Archdiocese of New York Expels Pro-Transgender Theater Group from Catholic School

A New York theater company focused on gender equity has become embroiled in a controversy with the Archdiocese of New York, its landlord. The archdiocese mandates now that the theater company cease productions that church officials claim contradict Catholic teaching, particularly concerning abortion and gender identity.

SheNYC, a nonprofit organization that fosters women and trans creators through its Off Broadway season and summer festivals, has been housed at the Connelly Theater in Manhattan’s East Village for eight years. The theater is part of the Cornelia Connelly Center, a full-scholarship Catholic girls school “admitting students who would most benefit from additional academic and social-emotional support” in grades 4-8.

According to Brianne Wetzel, the school’s executive director, income from the theater rental has supported the school, but ultimately, the archdiocese “has sole control over the approval process of the productions that are performed there.” At present, the school has ceased all activity at its theater.

Although SheNYC operated out of the theater since 2016, the Archdiocese is only now exercising a contractual clause allowing it to screen all plays before staging. According to Danielle DeMatteo, artistic director of SheNYC Arts, the archdiocese “has specifically called out our past shows at the Connelly Theater, calling them ‘inappropriate’ for discussing issues like reproductive rights and gender and making it clear to us that shows like that will not be allowed in the future.”

Josh Luxenberg, SheNYC’s general manager, resigned Friday telling The New York Times that accepting the archdiocese’s requirements would put him “in the untenable position of becoming a censor rather than an advocate of artistic freedom.”

DeMatteo stated that the archdiocese’s parameters for production made SheNYC’s mission impossible:

“We’re deeply saddened to leave the Connelly, which has been our home for nearly a decade. However, we cannot compromise on our commitment to showcasing diverse voices and telling stories that center gender equity and freedom. Therefore, we’ve been told by the theater that we should not seek to renew our contract with the Connelly Theater for 2025. We’re now turning to the community we’ve built to help us find a new home where our artists can continue to thrive.”

As a result, the theater company is facing their 2025 season, which is also their 10th anniversary, without a home. Numerous productions have been impacted by the change, including an adaptation of Abby Stein’s 2019 memoir, Becoming Eve: My Journey from Ultra-Orthodox Rabbi to Transgender Woman. In an interview with Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Stein stated:

“‘I can’t say I’m surprised. I’m not going to come up and pretend, “Oh my God, the Catholic Church doesn’t like trans people, I’m shocked.” I wouldn’t say that. I think we all know that. It’s just extremely frustrating that even in a place like New York, it’s still something you need to think about. It feels like we’re taking one step forward, two steps back. This shouldn’t be something we’re still worried about.'”

In its press release regarding the eviction, SheNYC stressed the organization’s predicament and solicited support in the form of sponsorships or donations, as well as assistance finding a new space:

“We’re now in a tight spot, trying to find a new theater to house our 2025 Festival, and it’s likely to be way more expensive than what we’ve got the budget for, as we had a generous rate with the Connelly. Our 2025 budget was already stretched thin due to the addition of new programs for our 10-year anniversary, and we expect this change to put us in a deficit. Donating to help us fund a new theater is the most wonderful gift anyone could give us right now. We are working hard behind the scenes to make sure that our 2025 season can go off as planned, and any amount you can donate would help immensely.”

—Jeromiah Taylor (he/him), November 11, 2024