Lavender Men
Written by Roger Q. Mason
Directed by Lucky Stiff
May 9 – June 8, 2024
Tickets
This show has closed.
Location
The Den Theatre
1331 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
Learn more about The Den Theatre…
About The Show
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.
Content Note
This play is a journey to self-love and acceptance. Along the way, the story includes depictions of sexual behavior, disordered eating behavior, racialized language, and fatphobia. The production also uses haze and includes moments of flashing lights.
“Lavender Men was born from my time living and studying in Chicago, almost 10 years ago. 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.”
–Playwright Roger Q. Mason
Media
Videos
Videography by Starbelly Studios
Production Photos
All photos by Jenn Udoni
Reviews & Awards
“Lavender Men has romance, humor and a fierce narrator… The theme of self-acceptance ties together the past and present as the play explores the question: What if we could reject the stories that others tell about us and change the stories we tell ourselves?”
–Chicago Tribune
“thought-provoking and engaging… you might find yourself laughing, sighing, and swooning at the fabulousness of it all.. making it a meaningful time traveler special for the queer at heart and their allies.” Recommended
–Chicago Reader
“Stroop’s performance redefines the overused term tour de force; this is what happens when an actor absolutely absorbs the character they are playing… This is a play that, as it insistently reveals characters and events as they might have been, also manages to evoke an ideal of America that we only wish we could achieve.”
–Chicago On Stage
“Taffeta owns the stage in this queer storytelling extravaganza that’s really an Historical Fantasia. It’s 100 minutes of drama, comedy and imaginative illusion that cannot be ignored, nor will it soon be forgotten… It’s as riveting as any completely factual historical drama, but presented with a pronounced gay slant and a modern sensibility.”
–Chicago Theatre Review
“Forget the Confederacy’s flag colors of red, white and blue and wave a lavender flag instead!”
–GoPride
Jeff Awards Recommended
Show Events
MASKS REQUIRED PERFORMANCES
Face masks will be required for all attendees of these performances. If you do not have a mask, one will be provided for you.
Sat, May 25 @ 3:00pm
Sat, June 1 @ 3:00pm
UNDERSTUDY PERFORMANCE
Wed, June 5 @ 8:00pm
POST-SHOW DISCUSSION
Sat, May 18 @ 4:45pm
Meet the artists of Lavender Men for a welcoming discussion about the show’s themes and the process of bringing it to life. Follows the 3:00pm matinee performance.
Artists
Cast
- Taffeta Julian “joolz” Stroop
- Abe Lincoln Matt Martin
- Elmer Ellsworth Shea Petersen
- u/s Taffeta Luke Halpern
- u/s Abe Loren Jones
- u/s Elmer Garvin van Dernoot
Crew
- Director Lucky Stiff
- Intimacy & Violence Designer Courtney Abbott
- Movement Designer Jacinda Ratcliffe
- Asst. Director John Payne
- Scenic Designer Caitlin McLeod
- Lighting Designer Ben Carne
- Costume Designer Anna Wooden
- Sound Designer & Composer Dee Etti-WIlliams
- Properties Designer Amanda Herrmann
- Technical Director Becca Venable
- Stage Manager Isabel Patt*
- Asst. Stage Manager Theo Wampuszyc
- Casting Director Catherine Miller
- Production Manager Audrey Kleine
*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the union
of professional actors and stage managers