Ang R. Bennett gives a multilayered performance as D, the director of the community center.  The typical formula for this type of character is that it’s a stodgy authority figure who disdains the new teacher and his or her radical ideas and methodology and is an active opponent of the kids.  Bennett and the script turn that on its head.  True, Bennett’s D does have some misgivings about Mama’s teaching methods and style, but that is largely because they believe Mama isn’t fully tuned in to the difficulties of modern times.  D truly has the kids’ best interests at heart and wants to bring Mama’s thinking into the present so she can better help the kids in her etiquette class.

Ang R. Bennett and Joe Diril are two talented local artists who created two very different murals but are connected with a like passion for helping new artists emerge.

Notable works include, Ang Bennett’s acrylic and metal leaf paintings, Resplendent Resurgence and Celestial Echoes, which serve as an “academic inquiry and an exploration of societal portrayals” that transforms traumatic experiences into a celebration of the “joy, power, and innate beauty inherent” in their queer, Black, trans identity.

In this episode, Ang Bennett and Brittany Wright of Inclusive Communities are in conversation with Maria Corpuz about the decision to invite Bob the Drag Queen to Omaha in the wake of Nebraska’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors and attempt to ban minors from attending drag shows.

Bennett and Le’Shawn explore rituals of enacting gender in ‘Body Defiance’ at Generator Space

Ang Bennett has a moving performance as Fiona/Adrian.  Unlike Alice, Fiona always had confidence and certainness in who she was and seems to maintain that confidence when she decides to make the transition to Adrian.  Ironically, as Adrian, he begins to lose some of that confidence as he overreacts to not being accepted as a man immediately.  And Alice’s seeming rejection of Adrian causes him to nearly sacrifice his identity out of love.  Bennett handles some difficult scenes gracefully, especially one where Adrian practically begs his brother to physically fight him to feel like a man. 

Additionally, TransTech Social Enterprises curated a collective of trans artists, one of whom was selected to design the inaugural and historic SNMVC membership card. The winner was Ang R. Bennett, who is an artist, curator, model, and trans and non-binary queer activist. Their painting will be revealed at the groundbreaking ceremony.