75 countries, the show creates space for guests to share their journeys, insights, and work—on their own terms.
“Make it real to me” written by Athena Promachus
Created and produced by Caroline Essence
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📧 transnarrativepodcast@gmail.com
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Resources
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National Human Service Call Center: 2-1-1