Satirical New Musical Takes on Controversy Drag Queen Story Hour: The Musical

Charles R. Wood Theater
207 Glen St., Glens Falls, NY  12801

7:30 PM

GLENS FALLS, NY —  Drag Queen Story Hour: The Musical turns controversy into comedy with a bold, satirical production that takes aim at book bans, pride flag crackdowns, and the LGBTQ+ protests that have divided small towns across America.

Inspired by real events, the show is a response to the six-month closure of a local public library in 2023 following protests against a scheduled drag story hour. Now, the very drag performer whose event was canceled, Jake Evans, will take center stage—this time, winning on the boards what was lost in real life. This musical has already been featured in four front-page articles in the Post-Star and Times Union!

Tickets are now on sale for the show, set for June 6 to 8, produced by the Adirondack Institute and taking the stage at the Charles R. Wood Theater in Downtown Glens Falls. Purchase them online or make a donation to the cause at DragQueenStoryHourTheMusical.org.

“Librarians report over 1,000 instances of LGBTQ+ book bans every year, and the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation has tracked more than 140 drag story hour protests annually,” says musical creator Neal Herr. “Our show uses humor to spotlight how these battles are playing out in small towns across the country.”

The protests in 2023 also sparked local activism, leading to the formation of the Upper Hudson Queer Alliance. Since then, the group has hosted two Pride Festivals and recently called on the library to reinstate drag story hour, reaffirming its commitment to diversity and representation.

Despite claims by opponents, no evidence has ever linked drag story hours—where performers read children’s books while in drag—to harm or grooming. Instead, the decade-old literacy program has introduced countless young readers to the joy of storytelling and the beauty of inclusivity.

Blending sharp wit with heartfelt moments, Drag Queen Story Hour: The Musical embraces irreverence inspired by satires such as The Simpsons to tell a timely story of resistance, inclusion, and the power of community.

More information is available at dragqueenstoryhourthemusical.org