STEAM QUEEN at Fringe ArtSpace

Take a deep dip and revel in the glamor of STEAM QUEEN, an electrifying cabaret inspired by the underground rise of Bette Midler, aka “Bathhouse Betty.” Set in the sultry world of a 1970s bathhouse, standup comedian and classic song-slinger Joel Turner takes the stage for one last steamy night, delivering a cheeky mix of raunchy humor, disco decadence, and heartfelt reflection. Against the backdrop of its impending closure, Turner’s performance blends camp, nostalgia, and a celebration of queer resilience.

As Joel Swanson’s final foreseeable performance in Orlando, STEAM QUEEN marks the culmination of a vibrant era for a performer described as “lovable” with “a particular blend of sex and sympathy” (Orlando Sentinel), and celebrated for delivering “real emotion,” “polished movement,” and “expressively animated eyebrows” (Orlando Weekly). Swanson has made his mark with unforgettable creations like FROGPIG, THE WHITE LOTUS: ORLANDO, and MEDDLIN’! THE DOOSICAL, along with dazzling cabaret performances as Just Jewel, Cosmo, and even Pinocchio.