BREAKING THE BINARY THEATRE TO KICK OFF 4TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL WITH ONE-NIGHT-ONLY CONCERT OF “THE DROWSY CHAPERONE” AT CARNEGIE HALL
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Rick Miramontez / Kendall Edwards
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PLEASE
BREAKING THE BINARY THEATRE
TO KICK OFF 4th ANNUAL
BREAKING THE BINARY THEATRE FESTIVAL
WITH ONE-NIGHT-ONLY CONCERT PRESENTATION OF
“THE DROWSY CHAPERONE”
AT
CARNEGIE HALL
ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2025
FEATURING STAR-STUDDED ALL-TRANS AND NON-BINARY CAST
EMMY AWARD-WINNER LAVERNE COX
AS ‘THE DROWSY CHAPERONE’
ACTRESS & TRANS ACTIVIST JOSLYN DEFREECE
AS ‘UNDERLING’
TONY AWARD-WINNER ALEX NEWELL
AS ‘JANET VAN DE GRAAF’
RUPAUL’S “DRAG RACE” STAR PEPPERMINT
AS ‘MRS. TOTTENDALE’
EMMY AWARD-WINNER JONATHAN VAN NESS
AS ‘MAN IN CHAIR’
POP SENSATION BETTY WHO
AS ‘ROBERT MARTIN’
DIRECTED BY TONY AWARD-NOMINEE
L MORGAN LEE
ADDITIONAL CASTING AND FESTIVAL PROGRAMMING
TO BE ANNOUNCED
New York, NY (July 14, 2025) – On the heels of Breaking the Binary Theatre’s third anniversary, founder George Strus (they/them) announced today that the organization’s fourth annual Breaking the Binary Theatre Festival will kick off with a one-night-only concert of The Drowsy Chaperone at the Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall on Monday, October 20th at 8:00pm ET featuring a star-studded all-trans and non-binary cast.
Directed by Tony Award-nominee L Morgan Lee, the cast will include Emmy Award-winner Laverne Cox as ‘The Drowsy Chaperone,’ actress and Trans Activist Joslyn Defreece as ‘Underling,’ Tony Award-winner Alex Newell as ‘Janet Van De Graaf,’ RuPaul’s “Drag Race” superstar Peppermint as ‘Mrs. Tottendale,’ Emmy Award-winner Jonathan Van Ness as ‘Man in Chair,’ and pop sensation Betty Who as ‘Robert Martin.’ All net profits from the concert will benefit Breaking the Binary Theatre, Trans Lifeline, and Black Trans Liberation.
To download key art, click here.
The Drowsy Chaperone features music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison and book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar. This concert marks the title’s first major New York presentation since the original 2006 Tony Award-winning Broadway production.
Tickets for The Drowsy Chaperone will go on sale in late August. Additional casting and festival programming and will be announced at a later date. For more information, please visit www.btb-nyc.com/drowsy.
The festival, which will continue the groundbreaking theatre company’s mission of producing work created and developed by transgender, non-binary, and Two-Spirit+ (TNB2S+) theatre artists, will take place October 20, 2025 – October 26, 2025. Evan Bernardin Productions will serve as General Manager.
“When Breaking the Binary launched in July of 2022, we had one mission: to employ and amplify the work of TNB2S+ artists. That work has continued in bountiful ways throughout these past three years, but never in my wildest dreams did I think we’d make it to Carnegie Hall, especially on this timeline,” stated Strus. “The Drowsy Chaperone follows a fan of the theatre who uses their favorite cast recording to pick them up when they are feeling blue; needless to say, that concept of art (particularly theatre) as a healing tool has been on my mind as this current administration’s assault on transgender rights continues. In the midst of these attacks, our community continues to ‘stumble along’ and channel that frustration and rage into art, community support, and mutual aid. It is the greatest honor of my career to continue my creative partnership with L Morgan Lee (who has been a BTB artist since the very beginning) and work with this dazzling, star-studded cast to bring this beloved musical to life for one night only; don your ‘fancy dress’ and join us on Monday, October 20 at Carnegie Hall.”
To download headshots, click here.
Breaking the Binary Theatre is a new work development and community building hub wherein transgender, non-binary, and Two-Spirit+ (TNB2S+*) artists come together to reclaim our artistic license and liberty through a number of initiatives and programs, including the annual all-TNB2S+ Breaking the Binary Theatre Festival each October.
Launched in July 2022 and founded and led by George Strus (they/them), the organization has produced over fifty workshops and readings of new works by TNB2S+ artists; produced a three-week run of Cecilia Gentili’s Red Ink off-Broadway starring Jes Tom, Angelica Ross, and Peppermint, raising over $35,000 for charities; co-produced the world premiere of Sarah Mantell’s In The Amazon Warehouse Parking Lot with Playwrights Horizons, commissioned over fifty TNB2S+ artists; hosted over thirty community events; launched a free educational Summer Intensive for emerging TNB2S+ performers, a New Musicals program to develop musicals written by and featuring TNB2S+ performers, and a BTB Across America program for TNB2S+ artists outside of New York; published three collections with Broadway Licensing; partnered with Playbill, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Signature Theatre, Roundabout Theatre Company, and BroadwayCon; been in-residence at Playwrights Horizons, Williamstown Theatre Festival and New York Stage and Film; and paid out over $750,000 to over 500 TNB2S+ artists!
*Breaking the Binary Theatre uses the term “TNB2S+” in hopes to encompass any person who is transgender, non-binary, Two-Spirit, gender non-conforming, genderqueer, agender, intersex, gender expansive, bigender, gender fluid, or any identity within the umbrella transgender community.
As previously announced, BTB will present Cecilia Gentili’s Red Ink at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer. Starring Chiquitita, the production will play at Underbelly, Bristo Square from Wednesday, July 30 – Monday, August 25 at 14:30. For tickets and more information, please visit https://www.btb-nyc.com/red-ink-fringe.
Breaking the Binary Theatre is counseled by its Core Community, a voluntary advisory board of prominent TNB2S+ theatre artists working to further its outreach and impact. The board includes Tony Award-nominated designer Adam Rigg (they/them, The Skin of Our Teeth), Kleban Prize and Jonathan Larson Award-winning writer César Alvarez (they/them, Futurity), New York Stage and Film’s former Artistic Director Chris Burney (he/they), Princess Grace Award Honoraria recipient and director David Mendizábal (they/he, The Bandaged Place), Guggenheim Fellow and writer Jen Silverman (they/them+, Spain), Tony and Obie Award-winning actor and writer John Cameron Mitchell (he/they, “Shrill” on Hulu), Tony Award-winning multi-hyphenate KO who was formerly known as Karen Olivo (they/them, In the Heights), Kleban Prize and Jonathan Larson Award-winning poet Kit Yan (they/he/she, Interstate), Tony Award nominee L Morgan Lee (she/her, A Strange Loop), Jane Chambers Prize and Helen Merrill Award-winning writer MJ Kaufman (he/they, A Transparent Musical), Antonyo Award-nominated costume designer and activist Qween Jean (she/her, Primary Trust), Tony Award-winner and activist Sara Ramirez (they/them, “Grey’s Anatomy”), Co-Director of A.R.T./New York Risa Shoup (they/them), Tomás Matos (they/them, “Fire Island”), Grammy Award-winning interdisciplinary storyteller Ty Defoe (he/we/ty, Straight White Men), and Artistic Director of Rattlestick Theater Will Davis (he/him).
Breaking the Binary Theatre is powered by Producer Hub. For more information, please visit http://www.btb-nyc.com or @BreakingtheBinaryTheatre on Instagram.
The Drowsy Chaperone is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com
Original Broadway production of The Drowsy Chaperone produced by Kevin McCollum, Roy Miller, Bob Boyett, Stephanie McClelland, Barbara Freitag and Jill Furman.
BIOGRAPHIES
LAVERNE COX (The Drowsy Chaperone) is a four-time Emmy-nominated actress, Emmy-winning producer and a prominent equal rights advocate and public speaker. Laverne’s groundbreaking role of Sophia Burset in the critically acclaimed Netflix original series “Orange is The New Black” brought her to the attention of audiences all over the world. This role led to Laverne becoming the first openly transgender actress to be nominated for a Primetime acting Emmy. Laverne continues to grace both the big and small screens with diverse and groundbreaking roles. She stars in the Amazon Prime Video comedy series “Clean Slate,” a Laverne Cox Production in collaboration with Norman Lear’s Act III Productions and Sony Studios. Other credits include the Netflix film Uglies, the Emmy nominated Shonda Rhimes’ limited series ‘Inventing Anna,” the critically acclaimed film Promising Young Woman, and Justin Simien’s film Bad Hair. Laverne served as host of “Live From E!” for three years and hosted “The Laverne Cox Show,” a podcast for Shondaland Audio and iHeart Radio. Laverne won an Emmy for her works as executive producer of the eye-opening documentary Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word and has also produced other documentaries including Disclosure, Free CeCe and Heightened Scrutiny.
JOSLYN DEFREECE (Underling) is a New York City based writer, producer, actor, and activist. This year marks her third BTB Festival! She also traveled with the BTB family to the Williamstown Theatre Festival in 2023 to workshop a BTB original production, Twitch, by Lilliana Padilla. Joslyn starred in a production of The Enclave at Rattlestick Theater and has appeared on “The Daily Show,” Comedy Central, CNN, “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” and “Family Feud.” Her work can currently be seen in the comedy series “Marque and Hector” on Amazon Prime/Dekkoo, and on the show “Strange Angel,” where she plays a German trans woman who escaped the Nazis, streaming on Paramount+. Joslyn is also the subject of a new documentary, Pieces of Me, she created in collaboration with PFLAG National, currently streaming on Youtube.
ALEX NEWELL (Janet Van De Graaf) made history with their Tony Award win for the hit musical Shucked, which has received glowing reviews and praise with Alex’s performance of the song “Independently Owned” being called a showstopper. Their performances have also granted them the Drama Desk Award and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Musical. Prior to this, Alex starred as the God ‘Asaka’ (female role) in the Broadway revival of Once on this Island. This show granted Alex a Grammy nomination for Best Musical Theater Album, and the show was nominated for nine Tony Awards in 2018, won Best Revival and featured Alex’s song which they performed live at the Tonys. Alex has been named in 2023’s Variety New Power of New York List and featured in the 2023 TIME 100 Next list. The TIME’s annual list consists of 100 individuals who are shaping the future of their fields and defining the next generation of leadership. Alex’s piece was written by Academy Award-winning actress Mary Steenburgen, and they were honored at their gala in October as well. Alex was additionally named the 2023 Breakthrough of the Year by TIME Magazine, a brand-new exciting position which is part of the annual Person of the Year. Alex can now be seen in Amazon film Simple Favor 2 for Paul Feig.
PEPPERMINT (Mrs. Tottendale) rose to fame as the first out trans contestant on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 9, finishing as runner-up. She then made history as the first trans woman to originate a principal role on Broadway in Head Over Heels. Her recent projects include roles in Netflix’s “Survival of the Thickest,” Hulu’s Fire Island, and various TV series. She has hosted and presented at the GLAAD Media Awards and co-hosts the Black Queer Town Hall podcast. Peppermint is also an activist, serving as the ACLU’s first Artist Ambassador for Trans Justice and raising funds for LGBTQ+ organizations. She has been recognized for her work with award nominations and honors, including a GLAAD Media Award nomination, a “Queeroes” award, and a spot on Out magazine’s “OUT100” list.
JONATHAN VAN NESS (Man in Chair) is an Emmy-winning television personality, 4x New York Times bestselling author, podcaster, comedian, celebrity hairstylist, and founder of JVN Hair. They star on Netflix’s Emmy Award–winning reboot series “Queer Eye,” where they shine as the hair guru and self-care advocate; and they host the popular podcast “Getting Better with Jonathan Van Ness.”
BETTY WHO (Robert Martin) is a classically trained singer, dancer, and multi-instrumentalist whose soaring pop anthems and vibrant energy have made her a global fan favorite. From her viral breakout Somebody Loves You to her hit album BIG and recent singles Run! and Sweat, Betty blends powerful vocals with euphoric, genre-bending sound. Fresh off her Out of the Darkness Tour, which lit up the 2025 Pride season with a World Pride stop covered by The Washington Post, Them, and Billboard, she continues to bring authenticity to everything she does—from hosting Amazon’s The One That Got Away to her Broadway debut as Persephone in Hadestown. With bold new music and creative chapters ahead, Betty Who is entering her most electric era yet.
L MORGAN LEE (Director) is an award-winning actress and rising director and writer. She received Tony Award, Drama League, and Lortel nominations, as well as an Obie Award for her performance in A Strange Loop (Broadway, Playwrights Horizons, DC). She continues to break new ground both on stage and behind the scenes.
As a dedicated theatre-maker and educator, L Morgan brings a distinct and rare perspective to storytelling, often centering identity and the complexities of human experiences through a lens not often seen. Her writing has been featured in Playwrights Horizons’ Almanac (Vol. 03), When the Lights Are Bright Again, and Musical Theatre Today (Vol. 2). Her short play The Learning Curve was featured in the BTB Theatre Festival at The Public Theater and is published by Broadway Licensing. A Mark O’Donnell Prize and 2024 HRC Visibility Award recipient, L Morgan serves on the Advisory Board of the Breaking the Binary Theatre Company and is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Musical Theatre department at Pace University. She leads with vision, care, and a deep commitment to building bridges towards a more inclusive theatrical future. More at lmorganlee.com
GEORGE STRUS (Producer + Breaking the Binary Theatre’s Founding Artistic Director) is a trans non-binary Latiné producer and dramaturg based in New York. They founded Breaking the Binary Theatre: an Obie Award-winning new work development and community building hub for transgender, non-binary, and Two-Spirit+ (TNB2s+) theatermakers. They are also the Founding CEO of theatrical production company Benson Drive Productions, whose recent credits include Trisha Paytas’ Big Broadway Dream (raising over $150,000 for the Entertainment Community Fund), Becoming Eve at New York Theatre Workshop, and Stephen Sondheim’s The Frogs in London. Future projects include Mathilde Dratwa’s A Play About…, Amber Ruffin’s Bigfoot, Cecilia Gentili’s Red Ink, a.k. payne’s Furlough’s Paradise, The Danish Girl, Neil Simon’s Rumors, and over 25 projects in various stages of development. George was a proud co-producer of the 2023 off-Broadway world premiere production of Stephen Sondheim’s final musical, Here We Are and the Broadway premieres of Cole Escola’s Oh, Mary! (2025 Tony Nomination), Jackie Sibblies Drury, Justin Peck, and Sufjan Stevens’ Illinoise (2024 Tony Nomination), Sam Gold’s Romeo + Juliet (2025 Tony Nomination), Simon Rich’s All In, and Jamie Lloyd’s Evita (West End). They were awarded the 2024 Prince Fellowship (in association with Columbia University School of the Arts) and are a member of the 2025 Shubert Organization Artistic Circle. www.georgestrus.com
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