Emerson Mae Smith is an actress, writer and performer interested in telling unusual queer stories.
Growing up in a family of artists, Emerson was exposed to the power of theatrical storytelling at a young age. After coming out as a transgender woman in high school, she learned that despite numerous plays and musicals that borrow from and aestheticize the trans experience, very few are actually interested in portraying the reality of trans life and even fewer want trans artists involved in those processes. Now more than ever, queer and trans people deserve to witness their own lives and stories onstage.
Together with her twin sister Murphy, also trans, she has created projects that lean into the exuberant, joyful, strange and painful aspects of transition, plays like WHO PUT BELLA IN THE WYCH ELM and WATCHDOG and musicals like ELEKTRIC and RADIO. They are committed to painting an authentic picture of transgender life, especially in the face of recent global movements of hatred and discrimination.
As a performer Emerson created the role of KITTY MINX in the world premiere of Joe Iconis’ LOVE IN HATE NATION, which recently released its original cast album. She loves creating original work with writers and devisers in the room, pulling inspiration wherever she can get it; from ancient texts to tumblr threads to Sondheim musicals to unsolved true mysteries.
She attended Walnut Hill School for the Arts and then the University of Michigan where she has just graduated with a BFA in Acting.