Lesbian and bisexual characters have often been on the sidelines in the theatre world, but that is slowly and surely changing. The Tony Award winning Fun Home is proving to nightly sold-out audiences that lesbian characters and storylines can sell. The wonderfully fun (and closed before its time) It Shoulda Been You gave us more lesbian characters to cheer about. Hopefully this will become a trend, and give queer female characters a chance to shape the future of theatre as well. Here are some shows you should check out this fall.
Idina Menzel is back as the musical’s timeline jumping protagonist, Elizabeth, and touring the country in the first If/Then tour. This musical features two lesbian characters, Kate, who has a significant role as Elizabeth’s best friend, and Kate’s girlfriend Anne. The women live out two different timelines depending on the choices Elizabeth makes in the musical. Idina is only in the show until the end of January, but you should check out the show anyway if it comes to your town.
Bob and Norma work for the U.S. State Dept, rooting out secret Communists during the 1950s Red Scare. But Bob and Norma have a secret of their own. They are both gay and married to each other’s partners. This allows the couples to fly safely under the radar…for a time. The show is playing at The Duke in NYC now through Nov 6th.
Prolific playwright Sarah Ruhl penned this play based on the longtime friendship between poets Elizabeth Bishop and Robert Lowell. Bishop, who was queer, corresponded with Lowell for over thirty years. The cast is played by a rotating roster of actors including out actress Cherry Jones. You can catch Dear Elizabeth, which is part of the Women’s Project Theatre, on Broadway now through December 5th.
If you know of any plays or musicals with lesbian or bisexual characters currently playing, let us know in the comments.
