EPK

The Lavender Blues

A Showcase of
Queer Music Before World War II

Written and performed by
Sarah Skinner Kilborne

Run time 90 minutes, no intermission

About The Lavender Blues

Please choose the description of the show which best suits your audience.

DESCRIPTION A

People commonly believe that the LGBTQ movement began in 1969 with the Stonewall Riots, but a hundred years ago queer men and women were claiming their identities in the public sphere - and singing about it too. Written and created by performance artist Sarah Kilborne, The Lavender Blues is a musical journey to a courageous and colorful time in America’s past when artists sang boldly about sexual and gender fluidity - daring even for today, and as deliciously fun and inspiring as ever.

DESCRIPTION B

The Lavender Blues is an historical, musical and theatrical journey that tells the story of queer music before World War II. People commonly believe that the LGBTQ movement began in 1969 with the Stonewall Riots, but a hundred years ago queer men and women were claiming their identities in the public sphere — and singing about it too. Author, LGBTQ activist and performance artist Sarah Kilborne brings to life a little-known yet revolutionary moment in music history when pioneering artists sang boldly about sexual and gender fluidity.

DESCRIPTION C

Some of our most famous early performers were not only “in the life” — meaning gay, bisexual and transgender — but they sang about this life too. Written and created by performance artist Sarah Kilborne, The Lavender Blues takes us on a musical journey to a courageous and colorful time in America’s past when artists sang boldly about sexual and gender fluidity — daring even for today, and as deliciously fun and inspiring as ever.

Press Photos Downloads

Photo credit: Jane O’Connor

Additional Videos

See above for the show’s reel

BIO

Sarah Skinner Kilborne is a performance artist, author and LGBTQ activist. Her acclaimed solo show, The Lavender Blues: A Showcase of Queer Music Before World War II was one of twelve international shows chosen an Up Next! 2017 Discovery by the Association of Performing Arts Professionals. An author of both fiction and nonfiction books, she has written about LGBTQ issues for Slate, The Huffington Post, the Advocate and more. She is founder of the equal rights campaign Kiss for Equality (originally "The Supreme Kiss") and advocates for LGBTQ rights both at home and abroad. She is also vice president of the Biographers International Organization and is at work on a group biography about the women featured in the show. For more regarding her music, books and performances, please visit www.sarahkilborne.com.

Press Quotes

  • "Sarah Kilborne's first one-woman show is an enlightening, enchanting trip to a place in time you never knew took place: Kilborne, creator and performer, has not only unearthed buried treasure, she brings its ghosts to life and glory."

    — Enid Futterman, Imby.com

  • "Sarah's show is an eye-opener whether you are straight or LGBTQA - It's a glimpse into a world and music you don't know. It is as entertaining as it is educational, and funny."

    — Neil Gaiman, Author

  • "Deeply moving and compelling and thoroughly relevant to life today."

    — James R. Ball III, Director of the Academy of Visual and Performing Arts, Texas A&M University

  • “Sarah Kilborne has a gift for running her hands over the dry pages of history and sensing stories that really “want” to be told. This lends a special immediacy to the material she presents onstage. Her entire work is an homage [to LGBTQ pioneers].”

    — John Shaffer, former Director of Arts Programming, SUNY Oswego

  • "Sarah Kilborne has created a captivating blend of history and music, bringing to light stories from our past that have too long been hidden. It is rare to find a show that so deftly presents challenging historical material woven together with a masterful musical performance."

    — Kate Preissler, Director, Wistariahurst Museum

  • "We were thrilled to bring The Lavender Blues to our community. Witty, funny and so much more, this show is a smart, entertaining way to remember and learn about our history. Every single person stopped to thank us after the show."

    — Michelle Patrick, Co-chair Pride Portland!

  • “The Lavender Blues is a combination of live music, music history, humor and mission. How did these entertainers and their music affect the mainstream culture? Audience members will leave performances knowing that they have learned something – and this new knowledge will be shared with others… One of the finest presentations I have seen.”

    — Ted Zalewski, Founder and Leader of Solo Together

  • "An amazing performance. I had no idea of so much of this history."

    — Michael Weidrich, former Executive Director & CEO, Pride Center of the Capital Region

Downloads

Brochure

for Higher Education Arts Presenters

Contact

Sarah Skinner Kilborne