Name: Jonah Aros (He/They)
Gender: Gender Queer Trans Man
Hometown: Tucson, AZ home of Tucson Improv Movement
New Home: Seattle, WA
Socials:
Hub: @ajrscrambled ,
All Trans Improv: @gender.traders.improv
All Trans Band: @degenderates
Solo Music: @a.r.o.s.music
Bio:
Jonah Aros is a human, an artist, connector, and friend.
They oil the cogs of systemic change with good humor, bad dad jokes, and truth, spoken in love. He is the trans elder, he needed growing up.
Jonah is actively recruiting Trans improvisers to join their all Trans improv team, Gender Traders.
How does being trans/NB influence your impro(v)?
Coming out as trans has radically shifted the way I show up in Improv.
Before coming out I played a lot of fantastical characters that didn’t have a lot of grounded realities. Accepting my identity means I can play real life characters who go through real life shit.
Do you play trans/NB characters often?
Literally all of them could be. That’s the beauty of lived experience, it informs your performance.
How do you feel about cisgender actors playing trans/NB characters in impro(v)?
Woof. No thanks. Though I wonder at times if the characters we are drawn to play can be an invitation from our subconscious to explore the gender void, I think it’s best that my Cis friends stay away from playing characters of marginalized gender.
Besides announcing it, how might you know/show a character is trans/NB?
Saying the quiet part out loud is helpful. Clearly communicating means that people truly know who we are representing. But, some options could be, choosing not to respond to a name and making a point to share your actual name. (PS I hate “preferred” names BTW, my name is my name, not a preference.)
How do you feel about playing different genders generally, in terms of naming gender and of expressing it?
It’s freeing! It’s representation! It’s joy! It’s life!
Does your local impro(v) community know/understand your gender? If so, how has that been in terms of acceptance/understanding?
Yes. I am not presently committed to any one Improv house. But generally places like Jet City are laying good ground work in regards to inclusion and representation. There’s still a lot of work to do in Improv as a collective.
What are some things that teachers/directors/other performers can do to make sure trans/NB improvisers feel safe and welcome?
Put us on your teams, and not just one “token” trans person. Invite us into your Cis Spaces. Lend us your platforms. BIPOC Trans Improvisers to the Front! Don’t be a part of the marginalization. Your silence makes you complicit.
Thinking about examples of trans/NB characters across all media (Impro(v), TV, Movies, Plays etc), what are the best trans/NB characters or stories you’ve seen depicted?
Hmm… I would love so much more representation. But I really felt seen and held by Everything Everywhere All at Once (Queer/ Enby Coded) & I Saw the TV Glow wrecked me. Oh and Elliot Fletcher, holy shit! What an incredible gem.
Who do you look up to/admire as a trans/NB person in impro(v) or the world generally?
Jamie Raines (Jammidodger) from YouTube changed my life. Thank you Jamie for showing up and sharing your story. As a closeted trans man, I didn’t know how much I needed to hear and see your story. One day, I’d love to take you to coffee to say thanks. Invitation not an obligation.
What’s something special that you and/or trans/NB performers have to offer?
We are a world within ourselves. We are professionals. “I’m a hero. A good fucking actor.” (CISHET SHITHEAD, Degenderates) We are also some of the most supportive and kind people to have on your teams.
Is there anything else you’d like to say about being trans/NB or impro(v) in general?
It’s a scary time to be trans. To my trans siblings, remember community is our answer. How we show up for each other is the answer. We can’t rely on allies to save us or pave our path. Remember Marsha P Johnson, may her bricks not be thrown in vain.
