Unconcealed by the voluminous folds of this Jessyesqe muumuu is queen-sized talent Jeffery Roberson (also known as Varla Jean Merman), who will make his New York opera debut later this week, in, modestly enough, The Medium, everyone’s favorite supernatural Menotti Broadway slasher opera. Details for this event— which might have been genetically engineered to appeal to the mind of the average parterrian—follow the jump.  

The Medium plays a three-week run October 25 through November 11 at the Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater, 10 West 64th Street, and, yes, that is right across the street from the Met. Roberson is a gifted falsettist whose eclectic résumé includes stints in Chicago on Broadway, All My Children and Ugly Betty on television, and the feature film Varla Jean and the Mushroomheads. It should also be mentioned that, quite unlike Joyce Castle, he was featured on Bravo’s Project Runway Season 5 as the winning model for the show’s drag challenge.

http://vimeo.com/50172458

Photo: Michael Von Redlich

La Cieca

James Jorden (who wrote under the names "La Cieca" and "Our Own JJ") was the founder and editor of parterre box. During his 20 year career as an opera critic he wrote for the New York Times, Opera, Gay City News, Opera Now, Musical America and the New York Post. He also raised his voice in punditry on National Public Radio. From time to time he directed opera, including three unsuccessful productions of Don Giovanni. He also contributed a regular column on opera for the New York Observer. James died in October 2023.

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