A dazzling coming-of-age story unfolds in a student production space on Georgetown University’s campus. Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is fresh, fierce, and of course, fabulous. Following the 16-year-old Jamie New as he gains courage to become the drag queen he’s always wanted to be, this glittering musical is a heartwarming tale about finding where you belong.
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie is based on a 2011 documentary that told the true story of British schoolboy Jamie Campbell, a young drag queen. In this stage retelling, Jamie’s tale comes to life through song, dance, and sparkle. Although his school career test has told him his destiny is to be a forklift driver, Jamie’s secret dream is to be a drag queen. He has the support of his mother and his best friend, but the rest of the world, including his own father, is hostile and unaccepting. But when his mother gives him his first pair of heels for his sixteenth birthday, he decides to embrace his dreams and show them off to the world — starting by wearing a dress to the school prom.
The true gem of this performance is Ian Franza as protagonist Jamie New. Franza combines a sweet, charming demeanor with the fierce heart of a confident drag queen. His jokes always land well with the audience, and his tears bring the crowd to somber, sympathetic silence. Jamie played by Franza is a character that is irresistibly lovable, making his hardships all the more poignant.
The supporting cast is nothing short of exemplary. Micaela Wells triumphantly plays the kind, wonderful mother that every young drag queen needs. Jamie’s caring best friend, Pritti Pasha, is played by Julia Wang, who infuses the role with a steady, calming energy. Malik Clinton stepped in to play Miss Hedge due to illness on opening night and gave a spectacularly funny performance as the ignorant schoolteacher. And KumHo Eric Chun is marvelous as Hugo, a man who once performed as Loco Chanel, the “greatest drag queen to ever live” and one of Jamie’s ultimate inspirations to become his truest and most fabulous self.
The location of this production is in the Village C Theatre, a cozy, hidden performance space in one of Georgetown’s campus dorms, making the show feel a bit like an underground secret known only to the hip and the young. There are frequent set changes despite the small production space, with the whole cast teaming together to quickly shift scenes between a classroom, Jamie’s mother’s warm kitchen, and a bar putting on a late-night drag show. The sound quality was lacking at times, with dialogue sometimes muffled and challenging to hear and songs with indistinct lyrics, but the lighting was simple and well-done.
This production maintains the original setting of the show, which is Sheffield, England, meaning that almost all of the cast adopted British accents for the performance. While most of the accent work is well done, some of the occasional slips distracted from the overall performance. A few of the more specific British jokes also feel lost on this American audience. Nevertheless, the struggle to fit in is universal, and most of the show translates just fine.
Jamie’s story is about how hard it is to be different, especially as a high schooler. While some of his classmates are supportive, others taunt him cruelly, making him insecure and causing him to doubt himself. The most painful scenes were with Jamie’s father, an abominable man who refuses to even be a part of his son’s life. A confrontation between Jamie and his father, played with nearly frightening, fiery passion by Harry Tang, brings the show to its most intense emotional climax. In contrast, Jamie’s mother is the type of caring, loving person everyone needs on their side, and the relationship shown between them onstage is nothing short of beautiful, even when they have their rocky moments.
The message of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie aims to be empowering, and succeeds in many scenes, but on occasion comes off a bit muddled. Even Jamie’s close family and friends alternate between supporting him wholeheartedly and encouraging him to tone down his sparkle, which saps some momentum from Jamie’s journey to self-acceptance. Nevertheless, the power of kindness is not undersung, and the heart of the show embraces the importance of showing grace and empathy to all — even our own high school bullies.
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie feels like a perfect pick for a campus theatrical performance. It’s fresh and funny, with loads of topical references and raunchy jokes. And more importantly, at a time when it feels like the world is divided, it reminds us that acceptance and love are what we should always be aiming for — or strutting for, in a pair of fabulous red heels.
Running Time: Three hours and 20 minutes with a 10-minute intermission..
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie plays November 7–10 and 14–16, 2024, presented by nomadictheatre in partnership with Black Theatre Ensemble, performing at Village C Theatre, Georgetown University, 37th Street NW and Old North Way, Washington DC. Purchase tickets ($5 for Georgetown students, $10 for nonstudents) online.
Everybody’s Talking About Jamie
Book & lyrics by Tom Macrae
Music by Dan Gillespie Sells
From an idea by Jonathan Butterell
Co-produced with Black Theatre Ensemble
Directed by Nayab Shiraz (CAS ’25)
Produced by Roshni Powers (SFS ’26)
Stage Managed by Kayla Jones (CAS ’25)
Technical Direction by Alec Hamblet (CAS ’27)
Musical Direction by Rouxing (David) Yang (CAS’ 26)
Choreography by Malik Clinton (CAS ’25) and Charlotte Bonneau (CAS ’28)
CAST
Jamie New: Ian Franza
Margaret New: Micaela Wells
Ray/Fatimah: Imana Adogu
Pritti: Julia Wang
Hugo/Loco Chanelle: KumHo Eric Chun
Dean/Tray Sophisticay: J Gertin
Wayne/Cy: Harry Tang
Bex/Ensemble: Marlee Ryan
Becca/Ensemble: Frances Ovadje
Miss Hedge: Selina Al-Shihabi
Vicki/Sandra Bollock/Ensemble: Julia Small
Mickey/Laika Virgin/Ensemble: Jack Hoeffler
Levi/Sayid/Ensemble: Sara Holler
11/7/24 show note: Miss Hedge swing played by Malik Clinton and singing accompaniment by Roshni Powers
