Dr. Lady J at Lyric

Music academia meets drag performance at the Center on Halsted! Drag queen musicologist Dr. Lady J returns after her triumphant Lyric appearances last season, this time joined by fellow music scholar and drag performer Dr. Sadie Hochman-Ruiz. Together, they’ll explore the intersections of drag and opera, while highlighting Chicago’s often overlooked influence in the drag scene.

Roosevelt University is host for this lively discussion with Dr. Lady J and Roosevelt University Chicago College of Performing Arts professors Dr. Ashley Pribyl and Tommy Novak. This discussion will tackle the challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ and nonbinary artists working within the industry as well as the extensive history of gender nonconformity on stage. The panelists will share their deep knowledge of queer performance art as well as their personal artistic journeys. 

Join us in the Ardis Krainik Theatre one hour before The Marriage of Figaro begins for a free, 30-minute talk with Dr. Lady J, known as the world's first (and only) Drag Queen with a Ph.D. in Musicology.

Seating is unreserved, but a ticket for that day’s performance is required. Talks begin one hour before each performance and doors open approximately 15 minutes before the start of the talks.

Please note, additional pre-opera talk content by Elinor Olin for The Marriage of Figaro will also available online here.