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Queen Esther

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BIO

Described as “...the unknown queen of Americana…” and “...a Black Lucinda Williams...a brutal, original, explosive singer..." (Vanity Fair), Queen Esther is a playwright, vocalist, solo performer, producer, songwriter and musician. A member of Actors Equity, SAG/AFTRA, The Dramatists Guild and the Recording Academy, she is a 2022 Artist Fellow with the National Arts Club and a 2022-2024 Playwright In Residence at the WP Theater “Pipeline” Play Lab.

Her self-penned solo shows include The Moxie Show, Queen Esther: Unemployed Superstar and The Big Payback. Blackbirding, a solo show developed at Gettysburg National Military Park about The Civil War from a Black feminist perspective, is currently under development, along with The Billie Holiday Project, a musical based on Zora Neale Hurston’s newly discovered short stories and Lady Day’s lost classics, and The Tears of a Megyn, a serio-comic romp about police brutality, black feminism and white privilege.

She has toured extensively and recorded with harmelodic guitar icon James “Blood” Ulmer in many incarnations, including a recent European tour with his seminal band Odyssey. Performances and/or recordings include Speedball Baby, Mona’s Hot Five, Eyal Vilner Big Band, Burnt Sugar Arkestra, Michael Arenella and his Dreamland Orchestra, Richard Barone (The Bongos), Elliot Sharp (as the alt-blues duo Hoosegow), Swingadelic, LaLa Brooks (The Crystals), Dusty Wright, The Hot Toddies, Dan Levinson’s Jass Band, The New York Jazzharmonic and The Dirtbombs, amongst many others.

Recent highlights: A Black Americana performance at The Obama Foundation Summit; a supporting role in Taylor Mac’s jazz opera The Hang; a western swing project The Black Rose of Texas (featuring Queen Esther, Kat Edmonson and Synead Cidney Nichols) at Lincoln Center’s 2022 Summer for the City – with a workshop at Jazz at Lincoln Center and a sold out weekend at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola.

Called “...a minor masterpiece…” (LIRA), her self-produced Black Americana release Gild The Black Lily (2021) – the fourth album on her imprint EL Recordings – is garnering stellar reviews and airplay worldwide as her 2018 TED Talk -- The True Origins of Country Music -- continues to reverberate throughout the Americana community.

News


WP Theater Unveils 2024-2026 Lab Artists

WP THEATER has revealed the 15 artists selected for the 2024-2026 WP Lab. The two-year residency begins this fall and culminates with the biennial WP Pipeline Festival. Learn more about the artists!
Revel In The Glamour Of The Jazz Age With Middlesex County's Roaring 20s Jazz Party

Experience the elegance of the Jazz Age at Middlesex County's Roaring 20s Jazz Party, featuring live music, dancing, and vintage costumes.
BroadStage's Blackbox Series to Present Queen Esther With Jeff McLaughlin On Guitar

Experience the next performance in BroadStage's 2023/2024 blackbox series featuring Queen Esther with Jeff McLaughlin on guitar. Learn how to purchase tickets.
Joe's Pub Celebrates 25 Years At The Annual Gala And Raises Funds For Artist Development Programs

Celebrate 25 years of Joe's Pub at their annual gala. The event also raises funds for artist development programs, supporting the future of Broadway.
Spotlight: PIPELINE FESTIVAL at WP Theater

WP Theater's Pipeline Festival Begins April 4
Full Casts & Creative Teams Set for PIPELINE FESTIVAL at WP Theater

WP Theater has revealed the full casts and teams for the fifth biennial Pipeline Festival. See full programming and learn how to purchase tickets.
Harlem Stage Artistic Director & CEO Patricia Cruz to Step Down After 25 Years

Patricia Cruz will step down from her leadership position as Artistic Director and CEO of Harlem Stage and take on a special advisory role on July 1.
HERE to Honor Founding Artistic Director Kristin Marting at 30th Anniversary Gala

HERE will honor Founding Artistic Director Kristin Marting at HERE’s 30th Anniversary Gala on June 3, 2024.
WP Theater Reveals 2024 Lineup for The Pipeline Festival

WP Theater has revealed the 2024 lineup for The Pipeline Festival, the fifth biennial showcase of the artists in its celebrated WP Lab for playwrights, directors, and producers. Learn more about the lineup and see how to purchase tickets.
Symphony Space Announces New Programs For Spring 2024

Symphony Space has announced additional Spring 2024 programming. The coming months abound with bespoke evenings that offer playful and candid experiences of some of today's most beloved voices in music, literature, theater, and more.
Symphony Space Unveils Spring 2024 Programming Featuring George Takei, Judy Collins & More

Symphony Space has revealed additional Spring 2024 programming. See performance dates and learn who is taking part!
2024 NYC Winter Jazzfest Announces Final Lineup For 20th Anniversary Season

NYC Winter Jazzfest has announced the complete list of artists to be featured at the 20th annual NYC Winter Jazzfest! Please mark your calendars for January 10-18, 2024.
2024 NYC WINTER JAZZFEST Celebrates 20 Seasons With the Full Spectrum of Jazz, January 10-18

NYC Winter Jazzfest has announced the initial list of artists to be featured at the 20th annual NYC Winter Jazzfest! Please mark your calendars for January 10-18, 2024.
The Azrieli Foundation And Analekta Release NEW JEWISH MUSIC, VOL. 4 - AZRIELI MUSIC PRIZES

The Azrieli Foundation and Analekta have released New Jewish Music, Vol. 4 - Azrieli Music Prizes. This album features the world premiere recordings of prize-winning works by the 2022 Azrieli Music Prizes Laureates, performed by the Orchestre Métropolitain under the direction of Artistic Partner Nicolas Ellis.
Celebrate Halloween At Joe's Pub With THE ROCKY HORROR SKIVVIES SHOW & More

Celebrate Halloween at Joe's Pub with The Rocky Horror Skivvies Show, The Bowery Boys, and The Tiger Lillies. Enjoy a night of spooky and entertaining performances.
Cast Set For ANNE FRANK, A MUSICAL Off-Broadway

After a sold out debut in 2019 (at the Center for Jewish History), Anne Frank, a Musical, returns Off-Broadway at the Actors Temple Theatre. Learn more about the cast, and how to get tickets here!
Adrianna Hicks, Kennedy Caughell & More to Star in SEEN IN THE LINE at The Green Room 42

SEEN In the Line, will be presented on Sunday October 1 at 7:00pm at The Green Room 42.
The Azrieli Foundation Presents the London Debut of The Azrieli Music Prizes at Cadogan Hall

The Azrieli Foundation will present its Azrieli Music Prizes (AMP) London Debut Concert at Cadogan Hall on October 15, 2023, at 6:30 PM featuring the European premieres of prize-winning works by the three 2022 AMP Laureates: Iman Habibi, Aharon Harlap and Rita Ueda.
Joe's Pub Unveils the Line-Up for its Third Annual Habibi Festival

Discover the exciting line-up of performers and schedule for the highly anticipated Third Annual Habibi Festival at Joe's Pub. Get all the details on this must-see event, including dates and featured artists.
Off-Broadway Premiere of OUT OF THE APPLE ORCHARD Set for September at Actors Temple Theatre

Don't miss the Off-Broadway premiere of 'Out Of The Apple Orchard' at Actors Temple Theatre from September 10-14. Get ready to be captivated by this enchanting tale of forgiveness and new beginnings. Book your tickets now!

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