On Oct. 17, 2017, the trajectory of my life shifted forever. I was 19 years old, living in middle-of-nowhere Kansas, pursuing a dead-end degree in Christian ministry, closeted as a transgender person.
On that day, I drove 12 hours to Chicago to see my childhood hero, Dani Shay, in a new musical. Shay was bringing to life the story of a Civil War veteran who ultimately saved my life. In the tapestry of American history, the thread of Albert Cashier merits far more attention than it has received.
Cashier, born in Ireland as Jennifer Hodgers in 1843, enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War and navigated the battlefield and societal gender constraints with remarkable fortitude. When Cashier was outed and put on trial, causing an uproar in his Midwestern town, his life and his pension were threatened, prompting his brothers-in-arms to come to his aid and recount the losses, life lessons and acts of heroism they shared on the battlefield all those years ago. “The Civility of Albert Cashier” is more than just a historical recounting; the musical is a nuanced exploration of identity, courage, camaraderie and the essence of civility.
The work’s creators — book writer and lyricist Jay Paul Deratany and composer-lyricists Keaton Wooden and Joe Stevens — meticulously researched Cashier’s life and brought to light a story that embodies the quiet strength and dignity that civility demands. It’s a lesson that reigns more timely than ever. Producers Christine Russell, R.