Founding Artistic Director Mark Cabus stars in Doug Wright’s critically acclaimed I AM MY OWN WIFE March 19-29 at Belmont University’s Black Box Theatre (2100 Belmont Boulevard). Based on a true story, and inspired by interviews conducted by the playwright over several years, this Tony and Pulitzer Award-winning one-man show tells the fascinating tale of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, a real-life German transvestite who managed to survive both the Nazi onslaught and the repressive East German Communist regime. Belmont University’s Kate Al-Shamma (Actors Bridge BLUE/ORANGE) directs this challenging solo performance.

But then who is Charlotte von Mahlsdorf?

Born Lothar Berfelde, Charlotte survived the Nazi and Communist regimes while living in East Berlin as a transvestite. According to her autobiography of the same name, as a child she was already interested in girls’ clothes and “old stuff”. Although she was physically male, from childhood Lothar felt more like a girl.

Max Berfelde, Lothar’s father, was a leader of the Nazi Party. He and Lothar often quarreled, but when Max demanded Lothar choose between her parents and threatened her with a gun, Lothar struck her father dead with a rolling pin while he slept. After several weeks in a psychiatric institution, Lothar was sentenced by a court in Berlin to four years detention.

With the fall of the Third Reich, Lothar was released. She worked as a second-hand goods dealer, dressed as a woman, and became known as Charlotte von Mahlsdorf. She collected items from area cabarets and nightclubs, thus saving these historical items from the Weimar Republic. Her collection evolved into the Grunderzeit Museum, a key feature of Berlin’s gay scene.

In 1992, one year after the Wall fell, she received the German Medal of Honor for her work in historic preservation. However, with the opening of the Stasi’s classified files, it was revealed that Charlotte was a longtime informant for the secret police and that several people, including her lover, were imprisoned due to her information against them. Though she protested that the claims were erroneous, many Germans demanded she return her medal.

But where does the play’s title come from?

“Ich bin meine eigene Frau” is Charlotte’s answer to her mother’s question: “Don’t you think it’s time to get married?” Her answer: “No, my dear Mutti, I am my own wife.”

All performances of I AM MY OWN WIFE start at 7:30 PM. Performances are March 20-29 and the doors open at 7 PM. Wednesday, March 19 (a preview performance) and 26 are “Pay What You Can” donation nights. There will be a talk-back session after the Thursday, March 27 performance.

Pre-sold tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for seniors and students and are purchased online at www.greenroomprojects.org by clicking on the TicketsNashville.com icon at the top of the home page. Tickets are $25 at the door (cash only).