Living with Legends

It took one punch to start a gay revolution. It took a gender-bending lesbian to throw that punch.This is her story!

 

A play with music based on a true story and real events, STORMÉ recounts the life and times of Stormé DeLarverie, a Big Band singer (aka Stormy Dale) during the ‘40s and a male impersonator at America’s first racially integrated drag show, the infamous Jewel Box Revue, throughout the ‘50sand ‘60s. More importantly, she is an unsung shero of the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion.

Much like Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus in 1955 played a pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement, Stormy’s scuffle with police in 1969 during a raid at the Stonewall Inn was instrumental in igniting the modern-day Gay Rights Movement. Historical accounts of Stonewall practice a tradition of whitewashing and genderwashing by erasing key minorities when talking about the Stonewall Rebellion and Civil Rights.

 

IT WAS A REBELLION,

IT WAS AN UPRISING,

IT WAS CIVIL RIGHTS DISOBEDIENCE

IT WASN’T NO DAMN RIOT!

          —Stormé DeLarverie

 

STORMÉ is inspired by a photo essay by playwright Carolyn M. Brown thanking Stormy for throwing the first punch at Stonewall, which accompanied a Stormé DeLarverie mural by artist Rachel Wilkins for her “Shoulders of Giants” exhibit of LGBTQIAGNC+ movement trailblazers. Other cast of characters include Billy Strayhorn, a composer for the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Elaine Romagnoli, founder of The Cubby Hole and several lesbian bars; Billy Daye, a female impersonator with the Jewel Box Revue, and Diana Jones, Stormy's love interest and life partner of 25 years. .

 

Location: WOW Cafe Theater (59 East 4th Street, New York, NY)

 

Tickets: $18/online, $20/door

 

Saturday, October 15, 2022 @ 7PM

 

Sunday, October 16, 2022 @ 3:30PM

SHOW LINK

https://our.show/stormetheplay

Other links to Storme at the Chelsea:

Storme Delarverié Takes To The Stage Again

Who will play Storme? 
Rally around Storme
Storme with her version of "I Fell For You."
Gala for Storme 
Icon of the LGBT Community Dies