ADAMS, Mass. — The Adams Theater and Life Jacket Theatre Co. will present "The Big Gay Speakeasy" on June 13 and 14. 

 

The theatrical event is described as a time-traveling experience featuring music from the 1920s-1930s that is for, by, and about the LGBTQ+ community.

 

The two performances are a project of Life Jacket Theatre, a New York City-based theater company that states its focus is on presenting "undertold stories." The shows are scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m., and tickets are available through the Adams Theater website.

 

Attendees can expect an atmosphere reminiscent of the Prohibition era, including an entry password, a live jazz band, and singalongs led by Broadway performers. The organizers suggest wearing "glittery attire" and indicate that Prohibition-themed cocktails and treats will be available. Travis Russ, Artistic Director of Life Jacket Theatre, stated that the show is centered on "leading with love."

 

Life Jacket Theatre collaborates with communities to produce events where individuals share personal experiences. Their staged productions have addressed topics such as the "Fag Ward," a segregated unit at a New York City penitentiary for inmates convicted of homosexuality in the 1930s.

 

Russ commented on the significance of acknowledging the past.

 

"It can be a revolutionary act to acknowledge the past. And we, too, today, can sing and dance and love. The irony of a speakeasy is that they were spaces to go be yourself behind closed doors," he said. "We're embracing that idea, and erasing the shame some individuals are trying to keep around the LGBTQIA+ community by putting them onstage, and creating a communal experience. To me, that is a revolutionary act."

 

Life Jacket Theatre is scheduled to return to the Berkshires in August for "The Storytelling Project," described as a story-slam event featuring local individuals sharing personal stories.

 

"The Big Gay Speakeasy" is the second speakeasy-themed event hosted by the theater, following a series in 2024 with Great Barrington Public Theater that focused on female figures of the 1920s.

 

Life Jacket Theatre Co. has received nominations for a Drama Desk Award, two American Theatre Wing Henry Hewes Design Awards, seven New York Innovative Theatre Awards, and eleven BroadwayWorld Awards. Their work has been recognized as Critic's Picks by various publications and was named the "#1 Show at the Edinburgh Fringe" by Fest Magazine.