$7 Girl

Overview

What is a “radical permissionist?” Mae West, a queer, trans sex worker, wants you to be one.

In the lineage of Almanac’s ensemble-devised, autobiographical circus theatre pieces xoxo moongirl and The Edge, $7 Girl uses virtuosity, storytelling, innovative aerial work, and improvisation to bring audiences into social issues that are often unheard. This quirky and audacious piece explores sex in personal, political, and industrial contexts as Mae questions the possibility of a world in which their worth is no longer attached to dildos or dollar signs. 

“West has a knack for making well-trod conversations around consent and sexual liberation feel nuanced and exciting. They approach topics that could be overly academic, like the role that capitalism and the carceral system play in our desire, in ways that are charming, understandable, and downright cheeky.” — Josh Herren, Broad Street Review 

About the Artist

Called “bold, unapologetic and boundary-breaking” by Billy Penn, Almanac Dance Circus Theatre, producers of Cannonball and Fit Fest, is an award-winning, internationally recognized, Philadelphia-based performing arts ensemble dedicated to creating original works of genre-defying art. Since its founding, Almanac has premiered 15 full-length shows, touring across the United States and internationally in Mexico, Egypt, and the United Kingdom. Almanac’s virtuosic improvised and commissioned performances have been featured at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, FringeArts, New York Live Arts, New York Botanical Gardens, and beyond.

Performer Mae West (they/he) is an artist, producer, educator, advocate and sex worker based in Philadelphia, PA. They are a Company Member of Almanac Dance Circus Theatre, Co-Founder and Producer of Cannonball Festival, multidisciplinary circus coach at Secret Circus, and member of Project Safe, Philly’s second longest-running harm reduction organization. You can keep up with their work on Instagram @maeartist_.

Credits