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, John 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.”
– John 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.
Photo Credit: Steven Pisano
In the Press
“Coming to a Theater Near You...” by Nathalie Graham for The Stranger | September 9, 2025
About the Artist
Credits
John Jarboe (she/her) | Concept, Writer, and Performer
MK Tuomanen (they/them) | Director
Emily Bate (she/her) | Music Director & Performer
Christopher Ash (he/him) | Set, Video, & Lighting Designer
Rebecca Kanach (she/her) | Costume Designer
Taylor Jedlinski (she/her) | Sound Designer & Audio Engineer
Brian Freeland (he/him) | Production Manager
Jecca Barry (she/her) | Producer
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.