University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

A fairly fabulous history of Chicago queer theatre

Kipp, Dan W.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/129409

Description

Title
A fairly fabulous history of Chicago queer theatre
Author(s)
Kipp, Dan W.
Issue Date
2025-04-20
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Pullen, Kirsten
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Pullen, Kirsten
Committee Member(s)
  • Herrera, Brian
  • Beauchamp, Toby
  • Miller, Thom
Department of Study
Theatre
Discipline
Theatre
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
  • Chicago Theatre history
  • LGBTQ+ history
  • queer theater Chicago
  • Off-Loop theatre
  • Chicago community theatre
  • LGBTQ+ community
  • queer dramaturgy
Abstract
This dissertation explores the unique theatrical landscape of Chicago that fostered the creation of groundbreaking LGBTQ+ plays: Henry Blake Fuller’s At Saint Judas’s (1896) to Jeff Hagedorn’s one (1983). Chicago's history is marked by a theatrical tradition rooted in marginalized queerness, partly due to city-imposed sanctions on theater buildings. Through a dramaturgical approach and theatrical microhistory methodology, this dissertation embarks on a journey from early gay theater to Hagedorn's work, prioritizing marginalized voices and archives. By applying queer theory to historical analysis, this study reveals how Chicago's social and political climate enabled the development of Off-Loop theatre and contributed to shaping the city’s LGBTQ+ community. Ultimately, this dissertation offers new insights into the evolution of both Chicago’s theater and queer communities.
Graduation Semester
2025-05
Type of Resource
Thesis
Handle URL
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/129409
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2025 Daniel W Kipp

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Graduate Theses and Dissertations at Illinois