Regular Joe follows the life of a 19-year-old transgender man as he navigates family, community college, love, and friendship, just wanting to live his life as the regular guy he is. The action opens with Joe and his best friend Mel in front of Joe's house. Mel is upset that Joe is still dressing as a girl at home, but Joe insists his mother, Kate, will come around soon.

          Inside, Kate is getting ready for a date with long-time friend, Walter. All of the matches she's found from dating apps have led to disaster by date three. Joe tells her he thinks it might be different with Walter. Kate, in a continuing argument, pushes Joe to apply for a scholarship sponsored by her women's club. Joe, frustrated, reminds her he's not eligible because he's a guy.

          After Kate leaves for her date, Mel texts to coax Joe to come to Tall Ship Coffee Shop and help him with a group project for one of their classes. Mel mentions Joe's crush, Vicki, will be working. Joe agrees to meet up, and while there, he finally very awkwardly talks to Vicki. They make plans to meet after the upcoming Alliance Cabaret, which Mel runs as the MC.

          It’s the day of the Cabaret, and Kate is going on another date with Walter. Joe discovers she’s filled out the scholarship application for him. Angry, he demands that she delete it then leaves for the Cabaret. Kate, frustrated Joe is passing up an opportunity, completes the application and hits 'send.'

          Joe and Vicki go on a date after the Cabaret. Meanwhile, Mel is struggling with an identity that doesn’t fit and feels like he's only accepted when he shows others what they want to see.

          Later, at Rick's Diner where they both work, Joe recounts to Mel the amazing date he had with Vicki. Talk turns to Kate's continued inability to accept Joe for who he is. Mel, joking about what his name might be if he were a girl comes to a startling realization. Mel’s egg cracks, and she realizes she actually IS a trans girl! Joe, who has suspected for some time, is thrilled for her.

          Kate's women’s club is meeting at Joe’s home and reveals Joe has made it past the first round for the scholarship. When Kate drags him out before her friends to be congratulated, Joe can hold back no longer. He confronts his mother in front of the whole club, and leaves home.

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          As Act II opens, Joe has been staying with Mel a couple of weeks and is reveling in his new freedom. His relationship with Vicki is going very well. Mel’s own transition is a bit rocky, but with Joe’s unfailing support, she bravely moves ahead, though she has yet to come out to her Cabaret family.

          Joe sneaks back home when he thinks no one is there to pick up some of his things. Walter appears unexpectedly. He hastens to reassure Joe that Kate is in a work meeting, but moments later, Kate, too, appears. Walter distracts her while Joe hides. Walter coaxes Kate to talk about her therapy sessions and Joe is very reassured by what he overhears. Kate returns to her meeting none the wiser. Joe tells Walter he’ll text his mother.

          Hanging out at Tall Ship Coffee Shop, everyone is excited about the next Alliance Cabaret, Joe because he’ll see his mom for the first time in over a month, Mel because she has finally decided to come out as a woman to her chosen family. Joe, Mel, and Vicki muse about their time at community college coming to an end and dream about what the future holds.

          Before the Alliance Cabaret, Mel is backstage, waiting to go on and introduce herself. She still hasn’t settled on a new name. Stage manager Ryan checks in with her, making his usual joke comparing Mel to “funny man Mel Brooks.” Mel stops him and reveals she’s not a man at all, but is actually a transgender woman. Taking inspiration from Ryan’s joke about Mel Brooks, she chooses Brook as her new name. Ryan congratulates “funny lady Brook.” Emboldened, she asks him out for coffee and he accepts. Places are called for the start of the show. Meanwhile, out front, Joe nervously waits for his mother to arrive. When she does, Kate offers a sincere apology, but more importantly, her promise to support Joe as he deserves in the future. They reconcile. Kate asks if that means he’ll be coming home, but Joe gently tells her he’s almost 20 and ready to be out on his own. Kate is chagrined to realize just how much she’s been holding him back but is happy to see her son spreading his wings. They make plans for Joe, Vicki, and Mel to come by for Sunday brunch. The curtain lifts and Brook triumphantly introduces herself to her Cabaret family and opens the show...and a bright new chapter of their lives.