Episode 15 - Grammy, Tony Award winner J. Harrison Ghee on Gender Fluidity, Self-Expression, Spirituality, and the Art of Drag

J. Harrison Ghee has never fit in in the traditional sense; in fact, it’s their very ability to stand out that allows them to reflect humanity so beautifully in their roles in shows like Kinky Boots, Some Like It Hot, Mrs. Doubtfire & Chicago. As Ghee sits down for an inspiring conversation with host/artist Chloe Aftel, they are fresh off a Tony win and in preparation for their upcoming solo concert in Indianapolis, titled "The Beauty of Life." The pair discuss the positive impact of theater on exploring difficult topics, and Ghee shares just how much theater and drag has meant in the course of their life and identity. Highlights:

• Their long journey to understanding their non-binary identity and how it has influenced their portrayal of humanity across a myriad of different characters;
• Ghee’s journey with their home state of North Carolina: going from being targeted in their youth to eventually receiving the Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award in NC;
• The beauty of letting expression and presentation naturally flow and shift day-to-day, and the spiritual nature of allowing your soul and intuition to guide these choices; 
• The importance of having a supportive community and how the conversations Ghee and their mother have on identity continues to evolve to this day.

J. Harrison Ghee is an award-winning American actor and singer known for their role in Some Like It Hot, Kinky Boots, and their role originating the character Andre Mayem in the musical Mrs. Doubtfire. They have won both a Tony and a Grammy for their immense talent and dedication to the craft, and they inspire others every day to accept their true selves. In recent years, they have also moved to work on screen, with several performances on television, including the role of Kwame on Netflix’s Raising Dion. Keep up with J. Harrison on their Instagram page here.

Chloe Aftel has spent her career working in commercial photography, photojournalism, and film. She’s an established name in modern photography with work featured in The New York Times, Mother Jones, Playboy, Dazed & Confused, Vogue Germany, The Hollywood Reporter, The Wall Street Journal, Vogue Italia, Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, Teen Vogue & more. Chloe has photographed victims of sexual violence, reported on Covid’s impact on the trans community, and gained access as the first reporter in the Covid wards of the West Coast’s hardest hit hospitals. She has covered underground abortion providers, the impact of gender pronouns on daily life, and clergy abuse. Her first book, “Outside and In Between,” is an award-winning anthology covering gender non-conforming people across America.

Support The Other Pod on Patreon for episode extras and The Other Questions lightning round!
Follow Chloe on Instagram @chloeaftel to stay up to date on new work.
Find all episodes of The Other Pod here.



Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-other-pod-with-chloe-aftel--6567483/support.