ABOUT US
Breaking the Binary Theatre is an Obie Award-winning new work development and community building hub wherein transgender, non-binary, and Two-Spirit+ (TNB2S+*) artists come together to reclaim our artistic license and liberty through a number of initiatives, including the yearly all-TNB2S+ Breaking the Binary Theatre Festival each October.
*Breaking the Binary Theatre uses the term “TNB2S+” in hopes to encompass any person who is transgender, non-binary, Two-Spirit, gender non-conforming, genderqueer, agender, intersex, gender expansive, bigender, gender fluid, or any identity within the umbrella transgender community.
TNB2S+ artists have long been misrepresented and underpaid for their work in the American theatre. Breaking the Binary Theatre works to rectify this by holistically centering TNB2S+ artists and compensating all employees and artists equitably, with all wages based upon New York’s Living Wage of $25.65 an hour.
Founded and led by George Strus (they/them), since Breaking the Binary Theatre’s launch in July 2022, the organization has paid out over $500,000 to over 400 TNB2S+ artists (as of 9.2.24).
For a breakdown of Breaking the Binary Theatre’s body of work thus far, click here:
For more information on Breaking the Binary Theatre’s existing new work development and community building initiatives, click here:
George Strus (they/them)
Founding Artistic Director
George Strus (they/them) is a trans non-binary Latiné artist living on the unceded ancestral lands of the Munsee Lenape Nation (colloquially known as New York).
Commercially, they were a proud co-producer of the 2023 off-Broadway world premiere production of Stephen Sondheim's final musical, HERE WE ARE, and are currently making their Broadway debut as a co-producer of Jackie Sibblies Drury, Justin Peck, and Sufjan Stevens’ ILLINOISE at the St. James Theatre (2024 Tony Nomination). Other projects in development include Moisés Kaufman and Sasha Velour’s VELOUR: A DRAG SPECTACULAR (premiering at La Jolla Playhouse in August 2024), Amber Ruffin’s BIGFOOT, and others to be announced.
In addition to their role as Founding Artistic Director of Breaking the Binary Theatre and their freelance producorial and dramaturgical work, they also currently serve as Sigspace Curator + Producer at Signature Theatre, Producers Cohort Program Facilitator at The Tank, Theatre Scout at Curate Management, and Project Director at Meena Harris’ Phenomenal Theatre Fund. They are an Associate Member of The Broadway League with Greg Nobile (CEO of Seaview Productions) serving as their mentor.
Previously, they held positions at Second Stage Theater, Manhattan Theatre Club, The Public Theater, Audible Theater, A3 Artists Agency, The Sol Project, Pride Plays at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, Playbill, Stacey Mindich Productions, Alchemation, Telsey + Company Casting, Paper Mill Playhouse, and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
www.georgestrus.com / @GeorgeStrus
Bryar Barborka (they/them)
Literary Manager
Bryar Barborka (they/them) is a Chicago-based nonbinary Latine theater artist. They are the Literary Associate at Seven Devils New Play Foundry and the Literary and Casting Associate at Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Bryar has also worked with: Second Stage Theater, The Playwrights' Center, Goodman Theatre, Victory Gardens Theater, Teatro Vista, Definition Theatre, Interrobang Theatre Project, and the Ojai Playwrights Conference among others in various capacities. They are passionate about work that expands theater audiences and reaches those that have historically been left out of the American theatre.
Breaking the Binary Theatre is powered by fiscal sponsor Producer Hub, counseled by their all-TNB2S+ Core Community, and supported by a number of Admin Allies.
Original Web Designer: Jesse Ye (they/them)
Logo Designer: Christopher "Kit" Wallace (he/they)