Darwin Del Fabro is currently performing on stage for dates throughout August in her play LILI/DARWIN at The Tank in New York City, which is partially based on the Danish painter/transgender woman Lili Elbe’s diary, with the one-woman play intertwining with Darwin’s journey as a trans woman, and marks her return to stage acting after her surgery last year. In May, Darwin performed her solo concert Darwin Del Fabro: A Musical Journey at 54 Below, and as a music artist, she has released numerous albums including Revisitando Elis Regina last year, which includes the song O Que Tinha de Ser – the inspiration for her to record in Portuguese again. As a stage actor, Darwin’s previous work includes Shrek the Musical and Fiddler on the Roof, and on screen, she played Gabriel in 2022 in the horror film They/Them with Kevin Bacon and Cooper Koch. Alongside her acting and music career, Darwin is the founder of Madalena Productions, and she is co-launching Cahoots – a cafĂ© and cultural hub – this summer. Catching up with Darwin, we found out from her about her new play LILI/DARWIN, performing her solo concert at 54 Below earlier this year, filming as Gabriel in horror film They/Them and being founder of Madalena Productions and co-launching Cahoots.
Can you tell us about your new play LILI/DARWIN, which is running through August at The Tank in New York City?
LILI/DARWIN is a one-woman play that intertwines my own journey as a trans woman with the story of Lili Elbe, one of the first known recipients of gender confirmation surgery. It’s not a biopic or a historical reenactment – it’s an emotional conversation across time. Lili’s words and experiences meet my own, and together they form a portrait of what it means to step fully into yourself. It’s about becoming, about courage, and about finding beauty in the truth of who you are.
With the show partially based on Lili Elbe’s diary; how has it been blending her story with yours?
It’s been both humbling and liberating. When I first read her writings, I felt an almost electric recognition – as if she had written parts of my own story decades before I was born. Writing the script was about honouring her voice while allowing mine to stand beside it. Sometimes the lines between us blurred so much that I didn’t know where she ended and I began – and that’s part of the beauty.
How long have you been working on LILI/DARWIN and what has it been like to see it come together?
The seed was planted years ago, but I started writing in earnest last year, after my own surgery. Bringing it to the stage has been like watching a deeply personal journal come to life. It’s terrifying and thrilling – you’re exposed in ways you can’t hide from – but it’s also healing.
How do you find the experience performing in a one-person play, and what was it like preparing to open on August 2nd?
It’s the most vulnerable I’ve ever been on stage. There’s no one to pass the ball to; it’s just you, your breath, your body, and your truth. I prepared not only as an actor, but as a human being – emotionally, physically, spiritually. When we opened, I felt like I was standing in my own skin in a way I never had before.
What are you enjoying most about working on this production?
The connection. The moments after the show when audience members – strangers – come up to me and share their own stories. It reminds me why I’m doing this: to make space for others to feel seen.
What do you hope audiences take from LILI/DARWIN, and who will the play appeal to?
I hope they leave with a deeper sense of empathy and an understanding that being trans isn’t an abstract concept – it’s human, it’s nuanced, it’s full of love and longing and joy. The show is for anyone who has ever had to fight to be themselves, or who has loved someone enough to witness their transformation.
What are you looking forward to performing throughout August, and do you have future plans for the show?
I’m looking forward to continuing to live inside the piece and discovering new layers each night. We’re already thinking about where LILI/DARWIN could travel next – I’d love to take it to other cities, maybe internationally.
In May, you held your solo concert Darwin Del Fabro: A Musical Journey at 54 Below, how was that?
It was pure joy. After two years away from the stage, it felt like coming home. I wove together songs from different parts of my life – from Irving Berlin to Elis Regina – and shared stories in between. It was a reminder of how much music has carried me through every chapter.
You’ve released numerous albums including Revisitando Elis Regina in 2024; what is it like recording albums, and do you have any favourite songs to perform?
Recording is intimate in a way that’s different from live performance. You’re capturing a moment, a mood, a truth that will live forever in that form. Singing Elis Regina’s O Que Tinha de Ser is always a favourite – it’s a song that accompanied me through my transition and inspired me to record in Portuguese again.
As the founder of Madalena Productions, can you tell us about the company?
Madalena Productions was born from the desire to tell stories that centre trans and queer voices with artistry, depth, and heart. Running it means wearing many hats – from creative to logistical – but it’s deeply rewarding to shape the kinds of narratives I wish I had growing up.
You’ve been in productions from Shrek the Musical to The Feather Doesn’t Fall Far From the Wing, how would you describe your theatre career?
It’s been wonderfully eclectic. I’ve played green ogres, danced on rooftops in Fiddler on the Roof, and now, I’m telling my own story. Every role – whether whimsical or deeply personal – has taught me something about empathy and transformation.
In 2022, you played Gabriel in They/Them, do you have any favourite memories from filming?
Working with Kevin Bacon was a dream. And Cooper Koch – my scenes with him were some of the most intense and rewarding moments on set. We were telling a horror story, but there was a real camaraderie behind the scenes.
Where does your love of performing come from, and how did you get into it?
I grew up surrounded by music and art. My parents were models, but my earliest love was singing. By the time I was 12, I was acting, singing, and dancing on stage. Performing has always been the place where I feel most alive.
Do you have any favourite films, TV and theatre shows to watch, and music artists to listen to?
I love Pedro AlmodĂłvar films for their colour and emotional complexity, the TV series Pose for its heart and representation, and musicals like Cabaret for their fearless storytelling. Music-wise, Elis Regina, Joni Mitchell, and Caetano Veloso are always close by.
How do you like to spend your free time?
With my two little dogs – they’re my emotional support animals and constant companions – or at the cinema. I also love exploring new cafĂ©s and walking through the city without a plan.
You’re co-launching Cahoots – a cafĂ© and cultural hub – this summer, what can you tell us about it?
Cahoots will be a place for conversation, art, and community – somewhere you can feel at home whether you’re grabbing a coffee, seeing a pop-up show, or connecting with others. We want it to be warm, unpretentious, and full of life.
What do you hope the rest of the year brings?
Growth – for LILI/DARWIN, for Cahoots, and for myself. I want to keep telling stories that matter and building spaces where people feel seen.
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