About Face Theatre announces casting for the Midwest Premiere production of Lavender Men by Roger Q. Mason, directed by Lucky Stiff, running May 9 -June 8, 2024, at The Den Theatre. Press opening is scheduled for Friday, May 17, 2024.
The cast features Matt Martin as Abraham Lincoln, Shea Petersen as Abe's law clerk Elmer Ellsworth, and Julian "joolz" Stroop as Taffeta, who conjures both of them for a what-if meeting in her own imaginative theatrical space.
Taffeta is a fat, multi-racial femme with a unique form of queer magic: she can conjure dead historical figures. In this energetic and surreal play, Taffeta invites audiences along as she summons none other than President Abraham Lincoln and his handsome young law clerk Elmer Ellsworth to her stage. Playing every other character in Abe and Elmer's gay narrative, Taffeta uses this fantasia to confront issues of visibility, race, and LGBTQ+ inclusion. But is any of this historically accurate? Sit down, honey, that's not what we're here for. Lavender Men is an embrace to every queer, fat person of color who has been ignored, neglected, or erased for unapologetically being themselves.
"Lavender Men was born from my time living and studying in Chicago, almost 10 years ago," says playwright Roger Q. Mason. "The city's vibrant embrace of LGBTQIA+ life liberated me personally and artistically, and I emerged a proud plus-sized, queer, POC playwright in the American Theatre. About Face Theatre is a leader, locally and nationally, in queer storytelling, and I am honored to partner with them to bring Lavender Men home to its birthplace—Chicago."
"Roger's play invites us to unleash our imaginations around queer desire and hidden histories," comments About Face Theatre Artistic Director Megan Carney. "As a company dedicated to brave and affirming storytelling that pushes back against oppression, we're proud to present Lavender Men as a thrilling example of the power of art to resist, challenge, and delight."
Lavender Men was first produced at Skyline Theatre in Los Angeles in 2022 with playwright Roger Q. Mason in the role of Taffeta. About Face Theatre introduced the play to audiences last season through our Re/Generation Studio workshop series, featuring playwright Roger Q. Mason and director Lucky Stiff. Audience reaction was so enthusiastic that About Face is now thrilled to present a full production of this new work in its 29th season.
About the Artists
Matt Martin (he/they): "Abe Lincoln"
Matt is an artist, advocate, and educator in Chicago. He is making his About Face debut. Recent work includes Mothers (The Gift), Christmas Carol (Drury Lane), Last Hermanos (Red Orchid), Heroes of the Fourth Turning, Uncle Vanya, Dance Nation, and In His Hands (Northwestern). Matt developed and performed new and immersive work in New York City with Accomplice, Pigeonholed, New Light Theater Project, and as a founding member of Lalabala Collective. Favorite regional credits include Romance/Romance, The 25th Annual...Spelling Bee, and Angels in America. His upcoming projects include In His Hands with First Floor and directing My Name is Rachel Corrie. When not performing, he is on staff supporting Arts Alliance Illinois in its endeavors to empower the creative sector across the state. MFA: Northwestern University. He is repped by DDO Artists Agency. Follow him @matt_mart.
Roger Q. Mason (they/them): playwright
Roger Q. Mason is a writer and performer who uses the lens of history to disrupt the biases that divide rather than unite us. Their playwriting has been seen on Broadway (Circle in the Square Reading Series); Off and Off-Off-Broadway; and regionally. Mason's world premiere of Lavender Men was lauded by the Los Angeles Times as "evoking the mingled visions of Suzan-Lori Parks, Jeremy O. Harris, and Michael R. Jackson." As a filmmaker, Mason has been recognized by the British Film Institute, Lonely Wolf International Film Festival, SCAD Film Festival, AT&T Film Award, and Atlanta International Film Festival. Their films have been screened in the US, UK, Poland, Brazil, and Asia. Mason holds degrees from Princeton University, Middlebury College, and Northwestern University. They are a member of the Dramatists Guild of America and Ma-Yi's Writing Lab, and are an alum of Page 73's Interstate 73 Writers Group and Primary Stages Writing Cohort. Mason has co-hosted the podcast Sister Roger's Gayborhood and hosted This Way Out Radio's Queerly Yours: Portraits in Courage. They are a lead mentor of The Marsha P. Johnson Institute's Starship Fellowship, the New Visions Fellowship, and the Shay Foundation Fellowship. Instagram: @rogerq.mason
Shea Petersen (he/they): "Elmer Ellsworth"
About Face Premiere. Chicago credits include: Enemy of the People (Goodman Theatre); Mike Pence Sex Dream (First Floor Theatre); At The Wake of a Dead Drag Queen (The Story Theatre); The Boys in the Band (Windy City Playhouse); Regional credits: At The Wake of a Dead Drag Queen (Urbanite Theatre) Film credits: Oh Baby! (dir: Meghann Artes). Shea received their BFA in acting from DePaul University and is represented by Grossman&Jack.
Lucky Stiff (they/them): director
Lucky Stiff is a trans and nonbinary director, writer, and performer working in Chicago and New York. They build original experiences that combine nightclub culture and performance art which have been featured at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Blue Man Group Chicago, Boy Friday Dance Company, and Bushwig Festival of Drag, among many others. They hold an MFA in Directing for Theater from Northwestern University and have lectured in performance and directing at UC Santa Cruz, UC Santa Barbara, Northwestern University, University of Illinois at Chicago, and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. luckystiffdrag.com
Julian "joolz" Stroop (they/them): "Taffeta"
Ah, a stranger, quick, come in from the cold... have you met joolz? joolz makes art. joolz plays games. Sometimes joolz makes other things. Strange, terrible, unspeakable things. You may know them from their D&D actual play podcast The Pod Has Been Cast, have seen them on stage with companies like Filament Theater, Strawdog Theater Company, or perhaps even more recently: screaming silently in your own nightmares. When they aren't polymorphing into other creatures/things, you may find them doodling monsters, writing stories, or making games.
FACTS
LAVENDER MEN
Written by Roger Q. Mason
Directed by Lucky Stiff
May 9 – June 9, 2024 | Press opening: Friday, May 17
All performances will take place at The Den Theatre, 1331 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago
Showtimes: Thurs & Fri @ 8:00pm, Sat @ 3:00pm & 8:00pm, Sun @ 3:00pm
Please note: There is no matinee performance on Saturday, May 11
Masks Required performances: Saturday matinees on May 25 and June 1 will require every attendee to wear a mask.
Pay-what-you-can tickets ($5 – $35) on sale now at The Den Theatre box office or About Face Theatre's website.
TICKETS
Tickets are on sale now online at AboutFaceTheatre.com, by calling 773.697.3830, or in-person at The Den Theatre box office. Ticket prices range from $5 to $35.
AFT offers a ticket pricing system that allows each patron to decide the price that they can comfortably afford to pay for a ticket. Ultimately, About Face wants everyone who wants to attend a show to be able to do so. Please note: there are limited quantities available at each pricing level.
CAST
Matt Martin as "Abe Lincoln"
Shea Petersen as "Elmer Ellsworth"
Julian "joolz" Stroop as "Taffeta"
PRODUCTION TEAM
Casting Director Catherine Miller
Choreographer Jacinda Ratcliffe
Intimacy & Violence Designer Courtney Abbott
Assistant Director John Payne
Scenic Designer Caitlin McLeod
Lighting Designer Ben Carne
Sound Designer Dee Etti-Williams
Costume Designer Anna Wooden
Technical Director Becca Venable
Production Manager Audrey Kleine
ABOUT FACE THEATRE advances LGBTQ+ equity through community building, education, and performance. AFT envisions an affirming and equitable world in which all LGBTQ+ individuals are thriving and free from prejudice and discrimination. About Face Theatre is also dedicated to being an intentionally and increasingly anti-racist organization. Due to the intersectionality of our identities, we understand our work to advance LGBTQ+ equity as directly connected to movements for racial justice.
