Queer Cabaret Group Brings Performances To Diverse Audiences In PA

PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia's art scene goes much deeper than the countless murals seen across the city.

One aspect of the bustling at sphere that might fly under some people's radar is a queer-cabaret group that has been putting shows on for more than a decade in the city.

The Bearded Ladies were founded more than a decade ago by Philadelphia-based theater artist John Jarboe.

"The primary goal is to provide a queer cabaret theater for everyone," Bearded Ladies communications manager June Tubbs told Patch.

Another tenet of the group is to create a platform for other small artists to work with the Beards and lift them up.

Jarboe launched the group as a small theater group that was trying to build something out of nothing, Tubbs said.

To this day, the Bearded Ladies are still putting on unique shows with a slew of performers and hosts.

Most recently, the group hosted a show called "Late Night Snacks," a show they've done before.

The show works to bring two different performers from varying backgrounds together to showcase their differences and similarities by unifying their elements.

Tubbs said some pairings included queer queens and opera singers and singer-songwriters and clowns.

From early September to early October, the group performed more than two dozen shows at Philly's Fringe Arts Festival, a Herculean feat for any performer.

"It takes a lot of stamina," Tubbs said.

While the Beards are back giving performances on stage, the pandemic forced them to get creative.

The group pivoted to doing virtual shows and eventually launched The Beardmobile.

The Beardmobile is described as "a big, gay mobile performance unit, glitterfully outfitted for socially-distanced performances and political actions."

Last year, the Beardmobile led the Philly Pride Parade and the group held a performance at the main Pride festival.

Tubbs said it has traversed the city, hitting various neighborhoods all over, bringing the queer-cabaret shows to all kinds of audiences.

"Our audience is very diverse," Tubbs said. "I think it's due to artists we platform."

She said audience members can range from teens who are heavy into drag culture to 75-year-old opera-goers.

Tubbs characterized the Beards' audience as many audiences making up one whole audience.

"It's a little something for everyone," she said

The Beards' popularity has been growing since it launched, and Tubbs said that's in part due to local platforms welcoming the group over its 10-plus years of putting on shows.

"We've definitely grown in scope of performances and initiatives," she said.

That growth has led the Beards to welcome performers from across the country, and even across the Atlantic Ocean, as they welcomed UK drag performer Le Gateau Chocolat.

Learn more about the Bearded Ladies online here.