We Aren’t Kids Anymore is bringing the star back to the world of theatre
BY YASMIN VINCE, IMAGE PROVIDED
Dylan Mulvaney isn’t a kid anymore. But she’s still growing and learning and adding more and more professions to her already stacked CV. The trans social media star, author, actor, comedian, singer and so on, will soon return to her original love, theatre, in Drew Gasparini’s new musical We Aren’t Kids Anymore.
The one act musical, in which multiple actors play different versions of the same character, will have its world premiere on 28 April at The Savoy Theatre. Ahead of her West End debut, Dylan sat down with DIVA to talk about why the theatre is her safe space.
What drew you to We Aren’t Kids Anymore?
I have been singing Drew Gasparini songs since my freshman year of college. And I think, both in America and in the UK, he is this great composer for story songs. Especially now, as more pop musicals get developed, his shows really tell a story.
What’s really unique about this one is that each song has its own beginning, middle and end. So it’s a collection of songs that shape a much bigger picture. When I first listened to the music, I was like, “Wait, I have to do this.”
And doing it at a London West End theatre, I feel like the grass is always greener. To be making my West End debut, if you will, just felt even more exciting to me than doing Broadway right now.
The show covers themes of dreams, regrets and growing up, all through multiple perspectives. Was there a particular moment or theme you connected with?
I really am connected to the two solo songs that I sing in the show, just because of where I’m at in my life. One is called On The Edge, and it’s very much the “faking it till you make it” moment of life. At any given moment, I have absolutely no idea what’s going on or what I’m doing. But as long as I seem confident I get through.
What’s also been so special is getting to connect with my other cast members who are in different stages of their lives and be like, “Oh my god, I can’t wait to reach that chapter” and listening to their songs and knowing that I eventually will be there too.
This isn’t the first time you’ve been on stage. What is it like to return to the theatre?
Oh, this is my favourite thing in the entire world! If I could spend every single day in a rehearsal room or on stage, I think that would be my dream life. And I hope that doing this musical is one step towards that. This is what I want to do, because it’s my favourite version of life. I just feel like the luckiest person to sit in a room with such talent and get to spend our day singing and acting.
And how has your relationship to the stage changed since you started?
Oh my gosh, I think, having transitioned, the stage was always my safe place. But now I get to be there in my truest form. And that is a gift.
The stage for me, hopefully, will be this place that I can always come back to no matter what happens or what’s going right in my life or what’s going wrong. Honestly, singing, I think, is the most vulnerable thing that you can do. While I’ve shared so much of my life through social media, and through talking about my life’s journey, I always think taking some of those experiences and channeling them into a song is even scarier than putting yourself out there.
What do you want people to take away from this show?
I really hope that people realise that no matter where we’re at in our lives, whether it’s an age or an identity or a specific belief, none of us know what we’re doing. And so I think the best that we can do is just try to connect with each other and be curious about one another’s stories, because I think that’s what has made me so excited about this week of rehearsal so far.
What’s next for Dylan Mulvaney?
Hopefully a martini and a beach day! But that’s a good question. It’s so funny, when I’m doing something, I have the hardest time even processing what comes next, because I’m so in it. But I’m planning on working on my own solo show that was at Edinburgh Fringe last year. I’m hoping to bring that back later this year, maybe over to America.
And just keep grinding. I think that’s been something that’s been such a joy since my book came out. I’m now itching to maybe jump on to the next one, whatever that looks like. And then hopefully more auditioning, I would love to play a more traditional musical theatre role, like some sort of leading lady at some point. So I’ll keep my eyes watching for those.
Dylan Mulvaney will be performing in We Aren’t Kids Anymore on Monday 28 April 2025, with both matinee and evening performances at the Savoy Theatre, London, with her debut book, Paper Doll, now available worldwide. Tickets are available here.
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