“I used to think it was a better choice to hide /
You took my hand and reminded me of who I am inside.”
LIZARD BOY
a new musical with book, music, and lyrics by Justin Huertas
November 18 – December 11, 2022
Comic book lore and an indie-rock score collide for one magic night of adventure, music, and love.
If you’re looking for something more than Dickens or children’s fare this holiday season, Know Theatre of Cincinnati is your destination. Join us starting November 18 for a new queer rock musical about a boy who looks like a lizard: Lizard Boy, by Justin Huertas.
There’s only one day a year that scale-covered Trevor can blend in with the crowd: “Monster Fest.” Tired of hiding, he sets out to make a love connection – but Fate might just be calling him, instead. Featuring lush indie-rock melodies, this comic-inspired queer fable is a timely reminder of the restorative powers of loving and being loved.
Know Theatre, now in our 25th Anniversary season, smashes expectations once again with a new spin on the “holiday musical” – this time, a triumphant, comic-book inspired coming-of-age and coming-out tale about conquering the fear that keeps you silent when the world needs your voice the most.
In Lizard Boy, you’ll encounter monsters, mayhem, and virtuoso performances from a trio of multi-talented actor/musicians. While the Know’s crack design & production team takes their inspiration from comic book lore to transform the MainStage into a Seattle both like and very unlike our own time, the cast will transport you with their soaring melodies and thrilling tale of self-discovery.
Director, actor, musician, and filmmaker Lindsey Augusta Mercer comes back to the Know to bring their singular creative vision to this production. Co-founder of Queen City Queer Theatre Collective, Lindsey is no stranger to the Know MainStage – you’ll recognize her starmaking turns in 2015’s Hundred Days, 2016’s Darkest Night at the Gnarly Stump, and as director of, the 2016 Matthew Sweet/Todd Almond musical Girlfriend.
Why Lizard Boy, right now?
“Right now, we are being bombarded by politically motivated messages telling us that only some of us are worthy of love or care; and that those of us whose hearts love a different way or whose bodies stand out in defiant difference are monsters. Right now, we need a story about recognizing the transformative power of living and loving, loudly, in your truth.”
– Associate Artistic Director Tamara Winters
Who is this show for?
Lizard Boy is about finding your truest, fiercest self, doing fearless battle against evildoers, and maybe even getting the guy of your dreams along the way.
It’s for all the people who’ve struggled to love parts of themselves that don’t quite fit in, who know that even the most ordinary-seeming places can be full of magic, and who’ve ever found their peace in loving someone else. It’s for the people who love comic books, superhero tales, and red-hot rock music.
It’s for you.
Get ready for adventure. Here’s your questing party:
We’re delighted to welcome Jaron Crawford, who makes his Know Theatre (and Cincinnati stage!) debut with the role of Trevor, the “Lizard Boy” who finds himself right at the tipping point between his youthful optimism and the weight of his own grief.
Lizard Boy also marks the MainStage debut of Ian Timothy Forsgren, a familiar face of the local dance scene whose work you’ll recognize if you’re a fan of Pones or DanceFix. Ian plays Cary, the soulful musician whose brief connection with Trevor on a dating app sparks a wild night of daring adventure.
Rounding out the cast is Erin McCamley as Siren, the rock goddess with the spellbinding voice whose jaded exterior barely covers her seething, bloodthirsty rage. Erin brings her soaring vocals and musical virtuosity back to the MainStage after serving as Music Director (and pit musician) for 2016’s Girlfriend.
Join us for this thrilling comic-book rock-music adventure as we do battle against evil, find our own superpowers, and experience the healing power of loving and being loved. Lizard Boy runs November 18 – December 11, live at the Know, and livestreaming on select dates to your home.
Tickets are available on our website, knowtheatre.com, or by calling our box office at 513-300-5669.
CAST
Jaron Crawford as Trevor
Ian Timothy Forsgren as Cary
Erin McCamley as Siren
PRODUCTION TEAM
Director: Lindsey Augusta Mercer
Lighting & Scenic Designer: Andrew J. Hungerford
Costume Designer: Rainey Edwards
Sound & Projections Designer: Douglas J. Borntrager
Props Designer: Danielle Robison
Music Director: Erin McCamley
Technical Director: Jim Stark
Stage Manager: Grace Wohlschlegel
AT A GLANCE
Production: Lizard Boy, book, music, and lyrics by Justin Huertas
Dates: November 18 – December 11. Wednesday – Saturday shows are at 8 PM; Sunday matinees are at 3 PM.
Where: Know Theatre, 1120 Jackson Street in Over-the-Rhine.
Livestreaming on select dates TBA.
Themes: queer love · adventure · comic books · rock musical
Tickets: The standard ticket price is $25. Audiences may opt to support the Know’s initiative to pay all artists and employees a living wage by selecting the $40 Living Wage Ticket. Low-cost admission available for $15. On Wednesdays, as part of a program we call “The Welcome Experiment,” tickets are $5 in advance, or FREE at the door.
Know Theatre is Cincinnati’s Theatrical Playground. The Know showcases unexpected voices, new works, and plays that embrace the inherent theatricality of the live experience. Know Theatre seeks to be a place where artists and audiences feel welcome to take artistic risks, creating work that is cutting edge and accessible.
Know Theatre’s work is made possible, in part, by the generosity of community contributions to the ArtsWave Campaign.
The Ohio Arts Council helps fund Know Theatre with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence, and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.
Know Theatre is also supported by The Carol Ann & Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation, helping to change our communities for the better through collaboration and innovation, and the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, which provides a simple, powerful, and highly personal approach to giving.
Know Theatre is a member of Theatre Communications Group and an Associate Member of the National New Play Network.
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A PASSIONATE AFFAIR. TOLD IN REVERSE.
