John Jarboe
in collaboration with The Bearded Ladies Cabaret
Presented by La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club
photos 1+2: Tony Hitchcock | photos 3+4: Christopher Ash
“An appealing performer… adorned by tender, frisky music.”
– THE NEW YORK TIMES
Once upon a vine, John Jarboe’s aunt revealed that John not only had a twin sister in the womb, but that John consumed her: “You ate her. That’s why you are the way you are.” This was a lot for John to swallow! In this musical shrine to the consumed twin, named Rose, John welcomes you into Rose: You Are Who You Eat, a celebration and re-digestion of gender and family. Jarboe, the founding artistic director of Philadelphia’s Bearded Ladies Cabaret, has assembled a team of composers and musicians – Emily Bate, Daniel de Jesús, Pax Ressler, and Be Steadwell – to explore her tale through musical styles ranging from art song to 1980s pop ballad, elaborate floral-inspired costumes, intimate storytelling, and a feast of wordplay.
“Jarboe embraces the surprise factor with silly, introspective glamor.”
-THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRERS
SCHEDULE
Wednesday, January 10th @ 8 pm
Thursday, January 11th @ 8 pm
Friday, January 12th @ 8 pm
Saturday, January 13th @ 1:30 pm
Saturday, January 13th @ 8 pm
Sunday, January 14th @ 1:30 pm
Tuesday, January 16th @ 8 pm
Wednesday, January 17th @ 8 pm
Thursday, January 18th @ 8 pm*
Friday, January 19th @ 8 pm
Saturday, January 20th @ 1:30 pm
Saturday, January 20th @ 8 pm
Run time: 90 minutes, no intermission
*note: For January 18, masking is mandatory for all audience members.
NOTE ON CONTENT
This show includes themes of fetal mortality and growing up queer in Michigan in the 90s, graphic eating imagery, sexually explicit language, and cannibal humor. Flashing lights will be used briefly, 40 minutes into the show. Recommended for ages 14+.
CREDITS
Conceived, Written, and Performed by John Jarboe
Directed by MK Tuomanen
Produced by The Bearded Ladies Cabaret
Theatrical Co-World Premiere with Woolly Mammoth, CulturalDC, & FringeArts
From a commission by Works & Process at the Guggenheim
Producers: Jecca Barry
Music Director: Emily Bate
Scenic and Video Designer: Christopher Ash
Costume Designer: Rebecca Kanach
Lighting Design: Kate McGee
Original Sound Designer: Taylor Jedlinski
Sound Designer: Damien Figueras
Production Manager: Calvin Anderson
Stage Manager: Nic Labadie-Bartz
Additional Dramaturgical Support: Sally Ollove
Compositions by Emily Bate, John Jarboe, Daniel de Jesús, Pax Ressler, Be Steadwell
Arrangements by Heath Allen, Emily Bate, Daniel de Jesús, Pax Ressler, and Be Steadwell
Guitar: Emily Bate
Keys: Pax Ressler
Cello: Daniel de Jesús
Drums: Mel Regn
FringeArts Premiere Producer: Emily Schreiner
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
John Jarboe (she/her) is a director, singer, writer, producer and host serving you revolution, herstory, queer community making, and a whole lot of glitter. She is the founding artistic director of The Bearded Ladies Cabaret, a Philadelphia-based company, now thirteen years old. She has directed and written original work performed at La Mama ETC, Joe’s Pub, and for Opera Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Wilma Theater, Guggenheim’s Works & Process, and Lincoln Center’s American Songbook Series. As a director Jarboe has directed and helped create shows for Cookie Diorio, legendary Mezzo Stephanie Blythe, and for Countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo. As a writer and performer Jarboe has toured to Paris, Poland, New Zealand.
FUNDING
Rose was commissioned by Works & Process and developed in collaboration with The Bearded Ladies Cabaret. The work was created during the pandemic in Works & Process bubble residencies at Mount Tremper Arts and Bethany Arts Community, with the support of the Mellon Foundation and Doris Duke Foundation. Early iterations of Rose were presented by Works & Process in the Guggenheim Rotunda (2021) Guggenheim Theater (2022), and CulturalDC (2022).
Rose began as a commission and presentation from Works & Process at the Guggenheim through a bubble residency at Mount Tremper Arts in Fall 2020 which resulted in the music video and song “Rose: A True Story.” Then the piece was expanded as Works And Process commissioned a suite of art films and music videos on the themes of the project, all of which were developed at Bethany Arts Community in Spring 2021. Jarboe adapted them into a live concert, written by Jarboe in collaboration with four queer composers and directed by MK Tuomanen which was developed with support from Works & Process, Cultural DC and FringeArts and had workshop showings in Philadelphia, Washington DC, and New York in 2022. The final concert version will take place as a co-world premiere with performances at Philadelphia’s FringeArts festival (Sept 2023), New York’s La MaMa ETC (Jan 2024), and DC’s Woolly Mammoth (June 2024). Another seed is currently growing into a large-scale art installation which will premiere in May-Sept 2024 at Philadelphia’s Fabric Museum & Workshop. Through all of this Rose has been patiently watered and nurtured by Jarboe’s company The Bearded Ladies Cabaret via the John S and James L. Knight Foundation and individual donors. You can learn more at @roseeatme on instagram.
