When the Bearded Ladies Cabaret debuted The Layaway at September’s Fringe Festival, the troupe anticipated delivering a burst of playful drag, live music, and cheeky spectacle inside the Wanamaker Building. Instead, the run was abruptly halted after Philadelphia’s Department of Licenses and Inspections flagged the venue for missing elevator and sprinkler certifications — a bureaucratic snag that shuttered the show before it found its full stride.
But the Bearded Ladies are nothing if not resilient.
This week, the beloved drag cabaret company returns to the iconic building with a festive, five-night holiday takeover. Their new series, It’s Giving Cabaret, transforms the Wanamaker Building’s stately Greek Hall into a glitter-drenched playground of sing-alongs, acrobatics, jazz, and surprise performances. Each show begins at 9 p.m., offering a late-night blend of camp and artistry that has become the troupe’s signature.
Presented in partnership with Opera Philadelphia’s Pipe Up! series, It’s Giving Cabaret will feature a rotating slate of performers and disciplines — from drag numbers that flirt with the absurd to aerial acts that stretch the imagination. No two nights are alike.
For the troupe, the return to Wanamaker is a chance to reclaim a space they didn’t get to fully inhabit, and to end the year in the way they know best — with spectacle, community, and a whole lot of holiday sparkle.
Here's the lineup:
Wednesday, Dec. 10: A sing-along to cure your seasonal depression featuring the Bearded Ladies hosts with Philadelphia Voices of Pride.
Thursday, Dec. 11: Featuring performances by Cookie Diorio, Eric Jaffe, and Jasmine Rice LaBeija, hosted by Jarbeaux.
Friday, Dec. 12: The Real Green Goddess is back for one night only, featuring excerpts from Greenaissance Tour discography along with Mabeline Diorio, Cindy Lou Who and Bling 1, hosted by Jarbeaux.
Saturday, Dec. 13: Grab your Sutter Home and toast to the resurrection of Philadelphia's favorite long-dead French Chanteuse, Edith Piaf, with special guest Denise King and hosted by Jarbeaux.
Sunday, Dec. 14: Celebrate the holidays with The Wau Wau Sisters, a burlesque duo hailed by the New York Times as “irreverent, sacrilegious, foul-mouthed and uninhibited.” Hosted by Jarbeaux. (Note: This performance will include copious amounts of holiday foods and nudity.)
Tickets are now on sale. More details can be found online at beardedladiescabaret.com.
