The Doyenne

By, for, and about women, trans, and nonbinary artists over 40

Episode 9: Soupy Fischel, Germany-based Drag EconoKing 05/15/2026

Episode 8: Jenny Magnus, Chicago Writer, Musician, Composer, Teacher, and Performance Artist 05/06/2026

Episode 7: Rose Freeman, Chicago Nonbinary Opera Director and the Program Director of Opera at Roosevelt University 05/01/2026

Episode 7: Rose Freeman, Chicago Nonbinary Opera Director and the Program Director of Opera at Roosevelt University IG: Rose Freeman is an award-winning stage director, teacher, writer, and producer of theatre and opera. Freeman’s direction has been lauded as “virtually flawless” (Chicago Classical Review) and Operatic stage direction credits include Sonheim’s Sweeney Todd at Opera Idaho, the 2023 revival of Spears’ Jason and the Argonauts for Lyric Opera of Chicago, Puccini’s La Boheme with LOON, Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor and Elisir d'amore at Gulfshore Opera, (Johann) Strauss’ Fledermaus with Opera Mississippi, Mozart’s Magic Flute with Harrower Opera, Viardot’s Cendrillon with City Lyric Opera, (Richard) Strauss' Die Liebe Der Danae at Pittsburgh Festival Opera, Hildegarde’s Ordo with Chicago City Opera, Fizz and Ginger at Chicago Fringe Opera, Stravinsky’s L'Historie Du Soldat at Temple University, and Weber’s Der Freischütz. Zie co-founded Third Eye Theatre Ensemble, which the Chicago Tribune called “one of the greats.” At Third Eye, direction credits include Han Lash’s Beowulf, Kamala Sankaram’s The Infinite Energy of Ada Lovelace, Juliet Palmer's Stitch, Daniel Crozier's With Blood With Ink, Nico Muhly’s Dark Sisters, Mohammed Fairouz’s Sumeida’s Song, as well as Gian Carlo Menotti’s The Medium and The Consul. A Wolftrap Opera Directing Fellow 2020-2022, Freeman had the honor of working on Floyd’s Susannah, Verdi’s Traviata, Bologne de Saint-George’s L’Amant Anonyme and Holst’s Savitri and Viardot’s Cendrillon while also directing the studio artist scenes program in 2020. World premieres include Four Lost Santas with Opera Orlando (of which zie is co-librettist), Elisabeth Rudolph’s Petticoats and Sliderules, Alexandra Enyart’s Witness, Evan Kassof’s Ganymede 5, and Eric McDonnell's Cosmic Ray and the Amazing Chris. Freeman has spoken on panels and led seminars for Opera America, the National Opera Association, and the Chicago Theatre Symposium, and has participated in the 2012 DirectorsLabChicago and the 2017 La MaMa Umbria Intl. Symposium for Directors. Freeman’s production of Stitch was named Best New Opera Production, and Third Eye Theatre Ensemble was nominated for Best Opera Company by The Chicago Reader in 2019. The Medium (2014) and Sumeida’s Song (2015) were both named top 5 operas by NewCity. Zie is a recipient of the National Opera Association's 2024 First Place Opera Competition (Temple University, Producer) and 2020 JoElyn Wakefield-Wright Stage Director Fellowship and the city of Philadelphia’s 2022 Illuminate the Arts Grant. Freeman received an MFA in Directing at Temple University through the inaugural Music Theatre Collaboration program, where zie collaborated with Spicer Carr to write the musical, Chance the Snapper. Four Lost Santas, was hailed by the Orlando Sentinel as deserving to become “a festive new holiday tradition.” Freeman’s poem, Bad Sailor Poetry was featured at WHYY's Collective’s MIXT: A Living Gallery in Spring 2025. Freeman brings great innovation and a diverse artistic background to their work, having created national fine art shows for M Gallery of Fine Art, served as managing producing director for Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, worked as a stage manager for 10 years, and production managed a national tour for Feld Entertainment’s Monster Jam Monster Truck Show. Zie regularly tours Italy performing with Teatro di Viti’s production of Eva. Zie has directed many plays, space-generated theatrical events, burlesque events, nationally touring hip-hop concerts, and workshops of new musicals and operas. A passionate advocate for the shepherding of new musicals, Freeman has had the honor of working on the directorial staff for Polyphone New Musical Festival for five seasons, working on Crimson Lit, TL;DR: Thelma and Louise Dyke Remix, and Marie in Tomorrow Land, among others. Freeman is currently the Program Director of Opera and Assistant Professor at Roosevelt University CCPA and was previously on faculty at Temple University, having previously served as the Interim Head of Opera Production. Academic directing and teaching work includes Mannes School of Music, Southern California University, Columbia College Chicago, and the University of the Arts. Zie is a Member Emeritus for the DirectorsLabChicago Steering Committee and a Mercury Store Lead Artist. Freeman is a Marvel Artist. www.rosefreeman.org /episode/index/show/46e3669c-7d34-4e1a-894d-23d4948eac8b/id/41119655

Episode 6: Honey Marie, Portland Dance and Performance Artist 04/22/2026

Episode 5: Millie May - Chicago Burlesque Dancer 04/18/2026

Episode 4: Victoria Libertore, Los Angeles Actor, Performance Artist, and Intiutive Practitioner 04/15/2026

Episode 4: Victoria Libertore, Los Angeles Actor, Performance Artist, and Intiutive Practitioner "Victoria Libertore is one of the most original and subversive solo performers that I have ever met. She is the lovechild of Bert Williams and Marlene Dietrich."Rebecca Feldman, Creator & Tony Nominee, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee & writer for Transparent "The world she creates is slightly askew, sometimes eerie, but always strangely real and profoundly funny." Scott Morfee, Off-Broadway Producer, Killer Joe, Bug "I was utterly blown away by Victoria Libertore. She's inspiring as all hell." Holly Hughes, Obie-Award-Winning Performance Artist BIO: Victoria Libertore’s work includes nine theatrical solo shows, performance art, variety, burlesque, and improv. She has performed her work throughout NYC from Coney Island's boardwalk to Off-Broadway, including venues such as Barrow Street Theater, Carolines on Broadway, Joe's Pub, Joyce Soho, PS122 as well as in Boston, Chicago, Montreal, Philadelphia, Provincetown, Toronto and Washington D.C. Victoria emcees in theaters, comedy clubs and at events impersonating Liza Minnelli in which she utilizes her improvisational skills to make "people laugh so hard that their faces hurt." Libertore is passionate about encouraging other artists to create their own work and has curated dozens of artists from performance, variety arts, burlesque, music, comedy, and dance, with a focus on LGBTQ+ and BIPOC artists. In addition to facilitating her own performance and writing workshops, she has taught at Otterbein University and Hastings College. She was a Humana Festival Finalist, has received a Young Alumni Award for Research and Creative Achievement from Otterbein University, and is a recipient of the Doric Wilson Independent Playwright Award given by the NYC Innovative Theatre Awards. Victoria has received support through artist residencies, space grants, funding, and retreats from Brooklyn Arts Exchange, Dance New Amsterdam, Dixon Place, Earthdance, and New Dance Alliance. She has a BFA in theater from Otterbein University and has studied various approaches to acting, including Grotowski, Chekov, Viewpoints, long-form improvisation, and Balinese mask. In Los Angeles, Victoria has performed her original work at The Victory Theater and at the LA LGBT Center and appeared in Flaming Match, a short film by Alan Natale. In Los Angeles, Victoria has performed in The Good Little Widow, The Prodigal Son, At the Wedding, and Great God Pan. Performance Website: Intuitive Practitioner Website: Instagram /episode/index/show/46e3669c-7d34-4e1a-894d-23d4948eac8b/id/40954560

Episode 3: Elizabeth Herlitz Cortés 04/12/2026

Episode 2: Ronit Bezalel 04/08/2026

Episode 1: Cristal Sabbagh 04/04/2026

The Doyenne

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