Theater is, and always has been, a safe haven for queer people.
The performing arts give LGBTQIA+ people a chance to find joy in expression; it’s a safe space for those who can’t express themselves in the real world. Circle Theatre has shown several shows important to queer history, through representation and cultural connection. To name a few:
1976 – The Wizard of Oz
1977, 1999, 2012, 2021 – Cabaret
1979, 2007, 2023 – Pippin
1987, 2010, 2022 – Little Shop of Horrors
1989, 2021 – Hair
1998 – The Wiz
2002 – The Laramie Project
2016 – Cats
2018 – Fun Home
2010, 2022 – Rent
2025 – The Prom
I’d love to highlight a few in this list, The Wizard of Oz, The Laramie Project, Fun Home, and Rent.
The Wizard of Oz, debuting in Circle Theatre in 1976, is vital to the queer community. The story follows Dorothy, a girl from small-town Kansas, who is swept away in a tornado and must make her way to the bustling Emerald City. A story of finding authenticity and friendship, The Wizard of Oz has created a sense of queer history and culture in America. The Wizard of Oz created gay dog whistles for “friends of Dorothy,” and has since become an inspiring symbol for gay people finding their own identities.
The Laramie Project, performed at Circle Theatre in 2002. Follows the devastating story of the 1998 hate-crime murder of Mathew Sheppard a gay college student in Laramie, Wyoming. Highlighting grief, prejudice, and an unforgettable tragedy providing just one example of the stories that live on through theater.
Fun Home performed on the Circle stage in 2018 is a story of discovery and reflection. A musical theatre adaptation of Alison Bechdel’s graphic memoir A Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic follows Bechdel’s journey with her own sexuality while navigating her relationship with her closeted gay father; moving audiences and sharing a story of Bechdel’s three stages of life. 
Rent, winner of four Tony Awards, was produced by Circle Theatre twice, once in 2010 and again in 2022. It follows young artists struggling to survive and create a life during the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Rent showcases many queer identities, and exhibits many LGBTQ+ relationships. The musical addresses stories of perseverance in the face of poverty and finding beauty in the seasons of love.
Celebrating 75 years of Circle Theatre next season, we’re delighted to share the way theater and Queer Culture are indisputably intertwined. During this month of June, Circle Theatre’s lobby is showcasing our Love Out Loud exhibit. From now until June 27th LGBTQIA+ artists have their pieces displayed open for the public. Come see this exhibit Monday-Friday 12:00pm to 5:00pm or catch one of our shows and view it on a performance night!
For more information and to view our digital program, visit https://circletheatre.org/production/love-out-loud/