Culture on My Mind
The Queer Revolution: Breaking the Broadway Mold
July 17, 2023

This week, I’m playing catch-up with the Theater and Musical Lovers YouTube Channel.

The channel and its associated Facebook group were established as an unofficial gathering of Dragon Con attendees who love theater, musicals, and the performing arts. Their goal is to create a community of fellow thespians and fans at the convention.

About a month ago, the thespians explored the impact that LGBTQIA+ artists, writers, and performers have had on Broadway. From the groundbreaking work of Hedwig & the Angry Inch to the Tony-winning productions, Rent and Kinky Boots, queer voices have been instrumental in shaping modern theater. Having experienced Rent live, I understand the power that it holds. I still get a little misty when I hear “Seasons of Love”.

Panelists Christi Chalmers, Courtney, and Vulva Va-Voom joined Sarah and Gary to discuss their favorite queer characters and stories on stage, the icons that helped shape their identities, and how LGBTQIA+ narratives have helped to bring visibility and acceptance to the theater community and the world.

It was a celebration of the queer revolution on Broadway and the power of representation in the arts!

Note: Depending on security settings, you may have to click below to see the video directly on YouTube. You should definitely subscribe to their channel for more updates.

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The Theater and Musical Lovers Group will be hosting more of these panels. If you’re interested in participating or have some topic ideas in mind, head over to the group on Facebook and drop them a line. You can also find them on Instagram and coming soon on TikTok.

You can find Gary and Sarah on the socials: On Twitter, they are Gary_Mitchel, SarahRose_KPK, and Daisuki_Suu; on Instagram, they are Gary_Mitchel and Daisuki_Suu; and Gary’s horror-themed podcast that he hosts with Erin McGourn is A Podcask of Amontillado. Of course, the Theater & Musical Lovers channel can be found on YouTube.

Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.

For more creativity with a critical eye, visit Creative Criticality.