NY: “MAKE ME GORGEOUS!”

Make Me Gorgeous!, The True Story of Kenneth “Mr. Madam” Marlowe welcomes Darius Rose (aka Jackie Cox, a top-5 finalist from “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” Season 12). Starting February 1, Rose steps into Mr. Madam’s pumps for a 4 week engagement through 25. Presented by triangle productions! the New York premiere of Make Me Gorgeous! is currently playing Off-Broadway at Playhouse 46 At St. Luke’s (308 W. 46th Street). Make Me Gorgeous! is and written and directed by Donnie, with additional material by Wade McCollum. For tickets and further information, visit GorgeousPlay.com.

“It’s always been important to me to share Queer art and history,” says Darius Rose. “But now, given the opportunity to make my Off-Broadway debut starring as an LGBTQ+ trailblazer like Kenneth / Kate Marlowe, it goes well beyond my wildest dreams. Marlowe was an extraordinary figure who pressed beyond the boundaries of gender long before the world at large was engaging in this conversation. This role gives me an opportunity to act, sing, dance, and bring dozens of roles to life, both in and out of a wig. I’m excited to combine my theatre background with my drag and cabaret work to bring Kenneth / Kate to life at Playhouse 46.” 

Make Me Gorgeous! is the fabulous and incredible true story of Kenneth Marlowe, an oft-overlooked trailblazer in LGBTQ+ history. Described as one of mid-Century America’s gayest and most openly homosexual personalities, Marlowe took on many roles in life. Kenneth was a private hairdresser to the stars; the madam of a notorious gay prostitution ring in Hollywood; an author; a hustler; a female impersonator; a private in the U.S. Army; a call boy; a Christian missionary; a mortuary cosmetologist; a newspaper columnist … and for the final decade of an incredibly lived life, Marlowe was a woman, having transitioned to become Kate Marlowe.

Make Me Gorgeous! is adapted from Donnie’s book, Mr. Madam: The Life and Times of Kenneth/Kate Marlowe, the culmination of years of research and interviews and establishing Donnie as one of the foremost historians to chronicle Kenneth/Kate Marlowe’s life. A new edition of the book, retitled Us, further explores the life of Kenneth/Kate Marlowe.

“Throughout my career it’s been important to me to tell the stories of real people who have inspired me and who could inspire others. When I discovered Kenneth Marlowe, I knew I had to tell their story,” says Donnie. “Kenneth/Kate Marlow has been almost-forgotten pioneer of the LGBTQ movement. Unabashed with their life, you could say that they were a trailblazer before there was a trail to be blazed. After writing his story as a book book, I am now delighted to be debuting Make Me Gorgeous in New York.”

Make Me Gorgeous! features Scenic Design by Walt Spangler; Lighting Design by Jamie Roderick; Sound Design by Ien DeNio; Costume Design by Jeffrey Hinshaw; and Props by Brendan McCann. Visceral Entertainment is the General Manager. Abi Rowe is the PSM and Kelsey Vivian is the ASM. Casting by Daryl Eisenberg, CSA / Eisenberg Casting.LISTINGS INFORMATION: Make Me Gorgeous!, The True Story of Mr. Madam plays a limited Off-Broadway engagement through February 25 at Playhouse 46 At St. Luke’s (308 W. 46th Street).

Tickets, now on sale at GorgeousPlay.com, range $49-$99, with table seating available for $99. An upgraded VIP package for $139 is available at the table seating, which includes a premium table seat, 2 free drinks, and an exclusive merchandise item. Additional ticketing & processing fees may apply. For groups of 8 or more, email groups@gorgeousplay.com.

The performance schedule is as follows: DARIUS ROSE (Kenneth Marlow starting Feb. 1), [he/they] is best known as their drag alter-ego Jackie Cox (she/they), one of the Top 4 contestants from Season 12 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race”. She was the first queen of Iranian descent to appear on the show, making history when she wore a hijab on the runway. In her hometown of NYC, Jackie has long been a feature of the theatrical cabaret scene and recently completed the world tour of her one-woman show, JackieVision. She also appeared in the world premiere of Drag The Musical in Hollywood and as the Teen Angel/Ms. Lynch in Grease with Musical Theater West.

In 2024, Darius will appear in the upcoming steaming series “The Struggle” and in the short film “Identiteaze” for Nebula TV. Regional Theater Credits include Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Hedwig) Theater Out, Light in the Piazza (Giuseppe) El Portal Theater, Big River (Huck) The Gem Theatre, Les Miserables (Lesgles) Vista’s Moonlight Amphitheatre, and Godspell (Jesus) Pacifica Spindrift Players. Additional TV/Film: NBC/Peacock “Days of Our Lives” (Recurring), Disney+ “This is Me: A Pride Celebration”, ABC “What Would You Do?”, Fusion “Shade: Queens of NYC”, and numerous appearances on Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live” as Lisa Rinna and others.

DONALD “DONNIE” HORN (Playwright & Director) is a writer, director and playwright residing in Portland, Oregon. He founded triangle productions! in 1989, which has become one of the oldest LGBTQ-identified theatres in the nation. Donnie has been the driving force for the company since the beginning opening two theatre venues, touring shows, writing over 15 books, and over 20 plays and musicals. As a playwright his shows including Tonya and Nancy: The Rock Opera (co-author), ’69 – the sexual revolution musical, Soph: an evening with the Last of the Red-Hot Mamas, Gracie – a musical adventure, Ari-Maria, The Jim Pepper Project, TRANSformation, Life: According to Morty and Ruth, the 2019 PAMTA Award-winning Best Original Musical – Darcelle: That’s No Lady, the musical, Sex on the River, and Mr. Madam.

Through his leadership, triangle has produced shows about the holocaust (Bent, Rose), AIDS, as well as Ann, Golda’s Balcony, Becoming Dr. Ruth, and At Wits End. He has also been seen on Portland’s stages as an actor in musicals and plays such as: Trovarich, Bleacher Bums, Once Upon A Mattress, Funny Girl, The Potting Shed, and Pal Joey. In 2014, he took to the stage again starring in his own highly successful show, The Donnie Show. He and his theater company were awarded the Oregon Heritage Excellence Award for The Darcelle Project in 2021. He holds a BS and MBA from City University and has over 15 published books including, Crumbs of Love (his autobiography), and Agapi Mou. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild, NAMT (National Alliance of Musical Theatre), and PATA. www.thedonnieshow.com.

TRIANGLE PRODUCTIONS! (Producer) was first launched with the world-premiere of Make Me Gorgeous! in Portland, 1989. Established by Donald Horn (aka Donnie), triangle productions! has enjoyed a unique niche in the arts landscape of Oregon by producing rich stories told through diverse perspectives, particularly the gay perspective. Triangle is one of the oldest theater companies in the Portland metro area and is one the oldest LGBTQ-identified theatres in the US. Using the company’s mission, material is chosen with the goal of promoting diversity and acceptance, striving to bring relevant issues to a theatrical setting allowing the audience to be both entertained and educated. Throughout the company’s history, it has staged over 250 productions and has brought professional, entertaining, and provocative theatre dealing with a wide variety of issues such as AIDS, drug addiction, homophobia, abortion, acceptance, racism, and individuality. www.trianglepro.org