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CAST:
Socks Whitmore (they/them) – S1
Anastasia Belleza Gastelum (per/pers/they/them) – S2
Maddie Goldsborough (they/them) – A1
Fabián Rodríguez Castro (they/he) – A2
Nat Ross (she/they) – T1
Nick Webster (they/he) – T2
Jessica Joyce (she/they) – B1
Tanner Pfeiffer – B2

CREATIVE TEAM:
Tanner Pfeiffer – Co-Producing Artistic Director
Socks Whitmore (they/them) – Co-Producing Artistic Director

MUSIC CREDITS:

• “Just the Way You Are” OPB Bruno Mars
• “Wannabe (As an English Madrigal)” OPB Spice Girls, arr. Nathan Howe
• “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond, arr. Dylan Oxford and A Might Wind, adapt. Patrick McAlexander
• “Song of the Lower Classes” by Ian Robb, arr. Windborne
• “MLK” by U2, arr. Bob Chilcott
• “Walk with Me” by Maggie Wheeler
• The Road Home by Stephen Paulus
• “A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton, arr. Sai Zhang
• “Love’s In Need of Love Today” by Stevie Wonder, arr. Jeff Peckham
• “Don’t You Ever” by Joanna Sternberg, arr. Benjamin Nicholas
• Kinder than Man by Hope Salmonson
• “Praying” OPB Kesha, arr. Rebecca Dale
• “We Found Love” OPB Rihanna and David Guetta, arr. Chris Rishel
• “Wanting Memories” by Ysaye Barnwell
• “Lean On Me” by Bill Withers, arr. Mac Huff
• “I Will Survive” OPB Gloria Gaynor, arr. George Castellucci
• “Holding On” by Kait Kerrigan and Bree Lowdermilk

BIOS:

8TPS is a radical vocal collective of trans, nonbinary, and gender-expansive musicians. Known for their playful interpretations, powerful reflections, and polystylistic surprises, this company of genre-fluid performers and educators centers community, artistry, joy, and trans excellence. “A groundbreaking and truly essential part of the Los Angeles music scene” (BroadwayWorld), 8TPS has collaborated with Mariachi Arco•Iris, Tonality, Urban Voices Project, and Strong Words: Voices of the City. 8TPS has been presented at venues such as The Colony Theatre, The Muckenthaler Cultural Center, Grand Performances, the West Hollywood City Council Chambers, the Hudson Theatres, and Human Resources. Instagram: @8TPS.music

Socks Whitmore they/them (S1/Co-Producing Artistic Director) is a neuroqueer performer, creative, educator, producer, and otherwise professional overachiever. As a crossdisciplinary artist rooted in voice and text, their work spans from live performance to digital media to print — including theater, film, music, VO, games, poetry, essays, & more. Socks has appeared on renowned stages like the Grand Ole Opry, Carnegie Hall, and Sydney Opera House, and alongside prominent artists such as Mae Martin, Josh Gad, and Tiësto. Socks is the company manager of the trans vocal collective 8TPS, communications director at Bolero Game Studio and the Creative & Independent Producers Alliance, and recipient of Celebration Theatre’s 2024 Vibrant Voice Award. | sockswhitmore.com

Anastasia Belleza Gastelum per/pers/they/them (S2)is a Southern Californian vocalist, choral artist, consort musician, recitalist, and pedagogue. Their past and ongoing collaborations with Vox Obscura, Choral Arts Initiative, Jouyssance, Exilio, C3LA, San Diego Pro Artes Voices, Long Beach Camerata Singers, Tonality, and 8TPS, demonstrates pers dedication to exploring diverse musical expressions. Per currently holds a position as the DEI Chair for non-profit music organization C3LA. Anastasia finds joy in their unwavering commitment to musical excellence. Coupled with their dedication to authenticity and collaboration, they are fast emerging as a compelling figure in the realm of vocal performance.

Maddie Goldsborough they/them (A1) is a nonbinary, disabled artist from Philadelphia who currently resides in Los Angeles having just finished their Performer-Composer degree at California Institute of the Arts. Maddie creates sound design for animation, live mixes for theater, engineers mixes and masters for original songs, designs multimedia installations, and sings in 8TPS, a trans and gender expansive choir! Throughout their work they are focused on centering original expression of the people involved, trying to amplify those with traditionally marginalized identities. They believe music making should be accessible to all, and hope to invite more people into the practice through their music. 

Dr. Fabián Rodríguez Castro they/he (A2) is a multidisciplinary performing artist and educator with additional specialization in conducting and vocology. Dr. Rodríguez Castro completed their Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Arizona in Conducting and an individualized minor in Gender Affirming Vocal Pedagogy. Their work is rooted in inclusive justice and teaches from an intercultural and intersectional understanding. Dr. Rodríguez Castro serves as the founding artistic & music director of Liminal Voices & Orchestra, an LGBTQ+Nonbinary+Gender Expansive+BBIA centered ensemble that uplifts works by historically marginalized composers. When not teaching or performing, they enjoy spending time with their service dog and cat, Vida and Cica.

Natalie Ross she/they (T1) is an artist, writer and filmmaker born and raised in Los Angeles, California.  Their work examines the social, political and economic factors that allow us to make and share art.  Find them online at YouTube.com/@natscanfly.

Nick Webster Salsman they/he (T2) is a Southern California-based performer who grew up outside of Boise, Idaho. He has a multi-genre musical background spanning opera, pop, and acoustic folk music. They have been singing with 8TPS since the first performance in December 2023 and have enjoyed the fantastic adventures this ensemble has brought. The work Nick finds most fulfilling is telling stories about the human experience, through song or otherwise. Nick finds his artistic inspiration in conversations with friends and family and while working in his garden. To see more of Nick’s work, find him on Instagram @nickwebstermusic.

Jessica Joyce she/they (B1) has performed in films, television, and prestigious concert halls internationally as an actor, conductor, narrator, immersive roleplay artist, and vocalist. She also practices arranging and orchestrating, directing, sound engineering, set design, fiction writing, contracting, personnel management, and being a brand ambassador. Holding a Master’s in Music Performance (specializing in Tuba), she was a featured performer at Disneyland and a recurring tubist on shows such as The Voice, America’s Got Talent, The Late Late Show with James Corden. Most recently she has dived head-first into stand-up comedy and improv, performing for sold-out queer-focused events around the greater Los Angeles area.

Tanner Pfeiffer (B2/Co-Producing Artistic Director) is a culture crafter and sound syncretist with a practice revolving around gameplay, storytelling, and melodrama. A “brilliant producer” (BroadwayWorld), Tanner weaves together musical styles from across time and around the globe. An enduring relationship with new music has led to premieres of more than 150 works as a conductor, composer, and performer. Tanner serves as Auditions Chair of the Contemporary Choral Collective of Los Angeles, sings baritone with Laude, and is a member of the LA shape note music community. Tanner researches queer music, Spain & Latin America, and folk practices. tannerpfeiffer.com

PROGRAM NOTES:

Join the singers of 8TPS for a musical dialogue about the many facets of human love. It’s the season of Pride in West Hollywood and we’re celebrating love in all its forms! Featuring a mixture of pop favorites and heartfelt folk tunes, this a cappella program promises to kick off the 2026 WeHo Pride Arts Festival celebration with a beautiful lesson in the different ways to say “I love you.” 💕🎶

SPECIAL THANKS:

First, we thank the City of West Hollywood and Michael Che for seeing 8TPS and making this collaboration possible. What an amazing city, and we are so proud to be working together.

Thanks to Mariachi Arco•Iris and Carlos Samaniego for their partnership and generosity. 

It has been a delight and a pleasure to collaborate with Zach Davidson, Jonathan Muñoz-Proulx, Matt Richter, the Renberg Theatre staff, and the LA LGBT Center as part of this project. Thank you for being wonderful hosts and for building enduring artistic relationships.

David Hays Gaddas, Jazzmun, and the Lovely Bouquet of Flowers Foundation have been passionate, collaborative artistic partners and introduced us to members of the wonderful WeHo community.

We are endlessly grateful to our individual donors, large and small. Your gifts mean everything to us. 

We extend our gratitude to the incredible trans community of WeHo, LA, and beyond. We are creatives and caretakers, community builders and boundary breakers. We are lucky to live here and now, to gather incredible trans and gender-expansive artists together, to be connected to the composers and songwriters who created the music we get to share. Thank you. Love you.

WEBSITE LINKS:

8TPS website: https://bit.ly/8tapes

Instagram: @8tps.music

Facebook: @8tps.music

DONATE:

Venmo: @music8TPS

https://www.venmo.com/u/music8TPS

If you’d like to tip your models:

Paypal.me/miguelreyes1214
Venmo: Miguel-Reyes-209
Zelle: 323 428 9364

Facilitator: Jen Cheng, Poet Laureate of West Hollywood

BIO:
Jen Cheng (she/ella/kir) is the fifth West Hollywood City Poet Laureate (2023-2026), a Poet Laureate Fellow with the Academy of American Poets, a California Arts Council Fellow, and has been selected by several writers workshops. She was named one of the Top 50 LGBTQ+ Impact Leaders by LA Magazine (2025). Jen has taught improvisation exercises for poets and writers with the Poetry Society of New York, The Loft Literary Center, and elsewhere. Her improv training has been with The Groundlings, Second City, Outside In Theatre, and Cold Tofu. To connect, please visit JenCvoice.com or on social media @JenCvoice.

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BIOS:
Drag Artist Carmen Dioxide (he/they) is a multidisciplinary Gender bending artist born and raised in El Monte, California. An eclectic performer with a wide love for music, you never know what to expect. From live vocals, to campy character drag, Carmen is an experience unlike any other. As an advocate for their fellow Trans, Non Binary, BIPOC community they stand firm in their beliefs of equality and love. So sit back, relax, and remeber. It’s not Oxygen, ITS CARMEN DIOXIDE!

Drag artist Darren Wave (he/they) is an 80’s New Wave inspired Drag King born and raised in Santa Ana,CA. Having grown up in a Mexican immigrant household, Darren Wave breaks down generational trauma and barriers within his personal life and hopes to empower those around him one fat and sexy performance at a time. Resilient, dramatic, and daring, Darren Wave lives to break down the patriarchy by thrusting his way into the hearts of audiences with the help of his drag family, River Benzover ( Costume Designer ) and the King of The Redwoods – Hugh Johnson. ( Drag King/Environmentalist ) As a former radio DJ and producer, Darren Wave’s passion for music DRIVES his acts and heart. Although this King has been performing on drag stages for one year – his charisma and high energy can be experienced throughout SoCal thanks to the increase of support for the Drag Kings, Things and Trans Cuties within the community! You can follow him at @kingdarrenwave.

AL A MOANY (drag king, he/him) is an LA based drag king and the divorced dad of your dreams. Originally from Phoenix, AZ, Al spent his youth cruising through the desert suburbs listening to the divorcee classics of Nickelback and Foo Fighters, dreaming of the day it will be his time to disappoint his wife and children. With his bedazzled beer brand shirts and butt rock aesthetic, Al challenges what both queerness and masculinity can look like, and challenges us all to embrace the crash out king inside of us.

Succubus (DJ, she/her)  is a hard-hitting black trans DJ, producer and creative force, originally from New Jersey and now based in Los Angeles. Known for her blends of Jersey Club, House, and Electronic music, Succubus lives at the intersection of underground and mainstream, all wrapped in a Demonia platform boot. An alternative powerhouse with an unmistakable presence, Succubus has collaborated with Doechii, TiaCorine, Vogue, and Jean Paul Gaultier, carving out space across music, fashion, and culture. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Samara is a performer, producer, and publisher, passionate about the creative and financial empowerment of queer and trans artists. Infatuated with drag, Samara naturally fell into nightlife reporting in 2017 and has since interviewed dozens of queer entertainers including Kiki Xtravaganza, Jazzmun Crayton, and Zola Powell, as well as televised drag superstars Raja, Morgan McMichaels, Plane Jane, Briar Blush, and Saint. A three-time West Hollywood Artist Grant awardee, Samara documents the current, powerful, ever-fleeting queer consciousness— and blesses drag and burlesque stages around SoCal in her free time. Samara is also the creator of Vestite, an all-trans print magazine and drag show developed by her new company, 66 Pubblishing. A true multi-hyphenate, Samara is LA’s spectacled transsexual.

Chase Lounge (host, him/him) is a gender freak, transsexual Chippendale sensation! He loves throwing ass, furthering the gay agenda, and glamorizing obesity!

Saturday 5/23 Lineup:

4:15 show
Nivi Canela
Corey Saucier
Warumono
Ross Alan

6:30 show
Martin Matamoros
Queen Sheba
Robbie MacDonald
Bareback Kuntessa & Bunny Bloodlust

BIOS:

CREATIVE TEAM:

Ian MacKinnon he/him (Creative Director) is a GLAAD award-nominated artist who has performed all across California at theaters, festivals, universities and more. He has produced and curated countless shows independently and for The City of WeHo, Grand Park DTLA, Antioch University and more. Past events include: LA Voices PROUD Stories, Gay Hist-Orgy, The Discount Cruise to Hell, Planet Queer and more.

Travis Wood he/him (Executive Director) is an arts professional and lifelong creative with degrees in Business (Nonprofit Management) and Queer Theory (Antioch University Los Angeles). A certified nonprofit professional (CNP), Travis explores art, culture, and identity through performance and is co-producer of Planet Queer.

Reaux Flagg she/them (Gaylien) is master of interGAYlactic mayhem.

Jesse Inostros he/him (Gaylien) is master of interGAYlactic mischief.

CAST:

Ross Alan they/them, Recently nominated for the LA Blade’s 2026 Musician of the year, Ross Alan has performed and sold out in venues nationwide, including iconic LA stages like The Viper Room, the Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood and Whisky A Go Go. They have performed with taste-making platforms including Breaking Sound, GigFinesse, MajorStage, BigGayParty and PLANET QUEER – and are currently   building toward their next chapter: a country-disco fusion LP slated for release in this August.

Zach Bailey (he/they) is a small town, assigned boy at birth, raised in the bright lights on stage. With potent songs forged through the LA open mic scene, Zach imbues charisma into his tender, reflective songwriting, conjuring inherited legends into new, communal rapture. Zach is the founder of Lazy River Presents, where he has hosted a songwriter’s open mic for the past three years, first at The Silverlake Lounge and now at The Fable.  His previous single “See Ya Next Time” was a finalist in 88.5 FM The Socal Sound’s 2024 “Next Big Sound”.  His debut record is anticipated for release in the Fall of 2026.See www.zach-bailey.com for details.

Nivi Canela, They/Them, is a queer Dominican artist on a mission to make the world a more joyful and loving place for QTBIPOC. A songwriter and musical improviser, Nivi moves audiences with intimate performances that blend folk, rock, jazz, pop, and blues.

Queen Sheba, she/her (in drag) is an entertainer in Los Angeles. Originally from tropical Fort Lauderdale, Florida, after studying opera, theater, and social studies in college, She started her career at the Palm Beach opera, singing with some of classical music’s premier performers. After performances in local theater productions like RENT, Jekyll & Hyde, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Queen Sheba took her talents to LA, performing in both intimate cabaret settings and internationally broadcast programs.

Corey Saucier, He/Them/Hers, is a Lyrical Philosopher and a Black Queer Christian Poet, Author, and Playwright. Through Workshop, Perfoyrmance, and scribbles on paper, Corey cultivates their personal histories into a public voice that echoes themes of intersectional Minority Identity, Fem empowerment, Queer Faith, and the unspoken Crystal-Meth Epidemic. (GreenEyedGrin on all platforms)

Pip Lilly he/him, is an underpaid Scorpio performer, originally from his hometown. As an actor, writer, singer, improviser, and storyteller, he has performed on stages in most places in America and three places in Canada. He has also performed on three continents and three cruise ships. He has also appeared in television and films. His first feature film was a queer comedy with Judy Tenuta entitled Butch Camp. For more information, Google him.

Leopold Nunan, he/him, is a Brazilian-born actor, singer, director, and producer based in Los Angeles. A multi-award-winning artist and acclaimed voiceover performer, he is also a recording artist with viral releases including Feeling Like Myself Again and LGBTQIA+. His work spans theatre, music, and performance art, driven by bold, physical storytelling. He is a community leader and cultural ambassador dedicated to amplifying Brazilian and queer voices.

Ari DeSano, they/them, is a songwriter, performer, video-maker, and musician who plays accordion, ukulele-banjo, and squeaky toys. They most often perform as their drag character, Odious Ari, a 103-year-old Vaudevillian. Ari has been performing at Planet Queer for a billion years and has loved every minute of it.

Robbie McDonald, he/him, an LA native born to Irish immigrant parents,  found early success in so-called “hair bands” on LA’s Sunset Strip but his time living in Ireland defined him as a singer-songwriter and wordsmith. His 2006 release, Mighty Quiet, which documents the end of his 11-year relationship as a result of his partner joining a religious order, met with widespread critical acclaim in Ireland, particularly among its LGBTQ publications.

Mu Wang she/her, is a Taiwanese performer with 10 years of dance experience. Since 2024 alone, she has completed over 85 stage performances, bringing seasoned expertise and vibrant energy to the spotlight!

Martin Matamoros he/him, is a Cuban artist, playwright, and animator currently bringing his latest theatrical adventure to life: He-Man: Episode 3, Curse of the Violeteena Stone. Join him on June 22 at Akbar for an evening of camp, chaos, and heroic absurdity. All are invited.

Bareback Kuntessa is a multi-hyphenate slut. Bunny Bloodlust is an occasional mom. Together, the two have offended the sensibilities of Los Angeles through outrageous and provocative works that revolve around the idea of being bad at drag.

Steven Reigns he/him, was appointed the first Poet Laureate of West Hollywood, founder of The Gay Rub, an exhibition of rubbings from LGBT landmarks, and is the board president of the Anaïs Nin Foundation. His collection A Quilt for David was published by City Lights and is the product of over ten years of research regarding dentist David Acer’s life. His newest collection Outliving Michael is a memorial memoir in poetry, chronicling Reigns’s profound friendship with Michael Church, who died of AIDS in 2000.

SPECIAL THANKS:
Akbar Silverlake for giving us a home for so many years and to WeHo and The Center for this opportunity to get queer!

WEBSITE:
www.planetqueer.org   Donations via Venmo: @planet-queer

CAST:
Literary Merit judge: Steven Reigns — he/him 
Performance judge: Melissa Chadburn — she/her 
Intangibles judge: Rex Ogle — he/him 

Reader: Myriam Gurba — she/her
Reader: Mac Crane — they/them 
Reader: Rasheed Newson — he/him 
Reader: Isle McElroy — they/them 

Host & Creator, Adrian Todd Zuniga, he/him

BIOS:

Steven Reigns (he/him), Literary Merit judge. Poet, educator and author of A Quilt for David, Outliving Michael and Inheritance, and was appointed the first Poet Laureate of West Hollywood

Melissa Chadburn (she/her), Performance judge. Author of A Tiny Upward Shove (longlisted for the PEN/Hemingway Debut Novel Award), she’s also done extensive reporting on the child welfare system and appears in the Netflix docuseries “The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez”

Rex Ogle (he/him). Intangibles judge. Award-winning author of more than a hundred books, comics, graphic novels and memoirs including Free Lunch (winner of the ALA/YALSA award for Excellence in Non-Fiction), Abuela Don’t Forget Me (ALA/YALSA award for Excellence in Non-Fiction finalist) and Road Home (a Micheal Printz Honor and Stonewall Honor book)

Myriam Gurba (she/her). Reader. Writer and activist, her collection Dahlia Season, won the Edmund White Award for debut fiction, her true-crime memoir Mean named one of the “Best LGBTQ Books of All Time,” and her essay collection Creep: Accusations and Confessions won the Lambda Literary Award for Bisexual Nonfiction

Mac Crane (they/them). Reader. Author of the LAMBDA Literary Award-winning novel, I Keep My Exoskeletons to Myself and A Sharp Endless Need and the forthcoming short story collection Perverts

Rasheed Newson (he/him). Reader. Author of the national bestseller My Government Means to Kill Me, named one of New York Times’ “100 Notable Books of 2022,” and the follow-up There’s Only One Sin in Hollywood which releases on June 2. He’s also a TV writer, producer and showrunner

Isle McElroy (they/them). Reader. Author of two novels including The Atmospherians, a New York Times Editors’ Choice, and People Collide, named a best book by Vulture, NPR, Vogue and was a New York Times Critics’ Pick

WEBSITE:

www.literarydeathmatch.com

https://www.instagram.com/literarydeathmatch/

CAST:
Sachin Bhatt, he/him (Dwight)
Barrett Foa, he/him (Stan)
Adrian Javier, he/him (Tony)
Rory O’Malley, he/him (Blair)
Jean E. S. Powell, they/them (Rance)
Chris Renfro, they/them (Niko)
David Tran, he/him (Stage Directions)

CREATIVE TEAM:
Douglas Lyons, he/him (Writer)
Emerson Collins, he/him (Director)
Christopher Maikish, he/him (Executive Director, Celebration Theatre)
Petey Gibson, he/him (Producer, Celebration Theatre)

BIOS

CAST:

Sachin Bhatt he/him (Dwight) is an actor, writer, and producer who got his start belting “shakalaka baby” as the lead in the first Broadway tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Bombay Dreams. His work champions progressive, atypical love stories that delve into the emotional complexities of families who defy convention. He’s currently developing his first feature, The Stork. As a performer, he’s recently appeared on Netflix’s smash hit Boots, Apple TV+‘s The Morning Show, ABC’s The Company You Keep and Grey’s Anatomy, Peacock’s Queer as Folk, and other Netflix productions including Grace and Frankie, No Good Deed, and the holiday movie I Believe in Santa.

Barrett Foa he/him (Stan) TV: ”The Residence” (Shondaland / Netflix), twelve seasons as tech whiz Eric Beale on “NCIS: Los Angeles” (CBS), “Will & Grace” (2019), “Inventions That Changed the World”, “Entourage”, “NCIS”, and “The Closer”. Broadway: Princeton & Rod in Avenue Q, Leaf Coneybear in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Mamma Mia! (original cast). Off-Bway: Buyer & Cellar; Jesus in Godspell (cast recording); The Drunken City at Playwrights Horizons.  Regional: Prior in Angels in America: Parts 1 & 2 (St. Louis Rep – Theatre Circle nom.); Oscar in Sweet Charity (LA’s Reprise 2.0 – Ovation Award nom.); Harold Hill in The Music Man (CT Rep); Max in The Sound of Music (Ogunquit Playhouse); Interlochen Arts Camp,  BFA in Musical Theatre from The University of Michigan. Founding member of Every Day Action, which reallocates Hollywood’s excess food to LA’s most vulnerable. @BarrettFoa

Adrián Javier he/him (Tony) is thrilled to be working with this insanely talented group of artists.  LA THEATRE: Foursome, The Very Best People; Arrowhead (IAMA Theatre) The Reservoir (The Geffen Playhouse); Psycho Beach Party (HorseChart); Kiss of the Spider Woman; Argonautika; Othello (A Noise Within); Tar (Playwright’s Arena); Fixed (Echo Theatre); Lord of the Underworld’s Home for Unwed Mothers (Skylight Theatre); Colony Collapse (Boston Court); Lorca in a Green Dress (CASA 0101). FILM/TV: Lopez vs Lopez (NBC); With Love (Amazon); The Garcias (HBO Max); Vida (Starz); Superstore (NBC); The Affair (Showtime); Kevin From Work (Freeform); Your Family or Mine (TBS); The Bridge (FX); as well as smaller roles on NCIS, NCIS LA, and The Mentalist (CBS).

Rory O’Malley he/him (Blair) is best known for originating the role of Elder McKinley in The Book of Mormon, earning Tony and Drama Desk nominations. Other Broadway credits include King George III in Hamilton, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Nobody Loves You (Drama Desk nomination), and Little Miss Sunshine. He also performed as King George III in the First National Tour of Hamilton at the Pantages. On screen: High Potential, NCIS, CSI: Vegas, Chicago Party Aunt, Central Park, Dreamgirls, FX’s Partners, Nurse Jackie, The Good Wife, Law & Order: SVU, 1600 Penn, and American Princess. Rory lives in LA with his husband and son.

Jean E.S. Powell they/them (fka Larry Powell / larryjean powell), (Rance) In under twenty years since graduating Carnegie Mellon, South Central L.A.-born omnicreative Jean E.S. Powell has built a jaw-dropping legacy. They radically redefine the modern canon with “cinetheatre,” blending stage and screen into electric experiences like PASSION. This work lives at blackqueertheatre.com, a global digital ecosystem championing Black Queer and Trans++ voices pushing form. On screen, Powell shines as Rick James in Hotel Cocaine and acts, writes, and produces on the EMMY-nominated The Ms. Pat Show. On stage, their dominance spans an incredible list of honors: 2x Ovation nominee, 3x NAACP Theatre nominee, SFBATCC nominee, 2x LA Drama Critics Circle winner, and Audelco/Audie honoree. Also a Daytime EMMY-nominated creator, SIFF winner, and Rhimes playwriting awardee, Powell’s boundary-shattering career is simply unmatched.

Chris Renfro they/them (Niko) is an Asian-American actor, writer, and comedian recently seen in Here Lies Love at the Mark Taper Forum, The Drowsy Chaperone at Carnegie Hall, and as “Mary’s Teacher” in the Tony Award-winning, Oh, Mary! on Broadway. They currently serve as Artistic Director of the UCB Theatre. On screen, they can be seen in Queer as Folk, Good Trouble, The L Word, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Reno 911! and the MTV original movie, Pretty Stoned. Their award-winning podcast, One of Us with Fin and Chris, is available everywhere in the universe and shouldn’t be confused with the Christian Worship podcast of the same name.

David Tran he/him (Stage Directions) is a graduate of OC School of the Arts’ Drama Conservatory. He has worked on various projects for CBS, CW, MTV, and Nickelodeon. Stage highlights: Taylor Mac’s 24-Decade History of Popular Music (Dandy Minion), Martin Sherman’s Bent (Rudy), Bert V. Royal’s Dog Sees God (Beethoven), and Terrence McNally’s Corpus Christi (Thomas). When he’s not at home watching reruns of “Schitt’s Creek” and classic 90s sitcoms with his dog, he’s flexing his other creative muscle in the luxury retail industry as a Visual Merchandiser. David is a company member of Celebration Theatre.

CREATIVE TEAM:

Douglas Lyons he/him (Writer) is a GLAAD, NAACP,  and Emmy-nominated writer, an Audelco award-winning playwright & multi-hyphenate.  TV: Apple TV’s Fraggle Rock. His Broadway playwriting debut, Chicken and Biscuits, was the 2nd most-produced play in the country in 2022-23. His other works include: Beau (Drama Desk, Drama League, and OCC Outstanding Musical nominee), the Lucille Lortel award-winning Table 17, and more. Douglas’ Broadway acting credits include Beautiful, Parade, and Book of Mormon. He is currently developing television with Skydance and Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort while also penning the Broadway stage adaptation of the Warner Bros. animated classic Happy Feet. DouglasLyons.net.

Emerson Collins he/him (Director) This Spring, Emerson directed the first production of Pure Glitter in Dallas and the world premiere of Del Shores Foundation Writers Search winner Cockroaches in Palm Springs. Emerson produced SoHo Playhouse’s Wounded Off-Broadway, LA Drama Critics Circle Award-winning Yellow, and the National Tour of Sordid Lives and Southern Baptist Sissies. Emerson directed the play and film of Six Characters in Search of a Play. Emerson was Executive Producer for the Drag Isn’t Dangerous telethon, produced A Very Sordid Wedding, Southern Baptist Sissies, and Blues For Willadean, co-produced Sordid Lives: The Series for LOGO, and co-directed Shafted (5 Best Director awards).

Chris Maikish he/him (Celebration Executive Director) is a theatremaker and nonprofit arts professional who has worked with Celebration Theatre since 2010 as a performer, director, designer, and development manager before joining leadership in 2019. As Executive Director, Chris has facilitated major initiatives to reform organizational culture, brand, governance, programs and operations for long-term sustainability and creative innovation—with the collaboration and support of the volunteer company, project staff, and board. Chris holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Northwestern University. His most important role to date is as co-parent to his child, Olivia. Love to Paul. He thanks you for supporting LGBTQIA+ theatre in LA.

Petey Gibson he/him (Producer, Celebration Theatre) is a proud multi-hyphenate (aren’t we all?) and community guy. Producing projects over 15 years include the Trans Lineage annual program at Celebration Theatre, The Joy Who Lived Festival, and Them Fatale Drag Kings. Acting credits include: Theatre: World Premieres at American Repertory Theatre and La Jolla Playhouse, West Coast Premiere at Z Space (SF). TV: ALERT, NCIS: New Orleans, Broad City, Grace & Frankie, and more. @petey_gibson

PROGRAM NOTES:

Thank you so much to the artists who’ve joined us for Pure Glitter for donating their time and talents in service of the Trans Continental Pipeline, and the queer community at large. Thank you to the WeHo Pride Arts Festival, and the amazing staff at the LA LGBT Center, especially Zach Davidson, Matt Richter, and Jonathan Muñoz-Proulx.

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Donations to the Trans Continental Pipeline are encouraged!