DIVAS & DRAG 2024
DIVAS & DRAG (D&D) showcases the art of Drag and the spectacle of Opera as local Drag and Opera artists forge their brilliance for unforgettable mashups celebrating self-expression through the most spectacular art forms ever to grace the stage.
This year, D&D pays homage to variety shows of the early 1960’s – when opera on TV was still in fashion! - hosted by the famed duo drag artist Dick von Dyke and burlesque artist Queenie von Curves. With a refreshments bar hosted at every show by Can Can Wonderland!
September 19, 7pm
September 20, 7pm
September 21, 7pm
September 22, 4 PM
*Sober performance/Alcohol-free event
September 23, 7pm
*Industry Night and ASL interpreted by Breanna Valentino
@ 825 Arts | 825 University Ave W, St. Paul
Run time= 100 minutes including a 15-minute intermission
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Artistic Producers: Dick von Dyke & Queenie von Curves
Executive Producer: Kelly M Turpin
Collaborative Pianist: Jared Mikach
Stage Manager: Ches Cipriano
Lighting Designer: Claudia Errickson
Stage Designer: Emily Jaques
Front of House Manager: Zach Staads
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Andre 1000
Corissa Bussian
Del the Funky Homosexual
Dick Von Dyke
Justin Anthony Spenner
Jared Mikach
Kara Morgan
Luma Notti
Maurice Fields III
Miss Ava Cado
Queenie von Curves
Texas Tea Cake$
Victoria DeVille
Zetta Laveau
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Maurice Fields III (they/them) described as a “brassy” dramatic tenor, Maurice is a graduate of a Masters of Music in Vocal Performance and Literature at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. At this institution, they had the luck of studying under the likes of Nathan Gunn and Sarah Wigley whilst flourishing in the Lyric Theatre at Illinois program. Before their time in graduate school, Maurice played a variety of roles at Concordia University Saint Paul, ranging from character voice acting for Audrey II (Little Shop of Horrors) or playing the UPS Guy in Working: The Musical. Maurice has most recently played Stine (City of Angels), Gherardo (Gianni Schicchi), Father (Children of Eden), and debuted with AOT in The Cradle Will Rock this past spring.
Maurice's adventures in theatre extend to directing, dramaturgy, and dance. Recently they were the assistant director, dramaturg, dialect coach, and surtitleist for A Little Night Music. Maurice is excited to be back in Minnesota and working as an actor and vocalist.
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From Chile to the chilly Twin Cities, Zetta Laveau (she/her) is a proud Latina performer, MC, and producer, who has taken the Twin Cities burlesque scene by storm since her 2021 arrival. A performer at heart since a very young age, Zetta has been involved in music, dance, and theater for over 25 years, finding her true passion in Burlesque in 2016.
This international showgirl is a Nudie Nubies Ultimate Reveal Champion who flaunts her lower-latitude attitude through colorful costuming and coquettish choreography.
Known as “The Lavish and Luscious Latina Seductress” and “The Sweet and Sultry Tease”, she has performed in various stages and competitions in South America, and is now seducing audiences across the US and beyond!
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Andre 1000 has been a staple drag king throughout the twin cities since 2003. He began his performance career with the drag troupe The 24 Karat Kings. He holds the title of Mr. Drag King Minnesota 2010. He currently is a cast member of Dragged out at Black Hart St Paul and he is also a Co Show Producer of Hot Pink at the Saloon Minneapolis. He is sexy, he is smooth, his smolder is undeniable, and he has a smile that melts you!
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Known as the Rubenesque Royale of Burlesque, Queenie von Curves is producer of Bare Book Club Mpls, Flower and Devour Burlesque Brunch with Hi Flora!, 2 Dykes Walk into a Bar with Dick von Dyke, and Dr. Sketchy's Mpls. A lifelong Queer artist, having earned a BFA in theatre performance, performed as a company member with Ballet of the Dolls, worked as a costume designer and theater/event management throughout the Twin Cities, she has always strived to promote joy and community through the arts.
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Kara Morgan is thrilled to return to AOT for Divas & Drag! Career highlights include mainstage credits with Fargo-Moorhead Opera, Pacific Opera Project, Salt Marsh Opera and An Opera Theatre; apprenticeships with Merola Opera, Santa Fe Opera, and Sarasota Opera; and recognition from the Schubert Club, Opera Tampa D’Angelo Young Artist and Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competitions.
Recently, Kara concluded her time as a member of the opera studio at Yale University with performances of Mother Goose in The Rake's Progress, Anna I in Kurt Weill’s 7 Deadly Sins, and Mahler's Songs of a Wayfarer with the Yale Philharmonia. She joins Minnesota Opera this fall as a Resident Artist for the 2024-25 season, debuting the roles of Stéphano (Roméo et Juliette) and Rosina (Il barbiere di Siviglia).
More info can be found at kmorganmezzo.com.
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Dick Von Dyke (he/him/hey girl) is thrilled to be back with Divas & Drag! As a seasoned drag performer and emcee, Dick has dazzled audiences in over a dozen different cities across the country, spreading love, joy, and the gay agenda. You can catch him Dickin’ around at the Black Hart of St. Paul, as well as Lush Lounge & Theater, where he co-show directs. Voted Minneapolis’ 2024 “Drag King of the Year,” he’s thrilled to share his love of classical music with the AOT fam bam in a draggy sorta way!
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Corissa (she/her) is thrilled to be part of AOT’s fabulously fierce Divas & Drag! She first performed with AOT in their inaugural production of The Consul and was excited to return this past spring to sing the roles of Yasha and Sadie in The Cradle Will Rock. Corissa was most recently seen singing Sister Dolcina in Out of the Box Opera’s immersive Suor Angelica and performing Ayo in Minnesota Opera’s reboot of the baby opera NOOMA. Among her favorite roles are Mimì in La Bohème at Theater Latté Da and Chue Moua in Minnesota Opera’s 50th world premiere, The Song Poet. Corissa has also enjoyed merging classical and contemporary music with Mixed Precipitation’s Pick Up Truck Opera, singing Pamina in volume 1, The Magic Flute, and Juliet in volume 2, Romeo & Juliet. Currently, she is performing the role of Marguerite in Faust PUTO volume 3.
When Corissa isn’t trying to keep up with her two young sons, she likes running, baking, jigsaw and crossword puzzles, traveling, boba, and jamming out on the melodica.
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Del The Funky Homosexual is known for his smooth moves and undeniable energy.
Always dressed to kill, this lover boy has a passion for demonstrating just how captivating Draglesque can be.
Del got his start with his beloved Dykes Do Drag in Minneapolis and earned his stripes as a member of Sweetpea’s Vigilantease Collective. He is currently a proud member of one of the longest running Drag King troupes in the U.S. - Dragged Out.
Del is thrilled about bringing The LIFT, a new multidisciplinary, all BIPOC show to Minneapolis with his partner Borinqueña Bonita!
Get ready to experience the funkiest homo in town, it’s Del The Funky Homosexual!
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This Southern Belle moved to the Twin Titties in 2021. Since calling Minnesota home Texas Tea Cake$ has become 2023 Nudie Nubies Nationwide Champion, 2023 Burlesque Gotz Skillz Sing and Fling Champion, and Co-Producer of Fat B*tch Friday! Some have even dubbed her the 'Pickle Queen'. Come and witness her journey as she shakes her way through the world of burlesque!
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"The Twin Cities' Dirty Little Secret", Mistress Victoria Deville began her drag journey at the Gay 90s in the fall of 2002 in the weekly amateur contest. The Bold, Bald Badass's drag show credits include Show Director and Creator of "Suck It: Gag on the Drag'' at The Townhouse Bar and "#DragRevolution" at LUSH from 2015-2020 as well as competing in Entertainer of the Year and Miss Gay USofA.
Victoria has a deep love for the art of burlesque and feels fortunate to have worked in that world since 2009 including being the voice of Black Hearts Burlesque since 2011, multiple years hosting the Burlesque Hall of Fame in Las Vegas, and emceeing The Atomic Bombshells in Provincetown, MA.
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Multi-genre Baritone Justin Anthony Spenner (they/he) is a "wild and anxious ride" (Star Tribune) known for their captivating work that spans the genres of opera, art song, chamber, experimental, pop, and metal. They have two charming cats named Percy and Motley. Justin has performed with multiple companies that treat artists nicely, such as: Mixed Precipitation, 113 Composers Collective, Bach Society of MN, Theater Latte Da, An Opera Theatre, Opera on the Lake, and The Edvard Grieg Society. They have two bands: the sub-genreless metal band (ab)scheid, and the Norwegian cover band Near Norse. Also, one podcast: Is this Music?!?! The ideas never seem to stop, so the art keeps being produced. [Keep in touch at
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This kitschy, campy queen is here to share the great news of fat liberation, disability advocacy, and implement the queer agenda. This subversive babe puts the CULT in pop culture as they’re devoted to il-LUMA-nating minds about thinking differently about the consumption of art and fat bodies.
They’re the February AND Ultimate Reveal 2023 winner of Nudie Nubies and has been making waves on Midwest stages as a new performer, host, stagehand, and producer since. Luma produced the number one most reviewed show in the 2023 Minnesota Fringe Festival, that was featured in BroadwayWorld.com, sold out her first show at Bryant Lake Bowl Theater in April 2024 called Luma Notti’s 27 Club, has hosted events such as The DisabiliTease Festival, Fat Cat Cabaret, and curated the halftime show at MPLS Queer Mud Wrestling. They’re here to enlighten your mind and lighten your wallet, it’s LUMA NOTTI.
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Jared Mikach is a Mexican-American collaborative pianist and educator in the Twin Cities. He earned a B.A. in Music from St. Olaf College, and a Master’s Degree in Collaborative Piano and Coaching at the University of Minnesota. Jared's experience spans various opera and musical theater productions where he has worked as a pianist, assistant music director, and repetiteur. Beyond performance, he is actively engaged as an educator: he served as the music department pianist at North High School, is a Youth Program Music Director for MN Opera, and a core faculty member for the Ordway’s GreenRoom fellowship. As a freelance pianist, Jared has collaborated with organizations including BorderCrosSing, Heritage Choir, Minnesota Philharmonic Orchestra, Schubert Club, Source Song Festival, OOPS MN, Mississippi Valley Orchestra, Skylark Opera Theatre, AOT, and Journey North Opera Company. Jared strives to bring a holistic approach to every facet of his art making, creating spaces that foster sustainability in the arts.
THANK YOU, SPONSORS!
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council and Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
