The Bards Theatre Troupe
LightNews LightNews
banner
thebardstroupe.bsky.social
The Bards Theatre Troupe
@thebardstroupe.bsky.social
17 followers 12 following 21 posts
A queer musical collective for the Philly theatre & nightlife communities. DIY new works that push the envelope without leaving anyone behind.
Posts Replies Media Videos
thebardstroupe.bsky.social
July 31, 2025 at 9:28 PM
thebardstroupe.bsky.social
THREE DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS (in July)!!! Showing off our cast once again with the one & only G. Marie🎄

Tickets are available now via the link in the comments
A promotional image for The Bards Theatre Troupe's upcoming Christmas In July fundraiser, featuring performer G. Marie & the following intel: "Christmas In July, Featuring G. Marie, The Bards Theatre Troupe fundraiser, The Trestle Inn, July 31 7pm-9pm" A promotional image for The Bards Theatre Troupe's upcoming Christmas In July fundraiser, featuring Travis Rosemarie, Patti LuStoned, Quinton Claus/Santa Q, & CJ Higgins in their respective festive best & the following intel: "Christmas In July, The Bards Theatre Troupe fundraiser, The Trestle Inn, July 31 7pm-9pm"
July 28, 2025 at 6:06 PM
thebardstroupe.bsky.social
SIX DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS (in July)!!! We’re continuing to show off our cast with the fresh & fabulous Arugala🎄

Tickets are available now via the link in the comments
A promotional image for The Bards Theatre Troupe's upcoming Christmas In July fundraiser, featuring performer Arugala & the following intel: "Christmas In July, Featuring Arugala, The Bards Theatre Troupe fundraiser, The Trestle Inn, July 31 7pm-9pm" A promotional image for The Bards Theatre Troupe's upcoming Christmas In July fundraiser, featuring Travis Rosemarie, Patti LuStoned, Quinton Claus/Santa Q, & CJ Higgins in their respective festive best & the following intel: "Christmas In July, The Bards Theatre Troupe fundraiser, The Trestle Inn, July 31 7pm-9pm"
July 25, 2025 at 5:12 PM
thebardstroupe.bsky.social
ONE WEEK UNTIL CHRISTMAS (in July)!!! Time for us to show off our cast, starting with the incomparable Mo Betta🎄

Tickets are available now via the link in the comments
A promotional image for The Bards Theatre Troupe's upcoming Christmas In July fundraiser, featuring performer Mo Betta & the following intel: "Christmas In July, Featuring Mo Betta, The Bards Theatre Troupe fundraiser, The Trestle Inn, July 31 7pm-9pm" A promotional image for The Bards Theatre Troupe's upcoming Christmas In July fundraiser, featuring Travis Rosemarie, Patti LuStoned, Quinton Claus/Santa Q, & CJ Higgins in their respective festive best & the following intel: "Christmas In July, The Bards Theatre Troupe fundraiser, The Trestle Inn, July 31 7pm-9pm"
July 24, 2025 at 6:58 PM
thebardstroupe.bsky.social
We’re selling these Philly-inspired t-shirts with our new Bards logo, created by @jaythegaythey.bsky.social. All proceeds from this fundraiser will go towards helping to pay for our upcoming shows. Link in comments, snag a shirt today!
A mock-up of our fundraiser shirt: a short-sleeved white tee featuring our new Bards logo & the slogan “Go Bards!” beneath, ‘cause Philly
June 27, 2025 at 9:18 PM
thebardstroupe.bsky.social
Rainbow-background graphic featuring The Bards’ new logo & the following Social Media meme format: “Drop the “Hum’n’” Just “The Bards” it’s cleaner.”
June 2, 2025 at 4:49 PM
thebardstroupe.bsky.social
Happy Pride Month! You may have noticed our social media pages changing up our name and logo in the last few weeks. Well, since we are an LGBTQIA+ troupe, we decided the company should have a transition of its own!
Rainbow-background graphic featuring The Bards’ new logo & the following intel: “Happy Pride Month! You may have noticed our social media pages changing up our name and logo in the last few weeks. Well, since we are an LGBTQIA+ troupe, we decided the company should have a transition of its own!” Rainbow-background graphic featuring The Bards’ new logo & the following intel: “Here's what's new: 1. Our name! Folks have been calling us "the Bards" for so long, we decided to embrace it. Our full new name is "The Bards Theatre Troupe", but you can call us "The Bards". It's cleaner.” Rainbow-background graphic featuring The Bards’ new logo & the following intel: “2. Our logo! The amazing Jenn Adams - who you've seen on the Bards stage in "Alice in Wonderland", "A Queer Christmas Carol", and more - created a new logo for us that we simply adore.” Rainbow-background graphic featuring The Bards’ new logo & the following intel: “You can see our troupe's fresh new gender (can troupes have genders? Ours does, the gender is "gay") at two events happening in the remainder of 2025: our "Christmas in July" show on July 31st, and our offering for this year's Fringe "You Know I'm No Good", where Patti LuStoned and friends will give you a cabaret and burlesque tribute to Amy Winehouse. Go forth and make art even more gay! Love, The Bards”
June 2, 2025 at 4:46 PM
thebardstroupe.bsky.social
ANNOUNCING OUR FRINGE SHOW!
You Know I’m No Good is a live band cabaret tribute to Amy Winehouse. Local songstress Patti LuStoned will sing, tell stories, and do burlesque to Amy’s iconic album Back to Black w/ the help of The Bad Madams. Join us in South Philly for an intimate night with The Bards
A promotional image of Patti LuStoned wearing a purple Amy Winehouse-style wig while smoking a Newport cigarette, featuring The Bards logo & the following text: “You Know I’m No Good, Philadelphia Fringe Festival, Sawubona Creativity Project”
May 23, 2025 at 6:52 PM
thebardstroupe.bsky.social
Our Statement About the NEA
Black background graphic framed with red smoke, white text atop reads: “Our Statement About the NEA Late Friday night, hundreds of theatre and arts organizations across the Greater Philadelphia region received letters from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) terminating and rescinding funding they had previously promised in order to "focus funding on projects that reflect the nation's rich artistic heritage and creativity as prioritized by the President". This has resulted in the loss of thousands of dollars that local theatre companies depended on for their productions and programming, much of which had already happened. While the Bards have never received funding from the NEA, we are outraged and saddened on behalf of our fellow artists at this blatant attack against the arts by a fascist regime. We have always stood in opposition to systemic oppression, dictatorship, capitalism, and everything else that has stood in the way of people's right to exist in this country, and we are not wavering on that stance. This termination of funding is a deliberate attack against any art that does not serve as pro-fascist propaganda, which makes it even more imperative to create and support those who are being targeted. (cont’d)” Black background graphic framed with red smoke, white text atop reads: “Our Statement About the NEA Cards on the table, we had just discussed the subject of the NEA's changed priorities, and their negative impact on our peers, at our staff meeting last week, and we already have ideas in process for whatever we can do to help with what we have. Those ideas now feel even more imperative and we hope to announce them sooner rather than later. Keep an eye on our newsletter and social media particularly if you are a theatre artist looking to create some anti-American fascism work in 2026...you know, to """"""honor""" the 250th anniversary or whatever. Fortunately since we've never received government funding, we're in a position where we can produce what actually aligns with our values with fewer consequences. In the meantime we highly encourage you to support the companies and organizations who have been impacted. Call your representatives, donate to artists and companies, and go see some shows (while, we hope, wearing a mask to protect the physical health of the artists sharing their work with you). When the government doesn't support us, we support each other. Best, The Bards”
May 6, 2025 at 6:26 PM
thebardstroupe.bsky.social
Happy Trans Day of Visibility from the ‘Bards! As a predominantly trans- & queer-led company, we will ALWAYS support trans artists, stories, & audiences 🏳️‍⚧️⚧🏳️‍🌈✊ #TDoV #TransDayofVisibility
The ‘Bards hummingbird logo, now with peacock-esque tailfeathers made up of hearts. The hearts are colored to form the trans flag, and the there’s text above & below the bird that reads “BE PROUD. HAPPY TRANS VISIBILITY DAY”
March 31, 2025 at 5:05 PM
thebardstroupe.bsky.social
Time to learn more about Bards University’s workshops & their instructors, concluding with CJ Higgins’s “Getting Off-Book:
A Workshop on Text Memorization”!

PAY WHAT YOU CAN TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE via theatre-philadelphia.ticketleap.com/bards-univer...
A “Bards University” promotional image, featuring a pic of a workshop instructor, and displaying the following intel: “Getting Off-Book: A Workshop on Text Memorization -CJ Higgins- Do you struggle to get off-book? Do you want to learn and identify different memorization techniques and find the right one for your brain? Then this is the workshop for you! Philadelphia theatre artist CJ Higgins (they/he pronouns) will teach you the skills of learning new text, exploring various memorization techniques and how they can be applied to script work. By the end of the workshop, you'll have a set of tools that can be used to get off-book for any text!” Another “Bards University” promotional image, featuring a pic of a workshop instructor, and displaying the following intel: “CJ Higgins CJ Higgins is a theatre artist specializing in acting, directing, production, devising, playwriting, and more, all with a focus on accessibility, radical empathy, and liberation for all. Performance highlights include Julius Caesar (Casca/Cinna the Poet/Strato, DelShakes), Macbeth (Witch 3, DelShakes), A Midsummer Night's Dream (Puck/Philostrate, Shakespeare in Stoneleigh) The Importance of Being Earnest (Algernon, Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion), and Ghost Quartet (Pearl, Going Dark Theatre). He is the Artistic Director of The Hum'n'bards Theater Troupe, having served as a company member in many leadership roles, as well as being the Director of Operations and Programming for Theatre Philadelphia.” A final “Bards University” promotional image, featuring pics of the workshop instructors, and displaying the following intel: “Ryan Walter - Unlocking Shakespeare - 12:30pm Melody Wong - Stage Manage with Me(lody)! - 2:00pm CJ Higgins - Getting Off-Book: A Workshop on Text Memorization- 3:30pm”
March 27, 2025 at 4:27 PM
thebardstroupe.bsky.social
Time to learn more about Bards University’s workshops & their instructors, continuing with Melody Wong’s “Stage Manage with Me(lody)!”

PAY WHAT YOU CAN TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE via theatre-philadelphia.ticketleap.com/bards-univer... !!
A “Bards University” promotional image, featuring a pic of a workshop instructor, and displaying the following intel: “Stage Manage with Me(lody)! -Melody Wong- In this workshop Melody will provide the basic understanding of the role of stage management and knowledge in the practical skills to manage all aspects of theatrical production, including coordinating rehearsals, overseeing technical elements (lights, sound, props), being the liaison between the creative teams, ensuring a smooth and safe execution of the performance, & fostering a safe and creative room in the rehearsals and production process.” Another “Bards University” promotional image, featuring a pic of a workshop instructor, and displaying the following intel: “Melody Wong Melody is the stage manager at Theatre Exile, a member of Actors Equity Association. A graduate of Temple University (BA, MEd). She was a stage management fellow in 2004/5. at The Wilma Theatre, and recently was the SM for The Comeuppance. Recent Credits include: Red,Camp Siegfried, Case for the existence of God, Abandon, The Light, Wolfplay at Theater Exile, American Fast with InterAct, Dreamgirls with Theater in the X, In Search of the Kitchen Gods with 1812 Productions, Group!, Janet Wide Awake and Ok Trenton with Passage Theatre. Transworld, Publik Private with Playpenn. Other companies include: Power Street, PAPA, Kimmel Center, Opera Philadelphia, Bearded Ladies Cabaret, Ballet X, Modero Dance Co. Asian Arts Initiative. Certified Advanced Actor Combatant with Fight Directors Canada and SAFD. Member of Chinatown Dragon boat team. Philadelphia Suns Volleyball and Lion Dance. See you in class, Melody” A final “Bards University” promotional image, featuring pics of the workshop instructors, and displaying the following intel: “Ryan Walter - Unlocking Shakespeare - 12:30pm Melody Wong - Stage Manage with Me(lody)! - 2:00pm CJ Higgins - Getting Off-Book: A Workshop on Text Memorization- 3:30pm”
March 26, 2025 at 4:20 PM
thebardstroupe.bsky.social
Time to learn more about Bards University’s workshops & their instructors, starting with Ryan Walter’s “Unlocking Shakespeare”!

PAY WHAT YOU CAN TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE via theatre-philadelphia.ticketleap.com/bards-univer... !!
A “Bards University” promotional image, featuring a pic of a workshop instructor, and displaying the following intel: “Unlocking Shakespeare -Ryan Walter- In this workshop we will be delving into the depths of the most human playwright to ever live. We will learn the applicable skills that are needed to decode and uncover the true meaning and drive behind Shakespeare's poetry, while also honoring the beauty and power that his language evokes. This language was never meant to be lofty and above us all, quite the opposite in fact as it was always meant to be a public spectacle, and with the right training anyone can make the Bard's language their own. So let us work together to demystify Shakespeare and bring the humanity behind his scripts to life!” Another “Bards University” promotional image, featuring a pic of a workshop instructor, and displaying the following intel: “Ryan Walter Ryan has been acting/directing for nearly 34 years, with more than a dozen productions of Shakespeare under his belt so far. His passion for theatre earned him a BA in Drama from Vassar College, a semester abroad at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, an apprenticeship with the Shakespeare Theater of New Jersey, as well as summer workshop with Theatre MITU in Thailand. After moving to Philadelphia in 2008 he worked for more than a decade as a professional actor with such companies as The Arden, Plays and Players, Quintessence Theatre Group and Curio Theatre. Currently he works as a preschool teacher while pursuing theatre in his spare time at a number of local Community Theaters including the Players Club of Swarthmore (where he will be co-directing a production of Songs for a New World with JL Hitchens) and the Drama Group of Germantown (where he is co-directing a production of Juliet & Romeo and is a member of the governing Board). Favorite Shakespearean acting credits include: Bottom and Oberon in A Midsummer Nights Dream, Sir Toby in Twelfth Night, Leonato Much Ado About Nothing, Richard III in Richard III, Duchess/Carlisle in Richard II, and Audrey in As You Like It.” A final “Bards University” promotional image, featuring pics of the workshop instructors, and displaying the following intel: “Ryan Walter - Unlocking Shakespeare - 12:30pm Melody Wong - Stage Manage with Me(lody)! - 2:00pm CJ Higgins - Getting Off-Book: A Workshop on Text Memorization- 3:30pm”
March 25, 2025 at 7:13 PM
thebardstroupe.bsky.social
Workshops are as follows:
12:30-1:30pm - Unlocking Shakespeare with Ryan Walter
2:00-3:00pm - Stage Manage With Me(lody)! with Melody Wong
3:30-4:30pm - Getting Off-Book with CJ Higgins

Pay What You Can tickets now available via theatre-philadelphia.ticketleap.com/bards-univer...
Another “Bards University” promotional image, featuring a pic of a workshop instructor, and displaying the following intel: “Unlocking Shakespeare -Ryan Walter- In this workshop we will be delving into the depths of the most human playwright to ever live. We will learn the applicable skills that are needed to decode and uncover the true meaning and drive behind Shakespeare's poetry, while also honoring the beauty and power that his language evokes. This language was never meant to be lofty and above us all, quite the opposite in fact as it was always meant to be a public spectacle, and with the right training anyone can make the Bard's language their own. So let us work together to demystify Shakespeare and bring the humanity behind his scripts to life!” Another “Bards University” promotional image, featuring a pic of a workshop instructor, and displaying the following intel: “Stage Manage with Me(lody)! -Melody Wong- In this workshop Melody will provide the basic understanding of the role of stage management and knowledge in the practical skills to manage all aspects of theatrical production, including coordinating rehearsals, overseeing technical elements (lights, sound, props), being the liaison between the creative teams, ensuring a smooth and safe execution of the performance, & fostering a safe and creative room in the rehearsals and production process.” A final “Bards University” promotional image, featuring a pic of a workshop instructor, and displaying the following intel: “Getting Off-Book: A Workshop on Text Memorization -CJ Higgins Do you struggle to get off-book? Do you want to learn and identify different memorization techniques and find the right one for your brain? Then this is the workshop for you! Philadelphia theatre artist CJ Higgins (they/he pronouns) will teach you the skills of learning new text, exploring various memorization techniques and how they can be applied to script work. By the end of the workshop, you'll have a set of tools that can be used to get off-book for any text!”
March 7, 2025 at 8:03 PM
thebardstroupe.bsky.social
Presented by The Hum’n’bards Theater Troupe as part of 2025 Philly Theatre Week!

Bards University is an afternoon series of theatrical workshops on Saturday, April 5th. Attendees can select specific workshops to attend, or join us for all three!
A promotional image on a white background, framed & adorned with golden ornamental filigree, featuring an academic scroll & pics of the Bards logo wearing a graduation cap, and displaying the following intel: “Bards University An Afternoon of Theatrical Workshops Saturday, April 5th Equilibrium Dance Academy Presented as part of Philly Theatre Week www.humnbards.com” Another “Bards University” promotional image, featuring pics of the workshop instructors, and displaying the following intel: “Ryan Walter - Unlocking Shakespeare - 12:30pm Melody Wong - Stage Manage with Me(lody)! - 2:00pm CJ Higgins - Getting Off-Book: A Workshop on Text Memorization- 3:30pm”
March 7, 2025 at 7:56 PM
thebardstroupe.bsky.social
A continuation of CJ’s statement
A promotional graphic with blue stage curtains as a background, titled "A Statement from CJ Higgins, Artistic Director (they/he)", featuring their picture & a continuation of their statement: "One major reason for this phenomenon is that, during a time of economic hardship and an ongoing worldwide health emergency, theatre itself is becoming less accessible to audiences. More people are finding themselves having to choose between the cost of a ticket or the cost of their next meal, or weighing the risk of physically going to a space where anyone around them could be contagious. As long as that's the case, people will usually prioritize shows they're familiar with already and know they'll enjoy, rather than gambling on something new. I fully understand those calculations as someone who's had to make them myself. The Bards have had accessibility as a guiding principle for years, and we are committed to continuing and…” (Too big for alt text! Visit http://www.humnbards.com for more) A promotional graphic with blue stage curtains as a background, titled "A Statement from CJ Higgins, Artistic Director (they/he)", featuring their picture & a continuation of their statement: "1. We recognize the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and prioritize disability rights, including the right of disabled people to attend and participate in our shows. Masking is therefore required of all our audience members regardless of vaccination status. We also require our artists and staff to be fully vaccinated, and we create production-specific safety policies in collaboration with our production teams to meet the needs of the team and the realities of the pandemic for the current moment. 2. We understand that ticket price is a huge factor in making theatre accessible, and our audiences' presence in our space is valuable however much they paid to be there. All of our shows offer flexible ticket pricing, including pay-what-you-…” (Too big for alt text! Visit http://www.humnbards.com for more) A promotional graphic with blue stage curtains as a background, titled "A Statement from CJ Higgins, Artistic Director (they/he)", featuring their picture & the conclusion of their statement: "Sometimes, the plot of our first show "Pangaea" can hit too close to home nearly a decade later. The past few years have felt like we're being splintered and spread further and further apart from each other. As the new Artistic Director of The Hum'n'bards Theater Troupe, I am dedicated to fostering connection between artists and audience, between ourselves and other theatre companies doing incredible work despite impossible circumstances, between art and those who have been historically excluded from it. Should you choose to take the risk on some DIY queer musical theatre, know that we are here to help make that risk a little less stressful, because we want to share in the creation of new art with you. Keep an eye on our pages…” (Too big for alt text! Visit http://www.humnbards.com for more)
January 13, 2025 at 5:49 PM
thebardstroupe.bsky.social
🎇 New year, new leadership for The @humnbards in 2025! 🎆

We are excited to announce NOW ON BLUESKY that we made changes to our leadership, including a new Artistic Director. The Bards are looking forward to this new chapter, keep your eyes on our socials & website for what we have in store!
A promotional graphic with blue stage curtains as a background, titled "The Hum'n'Bards Theater Troupe Leadership 2025", featuring pictures of said leaders, their titles, & their pronouns: “-CJ Higgins, Artistic Director (they/he) -Taylor Alexander, Managing Director (they/she/fae) -Quinton Alexander, Artistic Associate (he/they) -Travis Rosemarie Curhart-Fischbach, Communications Director (she/it/they) -Jeremy Adam, Music Consultant (he/they)” A promotional graphic with blue stage curtains as a background, titled "A Statement from Wyatt Flynn, Artistic Director Emeritus (they/them)", featuring their picture & their statement: "After nearly a decade, I am stepping down from my role as Artistic Director of The Hum'n'bards. This decision comes with a lot of reflection and gratitude. I’m deeply proud of what we’ve built together, and grateful for the privilege of working alongside such talented and dedicated artists. I know I am leaving the leadership of this group in the most capable hands, and I am so excited to see what’s next for The Bards. With love and gratitude, Wyatt Flynn" A promotional graphic with blue stage curtains as a background, titled "A Statement from CJ Higgins, Artistic Director (they/he)", featuring their picture & the beginning of their statement: "I remember as if it was yesterday: back in September of 2016, I had just finished a performance of Pangaea: A Folk Opera, which was not only The Hum'n'bards Theater Troupe's inaugural production, but my first Philly Fringe show. I had only graduated from college a year prior when a friend of a friend (soon to be my friend, Wyatt Flynn, our founding Artistic Director) sat down with me to talk about their post-apocalyptic, plot-light idea for a show (Wyatt's show ideas are often plot-light, which has helped balance my uber-literal style as their collaborator) where the world's land split even further and people struggled to connect with each other through the overwhelming barrier of distance. I would ultimately be a cast member and…” (Too big for alt text! Visit http://www.humnbards.com for more) A promotional graphic with blue stage curtains as a background, titled "A Statement from CJ Higgins, Artistic Director (they/he)", featuring their picture & a continuation of their statement: "It was immediately following a performance of Pangaea that a critic came up to me. Me! Being talked to by a Certified Philly Critic! I was admittedly a little starstruck. "You were great," he told me with a kind handshake. "I can't wait to see you perform some real roles like Lady M or Juliet." Real roles? What had I just been doing for ninety minutes? Was the role less real because I wrote it with my friends? Because it was a role he had never heard of? Because it was new? His remark echoes in my head often, as I feel it speaks to a larger trend of how audiences receive new theatrical work in a city whose theatre industry is built on the back of new works. Many beloved classics had their first performances on the stages of…” (Too big for alt text! Visit http://www.humnbards.com for more)
January 13, 2025 at 5:44 PM