It’s been two years since we last caught up with Terry Hu—then fresh off making history as the first nonbinary character in a Disney live-action project (Zombies 3). This time, we reunited on the Pride Podcast during a very fitting month: June. “Exactly. Only we have one month a year that we can reunite,” they joked. “I’m glad we’re getting it.”
But this Pride month, Terry is trading in parades for rehearsals for their latest project: Trophy Boys, a new off-Broadway black comedy and drag spectacle directed by Tony winner Danya Taymor (The Outsiders). The play, running now through July 27 at MCC Theater in New York City, follows four prep school boys forced to debate the statement: “Feminism has failed women.” As Terry puts it, “It starts kind of there, and they’re just like, ‘what?,’ pretty much, but then it evolves. I don’t want to give spoilers… but it’s so packed and so good.”
Terry plays one of the four characters—each written for men but performed by women and nonbinary actors in drag. And while they didn’t give away much more about the plot, they made one thing clear: this isn’t your typical takedown of masculinity. “It’s not like a man-hating show. We’re not making fun of the boys. It comments on everything in such a delicate and intelligent way—but also it’s very funny.”
Tickets to Trophy Boys are available now and moving fast: Book here.
From Disney to Drag
Hu made headlines when they joined the Zombies franchise as Aspen, an alien character who uses they/them pronouns. “It was the first live action nonbinary [character],” they said. “That’s what they told me.” Since then, they’ve worked on Prom Dates (Hulu) and are eyeing new kinds of roles, including voiceover. “It’d be fun to have that in my legacy, like a Disney cool animated project,” they said. “That’s what I’m manifesting.”
Despite the state of the entertainment industry being “a little bit wild” lately, Hu remains grateful. “I feel very, very grateful to be doing this for sure—especially in a time when I think things are really quiet, and a lot of people are feeling down. I am there with them too.”
The Gayest Thing They’ve Done in New York (So Far)
Hu is currently passing time in New York City for Trophy Boys. So of course, we had to ask them what the gayest thing over there is. “Honestly, I think this play.” Before that? “Paying so much money to sublet this literal box of an apartment with no kitchen, pretty much no bathroom door… so that I could get a nice romantic spot for me and my girlfriend. It was not the romantic experience we thought, but the energy is there—the U-Haul energy almost.”
Hu also confirmed their first Disney crush was Meg from Hercules (“Are you kidding me? Meg? She gives me bi energy”), came out as “a major sleeper,” and gushed over Paris Hilton’s Pride performances. “She’s just only gotten cooler and better.”
Where to Find Terry Hu
You can catch Terry in Trophy Boys at MCC Theater now through July 27. “We just got extended two weeks by popular demand,” they said. “Find me in New York City at the moment.”
And online? “Find me on Instagram @huisterry,” they said, adding, “and find me after the show when you come.”
