This week on Curtain Call, host Tom Candela welcomes writer and director Mimi McGurl, actor Jess Beveridge, and musician Douglas Rogers, the creative team behind Lucy Joseph—the acclaimed original performance from Farm Arts Collective, returning by popular demand after a sold-out summer run. The piece tells the story of Lucy Ann Joseph Israel Lobdell, a 19th-century gender non-conforming pioneer whose remarkable life speaks directly to today’s ongoing conversations about identity and self-expression.
Listeners will also be treated to original live music by Douglas Rogers, including a moving rendition of Stephen Foster’s “Hard Times.” Together, Mimi, Jess, and Douglas share insights into their creative process, the historical inspiration behind the work, and the emotional power of blending music, movement, and storytelling to bring Lucy’s story to life. Lucy Joseph is both a theatrical triumph and a timely reflection on courage, authenticity, and the human spirit.