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27 Mar

20:00

Het Amsterdams Theaterhuis

Marius van Bouwdijk Bastiaansestraat 54, Amsterdam

Harvey Fierstein's iconic play tells the story of Arnold Beckoff, a Jewish gay man, drag queen, and torch singer, as he navigates love, loss, and parenthood in 1970s and 80s New York City.

Torch Song

More info & tickets

About the Play

Torch Song (originally Torch Song Trilogy) is an iconic and highly acclaimed play by Harvey Fierstein. It tells the story of Arnold Beckoff, a Jewish gay man, drag queen, and torch singer, as he navigates love, loss, and parenthood in 1970s and 1980s New York City across three hilarious and deeply heartfelt acts.

Premiering on Broadway in 1982, Torch Song established itself as a trailblazer for queer theater by unapologetically depicting gay sexuality and families on a Broadway stage in an era of backlash against the social progress of the queer community. The play won two Tony Awards, including Best Play, and established Fierstein as one of the most important voices in modern theatre. It remains a milestone of LGBTQ+ representation and a timeless story about love, family, and the search for acceptance.

Despite being over 40 years old, Torch Song is still extremely relevant today as we see the rights of the LBGTQ+ community come under attack, which is why we wish to revive this rebellious piece.

Director's Vision

"Torch Song is more than just a play that tickles my funny bone and tugs at my heartstrings. In a country, continent, world in which LGBTQ+ rights are under attack, and in which queer people once again face ubiquitous marginalization as a consequence of the shaping of a perception of queerness coming from outside the community, I feel compelled to present what queerness can be, has been, and always will be. It is the centerpiece of a culture of love, acceptance, and family, and Torch Song depicts that reality perfectly. By putting it on the stage in Amsterdam, I hope to utilize Fierstein's sharp pen and monumental legacy as an act of resistance against continued marginalization."

Meet the Director

Ties Jansen

Ties Jansen is a Dutch-American actor, director, producer, and voice and speech coach.

On-stage credits in the Netherlands include the Dutch national tour of Zin in Zappelin Live (BazarMedia Productions), Heathers: the Musical, Chicago, Be More Chill (HEAP), La Cage Aux Folles, Smiley, Cabaret (QETC), …Spelling Bee (Cauldron Performing Arts). On-stage US credits: Welcome to the Wood: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Pace Performing Arts), I Do Believe in Fairies (The Killer Darlings), This Is Our Youth, and Measure for Measure. Directing credits include Little Shop of Horrors (Musicalvereniging DOS), Be More Chill, R+H Cinderella (HEAP). Film: Blocked (Dir. Pieter Hussaarts), I Love Amsterdam…And You (Euphoria Productions), The Other Night (Skuttlbut Studios), Nachtapotheker (Dir. Omnia Hamers, as producer). Additional credits: Judas (ITA, directed by Robert Icke), The Mousetrap, Huisvrouwen bestaan niet (REP Entertainment).

Ties also regularly performs in educational theater shows for high schoolers around The Netherlands with Theatergroep Zwerm (Op de 1ste rij). Alma mater: Pace University School of Performing Arts (NYC, BFA Acting). Ties has been Treasurer of Ensemble Nieuwe Theaterwerkers (ENT) since September 2024. www.tiesjansen.com.