Since its inception, Philadelphia queer-arts group The Bearded Ladies and its fearless founder John Jarboe/Jarbeaux have written operas, driven around town in their own BeardMobile, and collaborated with drag legends, classical music divas and more.
Now, they’re taking their act to the ice.
The Bearded Ladies will perform their own brand of Icecapades in dedication to the dangers of climate control. From Feb. 23 to 25, the Beards and friends—such as Opera Philadelphia’s Producing Artistic Director David B. Devan (a world-class ice skater), drag queens Messapotamia Lefae and Lili St. Queer and more—will perform two different flavors of Beards on Ice… with an important message.
The ‘Edging’ version is steamy and appealing to adults and hits the ice Friday and Saturday. However, there’s also a kid-friendly ‘Family Skate’ iteration taking place on Sunday morning, and it all takes place at the Independence Blue Cross River Rink Winterfest.
The genesis of Beards on Ice comes from Jarboe’s past as a hockey skater as a child in Michigan, and, more recently, from winter afternoons spent skating in Philly with Devan and discussing notions of climate change.
“There’s something about skating on an environmentally toxic rink that felt like it could lend itself to a Beards show,” said Jarboe. “The dream was to use the spectacle of an ice show to bring attention to climate justice workers in the city. We’re working with Philly Climate Works, Philly Thrive, Philly Jobs for Justice and more, and the show has turned into an hour-long, campy, climate-themed drag show-on-ice with ice skating professionals and newcomers to the sport.”
Jarboe loves the mix of experts and novices taking part in Beards on Ice, and marvels at the beauty of artists “trying their best” in the name of a good and chilly cause.
“This show fits into the continuum of Beards shows like the one we do for Bastille Day because it is a big, broad spectacle. It’s silly while it aims to be stupid-smart. We have the character of “natural gas” coming onto the ice, lip-synching to “The Wind Beneath My Wings,” to the accompaniment of farting sounds. That’s ridiculous, but it’s also driven by social commentary and has a direct link to some of the finest activists in this city.”
Jarboe laughs at Beards on Ice’s thesis statement – “Getting drag queens to ice skate is almost as impossible as climate justice and climate. If we get these queens to skate, perhaps we can save the planet.”
To that end, audiences will witness a range of skating virtuosity and daring as Jarboe, the Beards & Co. have been working with Philly choreographer Philippe Poirier to help plot their icy path, safely.
As soon as the Beards come off ice, they’ll get behind the wheel for their next BeardMobile excursion in April and May with the Free Library of Philadelphia. There, they will visit many of Philly’s branches to discuss having libraries as queer spaces.
“What we do on wheels is about working with neighborhoods and communities for the art that will happen on our BeardMobile,” said Jarboe of involving those not usually on stages to jump aboard and do their thing. “We never had our own venue before – even portable – and we’ll present people who might not self-identify as artists, that are just coming into their own – that’s beautiful and a different kind of performance energy than you’re used to seeing with the Beards.”
For more information, visit beardedladiescabaret.com
