Natalie Joy Johnson, Jari Jones, and More Featured on 'Queering the Canon: Live at Joe's Pub' Album

Following the success of the Queering the Canon: A Retrospective Gala in March hosted by Miss Peppermint, Ring of Keys, the artist service nonprofit for queer women, trans, and nonbinary artists, will release a live album of the evening's unforgettable performances entitled Queering the Canon: Live at Joe's Pub. The album, released by Ring of Keys Records, marks the organization's inaugural album release and will be available on all streaming platforms worldwide on July 15, 2025.

To commemorate the event, Ring of Keys will have an Album Release Party at The Pershing Square Signature Center Lobby (480 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036) on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 from 6-8pm. No RSVP is required.

The 14-track live album features seven new songs in response to seven canonical tunes, written by Ring of Keys songwriters Joanna Burns (Horse Girls!); Andi Lee Carter (Disconnected: The Musical!); Lucier&Rose (Xena: Warrior Musical); Lindsey Augusta Mercer (Mrs. Dalloway); Zeniba Now (Take The Lead) & Rodney Bush; Anessa Marie Scolpini (Cabaret at The Kit Kat Club); and Pearl Rhein (The Great Comet). 

“We're thrilled to be working as album co-producers with Ring of Keys, who continuously provide the vital support that makes our community shine as we combat invisibility in the musical theatre space,” said Lucier&Rose.

Andrea Prestinario, co-founder of Ring of Keys and the Queering the Canon Concert Series, said: “I'm overjoyed to share this gift with the world. To date, the Queering the Canon Concert Series has commissioned 43 new songs by queer writers. We are creating the future of musical theatre, and this album showcases that future with great visibility for our community of artists.”

Queering the Canon: Live at Joe's Pub features performances by Klea Blackhurst (Dolly: A True Original Musical); Grant Evan (A Strange Loop - SpeakEasy Stage); Esther Fallick (Esther Updates Her Book); Samy Figaredo (The Other Two); Natalie Joy Johnson (Lempicka); Jade Jones (Beauty and The Beast - Olney Theatre); Jari Billie Sadé Jones (Bob's Burgers); Petralina Lambert; Tomás Matos (Hadestown, Fire Island); Madison McBride (Teeth); Jade McLeod (Jagged Little Pill); Sushma Saha (1776); Murphy Taylor Smith (Billie Jean) and Nicole Weiss (Octet).

The live album is co-produced by Lucier&Rose and Andrea Prestinario (Ring of Keys Co-Founder) with mixing by Meghan Rose. Original concert musical direction by Dionne McClain-Freeney (Show Boat: A River) with additional orchestrations by Emily “Freddie” Fredrickson (Hadestown). The band includes Will Shishmanian on guitar, Magda Kress on bass, and Kendall Perry on drums. Direction by S.C. Lucier (Xena: Warrior Musical). Casting by  Charlie Hano, CSA (Titanque, Trophy Boys).

“This album showcases the voices that truly reflect our lived experience, our desires, our creativity, and the emotions we're always processing, both hopeful and complex,” said Lucier&Rose.

Lucier&Rose continued: “It's so important, now more than ever, to leave a record of our existence and our queerness. We're excited that someone could be anywhere in the country, find this album, and feel inspired. To know unequivocally that we are here, our voices are powerful, and that will always be true.”

To learn more about Ring of Keys, including how to become a Key and information about upcoming events, please visit www.ringofkeys.org.