One of the best things about live theater is its ability to surprise, shifting from the mundane to the spectacular in the blink of an eye. Burbage Theatre Company’s production of The Legend of Georgia McBride delivers just that, with a performance so rich in energy, wit, and heart it leaves the audience breathless in the best possible way. A particular kind of alchemy happens when a great script meets the right cast, and that’s exactly the magic conjured here. Written by Matthew Lopez, The Legend of Georgia McBride is a story of reinvention, self-discovery, and the boldness of embracing the most outrageous parts of ourselves. This high-heeled drag show within a play is a love letter to transformation, with sequins, soul, and more than a little sparkle!
In Burbage’s version, directed with gutsy elegance by Gia Yarn, the play centers on Casey, a struggling Elvis impersonator who finds himself thrown into the world of drag when the club owner, Eddie (Brien Lang) brings in a new act to revive the failing business. Casey’s young, broke, his landlord’s knocking, and his pregnant wife, Jo (Sabrina Youn), is hormonally challenged and fiercely balking. As Casey falls into his new role, he finds he has much to learn about show business, and himself. Played by Burbage stalwart Michael Yussef Greene with a subtle, aching vulnerability, Casey doesn’t just carry the show — he floats it, even as Casey’s world collapses, rebuilding itself with lipstick. It’s a performance that balances bravado and bewilderment in equal measure, allowing the audience to root for Casey as he fumbles through fake eyelashes and real fears, grounding the play in both humor and profound moments of human connection.
Opposite him is the radiant Anthony DeRose as Miss Tracy Mills — part mentor, part diva, all heart. DeRose commands the stage with old-school cabaret charisma and a modern wisdom that gives the play its moral core. Her delivery is razor-sharp, her lip syncs electric in timing. In one scene, she delivers a dressing room monologue that pulls the air from the room like a well-landed punch. Jason Omar Laguerre-Lewis is hysterical as the inebriated, smack-talking Rexy, who gloats over Casey’s misfortune; he doubles as the laid-back landlord.
“I confess, when selecting this production for our 13th Season, I was excited to present a fun, frothy comedy centering drag culture and performers that would overlap with Pride month,” says Burbage Artistic Director Jeff Church. “It is noteworthy that this play and production have, in recent months, become – rather unfortunately – more timely, poignant, and relevant to our current national discourse than originally anticipated. In a time where the LGBTQ+ community and the drag community are under fire from an intolerant and large subset of the American population, The Legend of Georgia McBride is a call to action in ways we couldn’t have anticipated over a year ago. We’ve assembled an incredible team of creative minds to bring this play into full and vibrant life. We are very excited to welcome Gia Yarn to the helm as director. We promise this play will be a source of joy, pride, and laughter, but also a thought-provoking and life-affirming challenge to our Burbage audience.”
Yarn’s direction leans into the play’s more absurdist, fish-out-of-water energy while never abandoning its emotional depth. Transitions are fluid, the pacing taut. Staging is a triumph, smartly using Burbage’s intimate space to create both spectacle and sincerity while delivering a good amount of shimmer and grit. The set, designed by Grey Rung, includes a nightclub dressing room and apartment, both feeling worn and alive, a microcosm of the story’s heart. Paired with Trevor Elliott’s careful use of lighting, every transformation feels both external and internal.
Aaron Blanck’s costume design/choreography deserves its own round of applause. The drag looks are both camp and classy, perfectly capturing the play’s celebration of theatricality — a journey of self-worth told through wigs and waist cinchers elevating the performance. Stephen Millis’ makeup brings these ladies to the forefront of protest and glam.
Georgia McBride is more than a glittery romp; it’s also a nuanced exploration of masculinity, and what it means to perform identity. It’s not just about drag or theater, but finding your place in a world that often tries to make you fit into boxes that don’t quite fit. Burbage never shies away from these themes, resulting in a show that’s both laugh-out-loud funny and surprisingly poignant.
If drag is a form of protest — truth-telling in disguise, then Georgia McBride is a fabulously honest and fun time. Bring your boa and an open heart. Production runs through June 8. For more information, visit burbagetheatre.org.
