Gretchen Wylder is the creator/ writer of These Thems, an award-winning intersectional queer comedy series directed by Jett Garrison starring an ensemble cast includes recurring and series regulars on Transparent, Jane the Virgin, High Maintenance, Inside Amy Schumer, and Broad City.
The series focuses on a wide range of queer identities through a humorous lens, while representing those identities authentically. All queer characters are played by out actors that identify the same way, allowing audiences to truly connect to and empathize with the very people whose stories they are trying to tell.
The seven-episode (8-10 minutes each), fully narrative digital series follows the lives of a newly out lesbian making up for lost time, a nonbinary educator intent on training the straights, a transman who is comfortably in the closet, and a lovelorn gay best friend.
While an ever growing number of people are living beyond the gender binary, very few explicitly non-binary characters are present in the entertainment landscape. In fact, non-binary gender identity is most definitely one of the least understood labels falling under the LGBTQ+ umbrella, in part because it’s also one of the least visible. Sure, Billions star Asia Kate Dillon broke new ground for both TV and the LGBTQ community when they came out onscreen as non-binary but there’s still more work to be done.
Enters Gretchen Wylder, the mastermind behind the brand-new web series ingeniously titled “These Thems”. Wylder is among the very few writers / show creators paying consideration to non-binary identities and gender non-conformity and moving the needle for accurate representation.
The MUST SEE series du jour, “These Thems” explores themes of queerness, gender identity, coming out, sexual empowerment, acceptance, and self expression taking the audience through New York’s vibrant LGBTQ+ community.
Since its U.S. Premiere at Outfest, the series has traveled the festival circuit this summer, winning a Jury Award for Best Series and an Audience Award for Best Comedy Film.
Wylder started her acting career in Chicago and has been a working actor in NYC for the past nine years. She has originated roles in musical comedies Off-Broadway, at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and also creates original sketch comedy content. In addition to working with legends Kathy Griffin, Julie Andrews, Anthony Rapp, and Judy Gold, Gretchen has performed sketch and improv at Amy Poehler’s UCB theater, the PIT, Magnet, and Second City. Fav theatre credits: Avenue Q, Rent, Bedbugs The Musical. She has competed at the Miss Exotic World pageant at the Burlesque Hall of Fame in Las Vegas.
Gretchen is an advocate for the Queer community and in 2016, organized a float in NYC’s Gay Pride parade to raise funds for the Ellie Conant memorial fund, benefiting Astraea Lesbian Foundation
THESE THEMS is getting its East coast premiere at NewFest 2019 – New York’s LGBT film festival – on Friday, October 25 at SVA Theatre (333 W. 23rd Street)
NewFest is New York’s LGBT film festival, highlighting the best in LGBTQ+ films from the US and beyond.
For more info go to: http://www.thesethems.com/
Watch the trailer is here: bit.ly/TheseThems