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CHARLES BUSCH: MY LEADING LADIES
March 21 - 23, 2025, 7:00 pm
Charles returns to 54 Below with a new show of stories and songs devoted to the women who have inspired him from show business legends to the remarkable aunt who raised him.
For more information & tickets: 54below.org
254 W. 54th St., New York, NY
Charles was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame
The 53rd anniversary induction ceremony was held in November, 2024 at the Gershwin Theatre.
68th OBIE Awards
For his incredible body of work and influence, the judges have awarded an Obie for Lifetime Achievement to CHARLES BUSCH.
"The great majority of my creative life has been toiling in Off-Off Broadway and Off-Broadway. Being recognized for my efforts and impact is extremely meaningful to me.
In my pre-recorded acceptance speech I mention the various theaters and actors and directors I’ve worked with. When I recorded the speech, I didn’t refer to notes and in my confusion I left out a few cherished friends and colleagues who contributed enormously to my work, particularly Crystal Field, Jonathan Walker, Ashley Austin Morris, Arnie Kolodner, Robert Carey, Theresa Aceves, Tom Aulino, Katherine Carr and my longest standing friend Andy Halliday.
LEADING LADY
A Memoir of a Most Unusual Boy
By Charles Busch
Fascinating, elegant, frank and unputdownable. I devoured this book with a glee that could only be surpassed by watching Charles Busch perform live!
Alan Cumming
A poignant, deliciously anecdotal account of a talented artist’s Oz-like journey in the worlds of Off-Broadway, Broadway, and Hollywood.
The Tony Award-nominated writer of Tales of the Allergist’s Wife and the long-running hit Off-Broadway play Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, and a Sundance Festival award winner, Charles Busch has created a unique place in the entertainment world as a playwright, LGBT icon, drag actor, director, and cabaret performer, with his extraordinary gift for both connecting with and channeling the leading ladies of show business... Read More
I’ll read, watch, listen to anything Charles does. Drag and Hollywood royalty combined in one Grand Dame. Leading Lady, indeed.
Jinkx Monsoon
Reviews, Articles and Interviews
Confessions of a Drag Legend: Charles Busch’s Memoir Is Here, Darling
“Leading Lady,” a mosaic of reminiscence and self-analysis, explores the ascent of a man who’s really good at playing women.
By Ben Brantley
VERDICT This joyful, upbeat, and witty memoir will likely capture the hearts of theater and movie buffs. Read Review
Reviewed by Kevin Howell, Jul 01, 2023
ARTIST’S PROFILE
Charles Busch Takes a Selfie
By Matthew Hays
LEGENDARY DRAG PERFORMER and playwright Charles Busch lets it all hang out in his candid new memoir…. Read More
Chicago's Bi-weekly LGBTQ+ Publication
GRAB CHARLES
A most unusual leading lady: An interview with Charles Busch
By Gregg Shapiro... Read Interview
This film has signed an interim agreement with SAG-AFTRA.
We are grateful to our union for understanding this process. We continue to support WGA AND SAG-AFTRA and continue to walk the lines in the hope of a FAIR AGREEMENT.
The Sixth Reel
A new film by Charles Busch and Carl Andress
It premiered at Outfest in LA on August 19, 2021 and received the 2021 Outfest Grand Jury Award for U.S. Narrative Feature Special Mention for Ensemble Performance
So thrilled to announce the distribution of "The Sixth Reel" and the restoration of "Die Mommie Die."
Wolfe Releasing Acquires Rights to Charles Busch & Carl Andress' Outfest Pic "The Sixth Reel", Cult Comedy "Die, Mommie.....Read article
Charles Busch wears many hats (and wigs). He’s a playwright, actor, director, novelist, drag legend, and cabaret entertainer, and for 26 years he’s turned this West Village apartment into a home absolutely dripping with drama, details, and delightful decor elements. watch video
On March 9th, Charles was awarded the
2020 Bistro Award for Creative Artistry in cabaret
This past season Charles's play The Confession of Lily Dare was nominated for Best Play by the Off-Broadway Alliance. He was also nominated for Outstanding Actor in a play by the Drama Desk Awards and Best Lead Actor in a play by the Lucille Lortel Awards.
In the past few months, Charles has appeared in live virtual streamed performances for Seth Rudestsky and James Wesley's Plays in the House in readings of The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, The Divine Sister, Die Mommie Die and The Confession of Lily Dare.
For Theater the New City, he appeared in a live streamed reading of his play Visitors in the Dark and as Joan Crawford in Mommie Dearest for LA's Scripts Gone Wild.
The New York Times
Charles Busch’s New Phase Isn’t Drag. It’s Green Paisley
By Elysa Gardner
"Perched on a stool on the stage of Feinstein’s/54 Below, Charles Busch eased into the first bars of Diana Ross’s torchy 1973 hit “Touch Me in the Morning,” his voice soft and husky, his delivery relaxed but rueful.... " Read More
Whether singing or dishing about his life or celebrities he has known, he is always, always the epitome of entertainment and class.
Cabaret Scenes
Charles Busch has the gift of comic gab like few other entertainers. Innately funny, endearing and acutely intelligent.
The New York Times
On July 28, 2018 Charles received the Flora Roberts Award from the Dramatist's Guild at their annual gala.
The award is designed to recognize artists--primarily playwrights--not only for the excellence of their body of work, but also for a demonstrated dedication to a career in the theater--to a life lived in the theater. Past recipients include Adrienne Kennedy, Michael Weller, Philip Kan Gotanda, Craig Lucas, Charles Fuller, and Dael Orlandersmith.
At long last!
Actor/playwright/novelist/film director/female impersonator/quick sketch portrait artist/zipper factory receptionist/ice cream scooper and now RECORDING ARTIST!!! My first CD has been released!
"I sing ballads, jazz tunes, lots of storytelling, Miriam Passman, all that and my wonderful musical director Tom Judson, on piano and joining me on the duets."
"One of my favorite songs on the CD is The Rainbow Connection. Here I am singing this lovely song at Richard Skipper's variety show at the Triad Theatre."
Turner Classic Movies commissioned me along with 20 other celebrities to create an original piece of artwork based on classic film to celebrate their twentieth anniversary on the air. It really meant a lot to me to be a part of this celebration. And I'm very proud of the pastel drawing. I call it "The Girl With Something Special." It's inspired by all the anonymous chorus girls in the kaleidoscopic Busby Berkeley movies of the thirties. I'm now selling a limited edition of twenty-five giclee prints on the wonderful Broadway Design Exchange website. Here's the link. http://shop.broadwaydesignexchange.com
