Martha Graham Cracker

ENSEMBLE ARTS PHILLY PRESENTS
THE BONA FIDE DRAG
QUEEN KING OF PHILADELPHIA  
MARTHA GRAHAM CRACKER IN HER CELEBRATORY
CABARET 20TH ANNIVERSARY EXTRAVAGANZA,
MAY 16, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (April 24, 2025) – Ensemble Arts Philly is thrilled to present the return of Philadelphia’s most iconic drag queen, Martha Graham Cracker, with her 20th Anniversary Extravaganza at the Miller Theater on Friday, May 16, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. Experience Martha as she shares songs and stories from the last two decades; she’ll even be ready to answer your most burning questions about life, the universe, and everything in between.

In 2005, Pig Iron Theatre Company co-founder Dito van Reigersberg put on a dress, a wig, false eyelashes, and glittery six-inch platform shoes and took the stage as drag queen Martha Graham Cracker at a small club in Queen Village called L’Etage. Twenty years later, Martha Graham Cracker has sold out theaters and music venues all over the country and Europe and has become Philadelphia’s most enduring and beloved drag queen.

“Ensemble Arts Philly has long cheered on Martha Graham Cracker, supporting her (and her talented alter-ego Dito van Reigersberg) as our artist-in-residence through the creation of her very first album, Lashed But Not Leashed,” said Frances Egler, Vice President of Theatrical Programming and Presentations. “We are honored to host this celebratory evening, paying homage to a consummate performer who has overcome challenges to take the stage once again.”     

Martha herself is blown away by all the attention, and is humbled and gobsmacked to have reached this 20-year milestone. “It’s been a wild journey for me, and a real honor to have amassed a huge repertoire of songs and rearrangements with my extraordinarily tight band. I hope the crowd is ready for us to indulge in some real ridiculous nostalgia, from the story of the pizza that got thrown in Brooklyn to the time we toured to DC and Victor our pianist left his keyboard covered in blood (he was fine)…we are thrilled to make our debut in the huge and gorgeous venue that is the Miller Theater, and to offer up some musical wizardry for you all.”

The Martha Graham Cracker Cabaret is an in-your-face rock and roll drag cabaret. Backed by her four-piece band, Martha Graham Cracker performs freaky mashups and funky rearrangements of songs by artists ranging from Nina Simone to Prince, Led Zeppelin to Lana Del Rey, and Pink to Lady Gaga. Styling by Max Brown.

Martha Graham Cracker is partnering with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light The Night campaign to raise funds for blood cancer patients & research innovation. A special fundraising request will be made during the performance. Every dollar raised supports LLS' goal of creating a world without cancer by funding research innovation and supporting patients throughout their treatment journey. To learn more and donate to TeamMGC, visit bit.ly/TeamMGC.

Other featured upcoming performances include PHILADANCO! Relentless Resident Visions (April 25 – 27, 2025, Perelman Theater); Mo Amer: El Oso Palestino Tour (May 4, 2025, Miller Theater); Penn & Teller 50th Anniversary Tour  (May 15, 2025, Academy of Music); Ichiko Aoba: Luminescent Creature Tour (May 17, 2025, Miller Theater); Sarah Millican: Late Bloomer (June 17, 2025, Miller Theater); and Jimmy Carr: Laughs Funny (June 23, 2025, Miller Theater).

Tickets
Tickets can be purchased online at www.ensembleartsphilly.org or by calling 215-893-1999. In-person ticket sales can be conducted daily from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the Academy of Music Box Office, located at 240 S. Broad Street. See  www.ensembleartsphilly.org for more information.

VIP Tickets are currently sold out. Ensemble Arts Philly encourages guests to check the website at www.ensembleartsphilly.org in the event VIP tickets are released.

VIP ticket holders enjoy prime seating in the exclusive pit section, seated at a cozy table for two. Each VIP ticket includes two complimentary beverages and a snack item to savor during the show. Plus, enjoy the convenience of a dedicated server and a private bar offering a curated selection of additional drinks to purchase.

Martha Graham Cracker Cabaret
20th Anniversary Extravaganza
Miller Theater
Friday, May 16, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. 

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ABOUT ENSEMBLE ARTS PHILLY
For more information about ENSEMBLE ARTS PHILLY, visit www.ensembleartsphilly.org.     

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