On two afternoons this April, ReAct Theatre will premiere Abbie Cohen's experiences of growing up as a small-town Christian boy in Texas and transitioning into an Orthodox Jewish woman in her autobiographical play, The Lost Object.

Cast members, including Violet DeVille, Cassondra Parkerson, and Kalli Allen, will perform this piece as part of the Baker Theater Workshop, which supports the creation of new theatrical works involving low-income high school students.

"In rehearsal, we've all felt the power of Abbie's struggles to live an authentic life, to wrestle with questions of love and faith, and to stay standing when culture, family, and economic necessity push hard against survival and living a sustainable life," said Peter Temes, director of The Lost Object and Baker organizer. "We've shed tears as we've stood up this work of art, and audiences will too."

When Abbie ventures out of Texas to become and live as a university student in New York, she finds herself exploring gender and faith, while searching for connection and her community. She eventually moves into a single-room occupancy hotel, then something strikes her: she overhears the mother of a young Transgender girl saying that she "cannot be a woman."

In addition, Abbie marries a butcher who is not only an Orthodox Jew but also, as she later finds out, a compulsive liar, a financial scammer, and a one-time terrorist.

"This is an extraordinary work of art about a boy becoming a woman, about a journey into Orthodox Judaism, and about crafting a meaningful life against powerful currents," Temes said.

The Lost Boy performances will take place on April 19 and 20 at ReAct Theatre's studio, 562 First Ave. S. For more information, visit https://www.bakertheaterworkshop.com/lost-object.