The Premiere Showcase is the nascent production of an original, fully developed, never-before-performed play produced on the Mill stage by an up-and-coming playwright. This year’s play, “The Half of It,” by Domenick Scudera, MFA, was inspired by the life and work of Bert Savoy, a vaudeville drag artist who was active in the 1910s and early 1920s.
“I first became interested in Savoy’s life when I was doing research for a class that I teach in the History of Drag Performance at Ursinus College. I conducted more extensive research on Savoy during a sabbatical from the college in the summer and fall of 2022," explains Scudera.
“Although Bert Savoy is largely forgotten today, he is a figure deserving of more attention and respect. The play highlights the groundbreaking and inspirational work of this artist while shining a light on the origins of contemporary drag performance and the LGBTQ+ community in the early part of the 20th century. Characters include some of Savoy’s famous friends such as Klondike Kate and Mae West (who many believe borrowed her sassy stage persona from Savoy’s drag act). He was at the height of his career when he was tragically killed by lightning in 1923. The play explores themes of gender identity, gender expression, sexuality, and celebrity in the modern era.
“I am a proud and vocal member of the LGBTQ+ community. I am hopeful that 'The Half of It' will allow audiences to learn more about our community’s history and to learn from the lessons of our past. In the current political climate that includes hate toward the drag community and rampant homophobia and transphobia, the life of an artist from 100 years ago may help to open our eyes to the long history of these very issues.”
