When Rachel Kunstadt and Teresa Lotz started Lezcab almost a year ago, they wanted to “produce and host musical theatre events by and about queer womyn in order to foster and support a forum for queer womyn in the musical theatre community.” Last month, as all the actors sat backstage animatedly discussing Orange is the New Black, I realized that they’ve achieved exactly what they set out to. Each of us had learned a piece of music that was gifted to us by talented new composers. Many of the composers are queer women, and those that are not had written beautiful songs sung by queer characters. Lezcab has become a place where queer performers, composers, musical theatre nerds, and people who love fun come together and create something awesome.
This song was written by Lezcab producer Teresa Lotz and sung by Erin Maya:
After the show was over, we all retired to the upstairs bar area of Duplex, which now hosts a ladies night for Lezcab (with drink specials!!!). Here we furthered our bonding as a community through alcoholic lubrication. We chatted with our friends who came to see the show, we networked with the writers, and connected even more with our fellow performers. The night was filled with discussions of future Lezcab themes, which Spice Girl we would play in a musical version of Spice World, bad okcupid dates, and a bunch of other ridiculous and amazing topics.
Lezcab has evolved into something that is innovative, entertaining, and truly delightful for all involved. I have met some amazing people backstage and in the bar. Everyone is friendly and inclusive. It feels a little like A-Camp, except we are in a cabaret instead of on a mountain. I urge you all to reserve your tickets.
The lovely ladies of April’s Lezcab
The next show is THIS SUNDAY, the 25th at 7pm and like most NY cabarets is $10 at the door and a 2 drink minimum. Our theme is “Over the Rainbow: Songs of the Golden Age”, so if you like Rodgers and Hammerstein, but feel like there aren’t enough lesbos in the waving wheat of Oklahoma! then come see our versions of these beloved show tunes. Also, you might meet some girls. If you want to meet some of the Lezcab girls before Sunday, you can check out our brief introductions on the Facebook page.
If you still aren’t convinced, you should listen to the radio show we were interviewed on. It is a little tricky to get to, but it was a fun interview with some great samples of music and a shout out to Autostraddle. To do so, go to Cityworldradio.com. After clicking the microphone, go to their archives and find “International Womens Salon Radio 7-29-13”.
Hope to see you at Lezcab on the 25th because it will be super fun!
Drinks! Queer women! Musical theatre! Woohoo!
Now you just need to go on tour and fly yourselves to Hawaii! That’s not asking too much right?! You can do it! I believe in YOU.