Charles Busch to Kick Off New 'OutStage@PBD' Series at Palm Beach Dramaworks

Palm Beach Dramaworks takes great pride in announcing that Charles Busch, the celebrated playwright, actor, director, cabaret artist, and drag legend, will appear in concert on Saturday evening, September 16 at 8pm, at the Don & Ann Brown Theatre. An Evening with Charles Busch marks the kickoff of a new series, OutStage@PBD, which offers special performances and events tailored to the LGBTQ community.

"There is a dynamic LGBTQ community in Palm Beach County, and we'd like to see those who love theatre become part of the PBD family," said Gary Cadwallader, director of education and community engagement. "OutStage@PBD is part of our vigorous effort to reach new audiences in ways that not only entertain them, but engage and inspire and connect with them. And what better way to launch this series than with Charles Busch, who is not only a brilliant artist but a gay icon."

The concert, a mixture of song and story, is being created specifically for PBD. Accompanying Busch will be his longtime musical director, Tom Judson. The program will be followed by a reception with the artists in the lobby. Tickets are on sale now.

The second OutStage@PBD event will be the December 15 performance of Terry Teachout's world premiere play, Billy and Me, about the fraught relationship between playwrights William Inge and Tennessee Williams. The evening will begin with a preshow dinner, continue with a post-performance talkback with Teachout and director William Hayes, and conclude with a post-show reception.

Charles Busch is the author and star of such plays as The Divine Sister, Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, The Tribute Artist, and The Tale of the Allergist's Wife (in which he did not appear), which ran for nearly two years on Broadway and received a Tony nomination for Best Play. He wrote and starred in the film versions of his plays Psycho Beach Party and Die Mommie Die, the latter of which won him the Best Performance Award at the Sundance Film Festival. In 2003, Mr. Busch received a special Drama Desk Award for career achievement as both performer and playwright. He is also the subject of the acclaimed documentary film The Lady in Question is Charles Busch. Mr. Busch is a two-time MAC Award winner and has performed his cabaret act in many cities, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, New Orleans, Atlanta, Philadelphia, London, Paris, and New York. In the winter of 2016, his show The Lady at the Mic premiered at Jazz at Lincoln Center's American Songbook series. His first CD, Charles Busch Live at Feinstein's 54 Below, has been released by Broadway Records.

Tickets for An Evening with Charles Busch are $75.00. One night only, September 16 at 8pm. Tickets for the Billy and Me event on December 15 are $125. Seating is limited. An Evening with Charles Busch is sponsored by Sid Lesowitz and Peter Rogers, David Cohen and Paul Bernabeo, and Kretzer Piano. The Don & Ann Brown Theatre is located in the heart of downtown West Palm Beach, at 201 Clematis Street. For more information, visit the Box Office, call (561) 514-4042, ext. 2, or go to www.palmbeachdramaworks.org.

Palm Beach Dramaworks is a non-profit, professional theatre and is a member of the Theatre Communications Group, the South Florida Theatre League, Florida Professional Theatres Association, and the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County.

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