The Rose Garden: Green Room &
Rose: You Are Who You Eat
CulturalDC is excited to announce
The Rose Garden: Green Room
by John Jarboe
CULTURALDC’S MOBILE ART GALLERY
7TH AND D ST NW (IN FRONT OF OYAMEL)
THE ROSE GARDEN: Green Room IS A FULLY IMMERSIVE ART INSTALLATION
JUNE 8 – JULY 14, 2024 - FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Opening Celebration June 8, 4-7 PM
*Closed July 4th
Gallery Hours:
June: Wednesday - Saturday 12-7, Sunday 12-6
July: Wednesday - Sunday 12-5, Closed July 4th
Closed from 1:30-2 PM for lunch
Concurrently, CulturalDC with Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company and the Washington Blade present
Rose: You Are Who You Eat
by John Jarboe
JUNE 5 – JUNE 23, 2024 - TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Directed by MK Toumanen
A concert experience exploring gender queerness and queer ancestry through the metaphor of cannibalism.
Rose: You Are Who You Eat is part of the rolling world premiere with FringeArts and La MaMa ETC. From a Commission by Works & Process at the Guggenheim. Presented in association with Woolly Mammoth and The Bearded Ladies Cabaret.
A TRUE STORY OF GENDER FEASTING, SET TO MUSIC
ONCE UPON A VINE, JOHN JARBOE’S AUNT REVEALED THAT JOHN NOT ONLY HAD A TWIN SISTER IN THE WOMB, BUT THAT JOHN CONSUMED HER: “YOU ATE HER. THAT’S WHY YOU ARE THE WAY YOU ARE.”
THIS WAS A LOT FOR JOHN TO SWALLOW! IN THIS MUSICAL SHRINE TO THE CONSUMED TWIN, NAMED ROSE, JOHN WELCOMES YOU INTO A FEAST OF GENDER THROUGH SONG, STORYTELLING, AND A FULL PLATE OF WORDPLAY.
Rose: You Are Who You Eat was first presented by CulturalDC in 2022. Rose is inspired by a true story about gender queerness and queer ancestry portrayed through the metaphor of cannibalism. Rose is a shrine of music, image, objects, and text brought together by a team of queer artists, including composers and musicians, to tell the legend of John and Rose. Including composers and musicians Emily Bate, Daniel de Jesús, Pax Ressler, and Be Steadwell with director Mary Tuomanen. Jarboe, the founding artistic director of the Bearded Ladies Cabaret, explores this tale through musical styles ranging from art songs to 1980s pop ballads, elaborate floral-inspired costumes made by Rebecca Kanach, and intimate storytelling.
Photo credit: Christopher Ash
John Jarboe
John Jarboe (she/her) is a director, singer, writer, producer, and host serving you revolution, herstory, queer community making, and a whole lot of glitter.
She is the founding Artistic Director of The Bearded Ladies Cabaret, the largest queer performance organization in Philadelphia, recently known for hosting a 12-hour International Festival of Cabaret called FEAST, as well as making a mobile stage out of a 15-foot box truck called The Beardmobile. The Beardmobile toured for the first time in Washington, D.C., in October 2021 with support from CulturalDC. She has directed and written original work performed at La Mama ETC, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Joe's Pub, Opera Philadelphia, The Wilma Theater, Guggenheim's Works & Process, and Lincoln Center's American Songbook Series.
As a director, Jarboe has directed and helped create shows for Cookie Diorio, the legendary Mezzo Stephanie Blythe, and Countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo. As a writer and performer, Jarboe has toured to Paris, Poland, and New Zealand and most recently received commissions and two residencies from Works and Process at The Guggenheim.
“Dear Mom” Credits
In collaboration with The Fabric Workshop and Museum, Philadelphia
Conceived and Performed by John Jarboe: Producer, Writer, Co-Director
Co-director, Director of Photography, Film Co-Production Design: Christopher Ash
Co-Director, Performance Director and Dramaturg: MK Tuomanen
Composition by Pax Ressler and John Jarboe
Arrangement by Pax Ressler
Production Design by John Jarboe with support from The Fabric Workshop and Museum and Christopher Ash
Costume Design: Rebecca Kanach
Costume Fabrication: Abby Lutz with Barbara Botting
Print Design: Design by John Jarboe, watercolors by Rebecca Kanach, and layout by Abby Lutz
Music Direction: Emily Bate
Project Manager and First Assistant Director: Nic Labadie-Bartz
First Assistant Camera: Taj Rauch
Producer: Emily Schreiner
Production Manager: Newton Buchanan
FWM Chief Curator: DJ Hellerman
FWM Fabrication: Franco Andrés and Abby Lutz
FWM Photo Documentation: Carlos Avendaño
FWM Set Assistants: Jill Adler, Franco Andrés, Liv Chiaravalli, Olivia Dwyer, DJ Hellerman, Morgan Medl, Justin Rubich, Allen West, and Nami Yamamoto
Performer Credits
Cast:
John Jarboe as John/Rose
Suli Holum as Mother
Elija Horst
Thalie Wiley
Elio Wiley
Levity Hayden
Calliope Borden
Nanu Taati-Krodman
Neve Funt
Tali Funt
Voices by The Philadelphia Girls Choir, Music Direction: Nathan Wadley
Additional Musical coaching: Pax Ressler
Crew Credits (build)
Bianca DiCastanado
Charlie Hurwitz
Jack Lledo
Leraynha Epps
Lindsey Silver
Matt Bock
Michael Long
Michael Nutt
Paul Liang