A genre-defying musical shrine to queer identity and transformation invites us into an irreverent feast of gender, memory, and grief.

Once upon a vine, Rose Jarboe’s aunt revealed that Rose not only had a twin sister in the womb, but that she consumed her: “You ate her. That’s why you are the way you are.” This was a lot for Rose to swallow! In this musical shrine to the consumed twin, Rose welcomes you into a feast of gender through song, storytelling, and a full plate of wordplay.

Created in partnership with the Bearded Ladies Cabaret. Featuring all original music written in collaboration with Emily Bate, Rose Jarboe, and Pax Ressler.

“As queer folx, however we identify, we are always in dynamic tension between being who we are authentically and the tyranny of respectability: fitting in by making ourselves more palatable, more recognizable to a cis-het society in order to get through the day, escape harassment, and for some of us, just to survive. I don’t pass. I don’t fit into a clean, commercialized narrative of transition. What I love about the story of Rose is that it is unmistakably disrespectful, pretty tasteless, and entirely me.”– Rose Jarboe

Content Transparency

This performance includes themes of fetal mortality and growing up queer in Michigan in the 90s, some graphic eating imagery, and cannibal humor.

Original compositions featured in tonight’s performance of Rose:

Rose: A True Story | Composed by Emily Bate, arranged by Heath Allen, lyrics by John Jarboe

She Summers in Vienna | Composed by Emily Bate, lyrics by John Jarboe

And Then Rose Said| Composed by Pax Ressler, lyrics by John Jarboe

Dear Mom | Composed by Pax Ressler and John Jarboe, lyrics by John Jarboe

Bearded Ladies Staff

Rose Jarboe (she/her) | Founder & Artistic Director

Sally Ollove (she/her) | Associate Artistic Director

Wesley Flash (he/him) | Managing Director

Elena Faverio (they/them) | Marketing Manager

Taylor Jedlinski (she/her) | Production Manager

Nic Bampbelldie (they/them) | Beards Administrator

Carlos Diaz Stoop (he/him) | Staff Producer

Rose was commissioned by Works & Process and created in collaboration with The Bearded Ladies Cabaret.

The work was created during the pandemic in Works & Process bubble residencies at Mount Tremper Arts and Bethany Arts Community, with the support of the Mellon Foundation and Doris Duke Foundation.

Early iterations of Rose were presented by Works & Process in the Guggenheim Rotunda (2021), Guggenheim Theater (2022), and CulturalDC (2022). Rolling World Premiere at FringeArts (2023), La MaMa ETC (2024), and Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company (2024).

Honorary producer for the On the Boards presentation: John C. Robinson.

Rose: You Are Who You Eat

West Coast Premiere

February 19-21, 2026
Thursday, February 19 | 8pm¹
Friday, February 20 | 8pm²
Saturday, February 21 | 8pm

¹Covid Safe(r) Seating available
² Post-show Drink Back: conversation, clothing swap, and hot chocolate. Bring gender relics from your closet and/or just yourself!