THE REAL BLACK SWANN: CONFESSIONS OF AMERICA’S FIRST BLACK DRAG QUEEN at Open Space Arts
Dates: 7/18/2025 - 7/27/2025
📍 Theatre: Open Space Arts
1411 W. Wilson Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
Phone: 7732933682
Tickets: 30.00
Les Kurkendaal-Barrett presents a solo performance that brings to life the story of William Dorsey Swann, the first known drag performer and queer activist in U.S. history. Set against the backdrop of the 1880s, the show intertwines Swann's legacy with Kurkendaal-Barrett's personal experiences as a Black, gay artist, exploring themes of love, visibility, and identity. Through a mixture of storytelling and theatricality, the performance reflects on the fight for recognition within marginalized communities and the significance of reclaiming erased narratives. The production runs from July 18 to July 27 at Open Space Arts in Chicago.
THE REAL BLACK SWANN: CONFESSIONS OF AMERICA’S FIRST BLACK DRAG QUEEN at Open Space Arts Schedule
Cast and Creative Team for THE REAL BLACK SWANN: CONFESSIONS OF AMERICA’S FIRST BLACK DRAG QUEEN at Open Space Arts
Cast
Creative Team
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