Yaron Spiwak and Benjamin Morren
by Steve Desroches
The world is on fire, that is for sure. Anxiety and uncertainty reign supreme as chaos and cruelty fill the air. It’s easy to be overwhelmed and confused with no clear response. But early in the New Year, on a quiet and cold day a simple white t-shirt with black lettering appeared in the window of Coffey Men on Commercial Street that reads:
“PROVINCETOWN
Now More Important Than Ever.”
Many people refer to Provincetown as “magical” or as their “happy place.” And indeed Provincetown’s best impulses are what make it such a special place. But that energy is not just a natural state of being, rather Provincetown is what it is because of a choice and a commitment. Those who love Provincetown and what it represents realize it takes work and cannot be taken for granted, otherwise it can all be lost. In difficult times it can seem frivolous, even disrespectful, to celebrate when others are suffering and our democratic system is threatened. But as writer Ari Honarvar says, “Perhaps the most radical act of resistance in the face of adversity is to live life joyfully.” Activism is important, and certainly is reflected in Provincetown, but so, too, is doubling down on our way of life and all that it produces.
As is our tradition, each Memorial Day issue we give an outline of the entertainment offerings for the upcoming summer documenting the wide array of options and to help readers plan what shows they definitely want to see. We hope you will visit the theaters, clubs, and cabarets of the Outer Cape often, as the arts are under assault and much of what Provincetown has to offer is actively being censored and challenged elsewhere. This summer, buying a ticket to a show is an act of resistance. It is also a way to recharge your batteries, take a break from the tumult of the world, and focus on what is important to you. The best way to respond to tyrannical forces is to stick to a narrative of equality, peace, justice, and yes, joy. Be what you want to see in the world as an effective way to counter voices of hate and ignorance. It’s never been a better time for Provincetown to be Provincetown.
Theme Weeks & Special Events
Womxn of Color Weekend, June 5 – 8
Provincetown Pride, June 6 – 8
CabaretFest, June 2 – 8
Provincetown International Film Festival, June 11 – 15
Juneteenth Celebrations, June 14 – 21
Frolic: Men of Color Weekend, June 18 – 23
Provincetown Portuguese Festival, June 27 – 29
Independence Day Fireworks and Parade, July 4
Revolution: Independence Week, June 28 – July 6
Bear Week, July 12 – 19
Girl Splash, July 23 – 26
Family Week, July 27 – August 2
Jamaican Independence Day, August 6
Provincetown Jazz Festival, August 12
Carnival Week, August 16 – 24
47th Annual Carnival Parade, August 21
Art House
Rainbow Entertainment Group, headed by Richy Pugh, which produces shows in Atlanta and Palm Springs, is taking over the Art House this summer with a season full of drag, comedy, and music. Kicking of the inaugural season for them is Spankie Jackzon (May 29 – June 8), all the way from New Zealand, who was the winner of season two of RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under. After a stellar full season last year, Sutton Lee Seymour (May 28 – September 13) returns to Provincetown with her show Witch, Please!, which was the toast of Puerto Vallarta last winter. Fans of The Golden Girls will delight in Bea Arthur’s Brat Summer: A Drag Pop Broadway Fantasia (May 26 – September 9) starring Jason B. Schmidt, Las Vegas drag legend Edie brings her drag game show Are You Smarter Than a Drag Queen (May 24 – September 13), and making her Provincetown debut, the fabulous Queen of Magic Miss Uchawi (June 16 – August 12), presents a musical and magical stage spectacular.
Performing feats of a different kind of illusion is the wildly fun and funny Puppetry of the Penis (May 23 – September 13) in which two men perform a variety of tricks with their, well, you know, creating such crowd pleasers as “The Eiffel Tower,” “The Loch Ness Monster,” and “The Hamburger.” Singer and heartthrob Brian Justin Crum (June 20 – July 3) hits town for a quick run and Scarlett Strauss (June 22 – September 10) takes on a comedic, musical exploration of the history of the blonde all summer long. Come Bear Week, singer-songwriter Tom Goss (July 12 – 19) hits the stage, as does Idol Worship (July 14), an evening featuring San Francisco drag star Peaches Christ with cult film icon Mink Stole. Patrick Hinds (July 25) graces the Art House for an evening of storytelling, promising “laughs, drinks, and drama,” while Broadway Barbara (July 25 – 27) pays homage to Babs, and Nicky Ciampoli (July 30 – August 3) portrays Carol Channing in a night of music and performance, and Richard Skipper (August 4 – 5) presents his own take on Ms. Channing and her legacy. Come the dog days of August, music is in the air with Daniel LeClair (August 7 – 8) and his cabaret comedy show My Heart Belongs to Daddiesand An Epic Tribute: Freddy Mercury The Legend (August 6 – 23), featuring Roy Cruz as the front man of Queen.
Crown & Anchor
The party palace that is the Crown & Anchor is bursting with talent this summer. Filling the marquis of the Paramount are the inimitable Dina Martina (May 30 – September 13) and Varla Jean Merman in The Drowsy Chappell Roan (June 14 – September 20). The gorgeous Cabaret room is home to Tina Burner with her new show Boob Tube (now through September 11), the queer comedy showcase, Fruit Basket (June 25 – September 10), hosted by Kristen Becker and Anddy Egan-Thorpe, andfeaturing a rotating cast of comics, and Todd Alsup Sings Madonna: An Immaculate Reconception (June 13 – September 20), in which the powerhouse vocalist explores the music of the Material Girl.
Gifford House
Perched up on Carver Street, the Gifford House is home to a friendly bar, a comfy hotel, a hopping nightclub, and the Wilde performance venue. This summer Cody Sullivan returns every Monday night with his hit show Cody Plays (June 2-September 29), in which he and a rotating cast of guest stars create a play in one day. Bingo with Trish (June 3 – December 30), everyone’s favorite klutz returns, as well, every Tuesday, and comedian Peter Toto (June 5-September 4) is back with a new weekly comedy show WTF (Wait That’s Funny) on Thursdays. The Gifford House is also the new Provincetown home for the Mosquito Story Slam (June 8-September 7), a night of live storytelling on select Sundays. New York drag star Kiki Ball-Change (July 8-9) will take to the stage this season, and last summer’s megahit SHABOOM! (August 13-22), “a spectacle teetering on the edge of disaster,” returns. Starring Silky Shoemaker, Lex Vaughn, and Paul Soileau (who also performs as drag terrorist Christeene), it’s an evening of theater on the edge, mildly controlled chaos, and queer slapstick. In addition, the Love Lounge at the Gifford House features nightly musical offerings.
Harbor Stage Company
The Harbor Stage Company, located on Wellfleet Harbor, quickly ascended to an important regional theater when it opened in 2012. Come 2025 their reputation has only grown, and this summer begins with The Bohemian (June 12-July 5), adapted from the work of Willa Cather, followed by Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman (July 10 – August 2). August brings Circle Mirror Transformation (August 7-31) by Annie Baker, a look a hilarious and heartbreaking look at the lives of five New England neighbors, played on and off the stage.
Payomet Performing Arts Center
Seeing a concert at the tent at the Payomet Performing Arts Center is a quintessential Cape Cod summer experience. The breeze coming off the North Atlantic and the rural setting make for a perfect backdrop to great music with the diverse offerings Payomet brings to North Truro. The calendar at Payomet is chock full and includes the 11th Annual Cape Cod Women’s Music Festival (June 21), Suede (July 1), The Wailers (July 12), Ladysmith Black Mambazo (July 16), Roomful of Blues (July 19), comedian Jimmy Tingle (July 20), Graham Nash (July 23), Start Making Sense: Talking Heads Tribute (August 2), Joan Osbourne Sings the Songs of Bob Dylan (August 9), Ella Mae Dixon (August 11), Dave Mason (August 19), Jake Shimabukuro (August 26), Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel (August 27), Patty Larkin and Lucy Kaplansky (August 30), with more acts and dates to come in the near future.
Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum
While many are sad to learn that the Sunset Music on the Beach concerts at Herring Cove will not return, there is great excitement over the new Music on the Hill series up at the Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum every Wednesday night from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Produced by Peter Donnelly, who also did the beach concerts, Music on the Hill will be free of charge and there will be a full cash bar and food trucks. The Cape Cod bands scheduled to play include The Rip It Ups (June 25), The Sarah Burrill Band (July 2), The Grab Brothers (July 9), Johnny Spampinato and The Value Leaders (July 9), Donnelly & Richardson (July 23), Cheryl Aruda and Dirty Blonde (July 30), The George Gritzbach Band (August 6), The Slant Four (August 13), Zoe Lewis & The Educated Fleas (August 20), The Sensible Shoes and The Illustrious Subs (August 27), and Johnny and The Washashores (September 3).
Post Office Café and Cabaret
The Post Office Café and Cabaret shimmers on Commercial Street and is home to a beloved restaurant and an upstairs performance space. This season the P.O. hosts a wide array of entertainment options, including Illusions (now through September 14), Provincetown’s longest running drag revue starring Kira Stone, Payton St. James, Lakia Mondale, and Billie Jean. Also on the bill is Spookey with his Helltown Burlesque (now through November 1), the arrival of A Woman Named Carlos (now through September 11), the queens of DIVA! (now through September 13), featuring Qya Cristal, Roxy Pops, and Delta Miles, and the showbiz spitfire Paige Turner with her new show, As If! It’s the 90s (now through August 24). Superstar and beloved Provincetown staple Miss Richfield 1981 settles into her new home at the Post Office with her show There’s a Pill for That (now through September 13) and funny man Bob Keary presents his late-night talk show, Good Night Provincetown, once a month through October. Keeping the laughs going is Jamie Morris with his latest outrageous parody The Golden Mean Girls (June 18 – September 14) and the Emmy-winning stand-up comic Judy Gold (June 22 – September 14). Adding a little rock and roll to it all is Bitch (July 2 – September 3) and brining the sass in the café is Vivienne Fontaine with her Summer Camp!
Provincetown Town Hall
As the largest performance space on the Outer Cape the auditorium at Provincetown Town Hall, 260 Commercial Street, has long been where the biggest names to hit the Cape tip are showcased. And this summer is no exception. The Payomet Performing Arts Center in North Truro is bringing in a cavalcade of amazing acts to Provincetown Town Hall including the hilarious, musical comedy of Randy Rainbow (June 22), legendary filmmaker and beloved Provincetown resident John Waters (July 24), the outrageous comedy of Sandra Bernhard (July 29), the marvelous Margaret Cho (August 1-2), a double powerhouse performance by Jane Lynch and Kate Flannery with their show The Trouble with Angels (August 13-14), the irrepressible Paula Poundstone (August 16), the amazing Tig Notaro (August 23), the musical stylings of Rufus Wainwright (August 28), and a solo performance by Kate Pierson (August 31) of the B-52s.
Mark Cortale made a big splash in Provincetown as the artistic director of the Art House for 12 years. And while he’s taking Broadway by storm as the producer of the Tony Award-nominated musical Floyd Collins, Cortale still has one foot firmly planted in Provincetown with a series at Town Hall. This weekend he presents Parker Posey’s Pajama Party, in which the actress is interviewed by Provincetown icon Ryan Landry. The remarkable Sasha Velour (July 6) always amazes whenever she comes to town, as does Broadway star Christine Ebersole (August 10) who will be accompanied by Billy Stritch. At age 97, the legendary cabaret singer Marilyn Maye (August 24) is still at the top of her game, and the hilarious duo of Megan Mullally and Judy Gold (August 31) team up for an evening not to be missed.
The indefatigable Mike Flanagan (July 16) and friends take to the stage for Bear Week for a night of music while Rainbow Entertainment Group brings in the legendary Coco Peru (August 22) for Carnival Week, and the Provincetown Business Guild is producing a show by the environmentalist drag queen Pattie Gonia (August 19) the night before the big Carnival Parade.
For Tickets & Information
PROVINCETOWN
THE ART HOUSE rainboweg.com 214 Commercial St.
CROWN AND ANCHOR onlyatthecrown.com 247 Commercial St.
GIFFORD HOUSE giffordsprovincetown.com 9 Carver St.
MARK CORTALE at TOWN HALL ptowntownhall.com 260 Commercial St.
THE POST OFFICE CABARET postofficecafe.net 303 Commercial St.
THE PROVINCETOWN THEATER provincetowntheater.org 238 Bradford St.
RED ROOM redroom.club 259 Commercial St.
TIN PAN ALLEY tinpanalleyptown.com 269 Commercial St.
NORTH TRURO
PAYOMET PERFORMING ARTS CENTER payomet.org 29 Old Dewline Rd.
WELLFLEET
HARBOR STAGE COMPANY harborstage.org 15 Kendrick Ave.
WELLFLEET HARBOR ACTORS THEATER what.org 2357 State Highway Route 6
