RuPaul: The House of Hidden Meanings

A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Welcome! And, may I add, congratulations. You are attending one of New York’s and America’s essential meeting houses, music venues and cultural institutions. I know that you will find the Town Hall Presents programming you are attending tonight to be timely and compelling. And each of our productions is an expression of our commitment to bring you significant, unique, eclectic and downright delightful events throughout the calendar year.

There is no place like The Town Hall. Founded “to promote good citizenship, social justice and general enlightenment through the education and expression of public opinion,” our hall’s world-class acoustics quickly became a calling card, and for over a century, playing The Town Hall stage continues to be a ‘must’ for musicians and singers from all genres and backgrounds.

Whether visiting our storied auditorium for the first time, or returning to experience yet another great night live on our stage, you can feel the vitality in the room. The Town Hall is truly contemporary; purpose-built to open its doors to art, ideas and especially to you.

Upon its dedication in 1921, The League for Political Education opened the building you are now sitting in with the watchwords:

“It does not matter who you are, what you are, or from where you come, you are welcome.”

As president of the non-profit organization that preserves our landmarked auditorium and produces the Town Hall Presents events like the one you are attending tonight, I thank you for coming to The Town Hall. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, and our incredible staff of professionals, I echo the sentiment of our founders and assure you that you are always welcome here.

Nevin Steinberg

This isn’t the RuPaul you think you know.

If we’re all born naked and the rest is drag, this is RuPaul stripped bare. Pop culture icon and international drag superstar RuPaul invites you to a spiritual awakening to celebrate the release of the highly-anticipated memoir, THE HOUSE OF HIDDEN MEANINGS. Allow your mind, body, and soul to be enveloped in RuPaul’s lyrically poignant stories on life, love, and finding your voice.

During this special event, RuPaul offers fans a manual for living—a personal philosophy that testifies to the value of chosen family, the importance of harnessing what makes you different, and the transformational power of facing yourself fearlessly. Don’t miss the opportunity to hear RuPaul’s extraordinary story as told by RuPaul.

RuPaul Charles is a Tony Award® -winner and the 12-time Primetime Emmy Award® -winning executive producer of one of the world’s largest television franchises, RuPaul’s Drag Race. He holds the Guinness World Records title for most Emmy wins for Outstanding Host of Reality/ Competition Program, and most Emmy awards of any Black artist in history.

A San Diego native, RuPaul became a popular fixture on the New York City nightclub scene and achieved international fame with the song “Supermodel (You Better Work)” from his 1993 debut album. He has written and recorded 18 studio albums to date.

RuPaul gained notoriety as a captivating and influential figure known for breaking down barriers and promoting self-expression and acceptance. In 1995, he became the first face of MAC Cosmetics, raising millions for the MAC AIDS Fund and becoming the first man to land a major cosmetics campaign. The next year, he landed a TV talk show on VH1. In 2017, RuPaul was named one of the TIME 100 list of the world’s most influential people.

RuPaul has appeared in over 50 films and television shows both in and out of drag. As an author, he has published four books: The House of Hidden Meanings (Harper Collins, 2024), GuRu (Harper Collins, 2018), Workin’ It! RuPaul’s Guide to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Style (Harper Collins, 2010), and Lettin’ It All Hang Out (Hyperion Books, 1995).

We i nvi t e yo u t o s uppo r t the Hall a t a n y l evel , and e n j oy the exclusi ve bene fi ts of be coming a Tow n H all Me m be r.

Advance Ticket Access

Notification of Presale & Discounts for concerts and Events

Member Discounts at local restaurants

Access to PATRON CIRCLE SEATS

Reserved Seats to Town Hall Presents concerts and other select events ( with special pricing, when available )

Complimentary Tickets to select Town Hall Presents Shows & Events

Complimentary Tickets to Town Hall G ala

Special Invitations to Sound Check or Dress Rehearsal

Seat Plaque in The Hall

Complimentary Advertisement in Town Hall G ala Journal

Invitations to an Artist Meet & Greet

fter a select Town Hall Presents Concert

All Members Receive Special Recognition in Town Hall Programs ll A ll

Photo: © Sachyn Mital

THE TOWN HALL FOUNDATION

The Town Hall’s mission is to provide affordable world-class entertainment by new and established artists to a diverse audience; to inspire the youth of our community to appreciate and participate in the arts at The Town Hall and in schools through our Education Outreach Program; and to preserve and enhance The Town Hall as a historic landmark venue for the enjoyment and cultural enrichment of generations to come.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

PRESIDENT

Nevin Steinberg

PRESIDENT EMERITUS

Tom Wirtshafter

Marvin Leffler

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

Susan Zohn

VICE PRESIDENT & GENERAL COUNSEL

Ellen Miller-Wachtel

TRUSTEES

Teniola Adedipe

Anne Frank-Shapiro

Frederick Gabriel

Gita Gupte

John A. Jenkins

Natalie Wexler

James Shackelford

Madhu Southworth

LIFE TRUSTEES

Phyllis Putter Barasch

Mary Dettling-Wright

Bruce S. Leffler

VICE PRESIDENT

Rita Robbins

TREASURER

Tom Wirtshafter

SECRETARY

Timothy Stambaugh

ADVISORY COUNCIL

Kathleen Rosenberg, Chair

Nancy Berman

Sandy Horowitz

Elizabeth Iannizzi

Candace Leeds

Zita Rosenthal

Rhoda Rothkopf

ARTS IN EDUCATION

ADVISORY COUNCIL

Michael Fram, Co-Chair

Dr. Eloise Messineo, Co-Chair

Barbara Murray

Dr. Pola Rosen

George Young

THE TOWN HALL STAFF

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Ted Lambert

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Melay Araya

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING

Jeff Mann

DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP, SUBSCRIPTIONS AND ADMINISTRATION

Helen Morris

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

Donna Banks, PhD

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

Taione Martinez

DIRECTOR OF BOOKING

AND EVENTS

Paul Cameron Hardy

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Bill Dehling

SR. DIGITAL MEDIA MANAGER

Alex Koveos

PROGRAMMING MANAGER

Gloria Lee

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Luis Santos

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Britni Montalbano

BOX OFFICE MANAGER

Angel Rodriguez

CHIEF ENGINEER

Steve Franqui

HOUSE MANAGER

Johnny Lee Green

WARNING

The photographing or sound recording of any performance or the possession of any device for such photographing or sound recording inside the theatre without the written permission of the management is prohibited by law. Violators may be punished by ejection and violations may render the offender liable for monetary damages.

FIRE NOTICE

The exit indicated by a red light and sign nearest to the seat you occupy is the shortest route to the street. In the event of fire or other emergency please do not run, WALK TO THAT EXIT.

Thoughtless persons annoy patrons and endanger the safety of others by lighting matches or smoking in prohibited areas during the performances and intermissions. This violates a city ordinance and is punishable by law.

-FIRE COMMISSIONER

DIRECTORY OF THEATRE SERVICES

ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES: 212.997.1003

Mon-Fri 9:30 am to 5 pm, for rental & membership info

BOX OFFICE: 212.840.2824

Mon-Sat 12 noon to 6pm. 24/7 Recording

TICKETMASTER: 800.982.2787 to charge tickets by phone.online Ticketmaster.com

LOST AND FOUND: 212.997.0113

CELL PHONE POLICY

Cell phones should be silenced prior to the performance as a courtesy to the performers and audience.

LOBBY REFRESHMENT BY Theatre Refreshment Company of NY

MAJOR GIFTS, CORPORATE, FOUNDATION & GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

This program is supported, in part, by public funds from The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Town Hall’s Education Outreach Program is made possible, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature. The Centennial Concert Series is funded, in part, by Howard Gilman Foundation. We would like to thank the following foundations, corporations, and government institutions for their support:

American Portfolios

Axe-Houghton Foundation

Bank of America

Consolidated Edison Company of New York

Edythe Kenner Foundation

Gund Investment Corporation

Henry Nias Foundation

Howard Gilman Foundation

The Hyde & Watson Foundation

The IV Fund

National Endowment for the Arts

New York City Department of Cultural Affairs

New York State Council on the Arts

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul

New York City Mayor Eric L. Adams

Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine

New York City Council Member Keith Powers

New York City Council Member Gale Brewer

New York City Council Member Julie Menin

New York City Council Member Sandy Nurse

New York City Council Member Kalman Yeger

NYC Dept. Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo

Rea Charitable Trust

The Shubert Foundation

Ticketmaster

ABOUT THE HISTORIC TOWN HALL

Town Hall has played an integral part in the electrifying cultural fabric of New York City for more than 100 years. A group of Suffragists’ fight for the 19th Amendment led them to build a meeting space to educate people on the important issues of the day. During its construction, the 19th Amendment was passed, and on January 12, 1921 The Town Hall opened its doors and took on a double meaning: as a symbol of the victory won by its founders, and as a spark for a new, more optimistic climate. In 1921, German composer Richard Strauss performed a series of concerts that cemented the Hall’s reputation as an ideal venue for musical performances. Since, Town Hall has been home to countless musical milestones: The US debuts of Strauss, and Isaac Stern; Marian Anderson’s first New York recital; in 1945, Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker introduced bebop to the world; Bob Dylan’s first major concert in ‘63; and much much more.

LEARN MORE. VISIT THETOWNHALL.ORG/TOURS

Producer’s Circle ($5,000+)

Shauna & Michael Denkensohn

SUSTAINING MEMBERS

Dr. Charlotte K. Frank & Marvin Leffler

Ellen Miller-Wachtel & Alan Wachtel, M.D.

Chip Murphy

Torbjoern G. Nygaard, MD & Lisa A. Mellman, MD

Brian & Patricia Shea

Beth & Tim Stambaugh

Paige Price & Nevin Steinberg

Carol Marks & Tom Wirtshafter

Jennifer Young, Christopher Young

Susan Zohn

Partner ($2,500)

Howard F. Berman

Mary Dettling-Wright

Agnes Gund

Dr. Elizabeth Iannizzi

John A. Jenkins & Susan Raleigh Jenkins, Esq.

Mahipal Rawat, Shweta Rawat

Sponsor ($2,000)

Judith Entes

Gita Gupte

Daniel Lewis

Rita Robbins

Lawrence Unger

Seat Holder ($1,000)

Mr. & Mrs. Louis Aidala

Nancy & Evan Berman

Ralph Buultjens

Robert E. Evanson

Hazel & Russel Fershleiser

Goldfarb & Fleece

Lisa Glassner & Matt Frank

Green Charitable Foundation

Fran & Richard Habib

Patty Laxton & Fred Kaufman

Jacqueline & Bruce Leffler

Kathleen Rosenberg

Rhoda Rothkopf

Susan & Victor Shedlin

Member ($500)

Anonymous (4)

Charlie & Bonnie Alter

Wanyong & Chris Austin

Jane Eisner Bram

Karen & Alexander Callender

Matthew Costabile

Daniel Donnelly

Hon. Betty W. Ellerin

Charlie Feldman

Bob & Rose Foulds

Michael & Anne Frank-Shapiro

Miriam & Paul Gold

Barbara J. Gottlieb

Jeff Gutterman

Priscilla H. Hoffman

Bruce Horten & Aaron Lieber

Adam Idleberg

Eric & Sandy Krasnoff

Karin & Marc Leffler

Judith C. Lovell

Julie & David F. McCarthy

Charles John O’Byrne

Shelly Packer

Zita Rosenthal

Dean Victoria Rosner

Kenny Schaeffer

Roberta Schechter

Roberta Schleicher

Jean Schmit

Leslie Gillian Senn

Natalie Wexler

Chester A. Whitlock

Matt Howard & Melissa Wohlgemuth

Friend ($250)

Anonymous (4)

Stephen Berman & Amy Foster

Todd M Cooper

Miriam Davidson

Lisa Dixon

Daniel Elias

Susan Finkel

Steven Frankel, Debbie Rudoy

Helena Grannis

David B Killalea

Lisa Kothari

Wojciech Kropiewnicki

Elaine Crowley & John Kuehn

Ellen & Martin Levine

Mark Lewin

Anthony Mason

Nancy & Andy Norton

David C. Olstein

David Page

Mike & Jo Proops

Gail Propp

Nicole Rechter

James Robbins

Mark K J Robinson

A. Jeffrey Rosen

Chris Rousseau

Carolyn M Salafia, MD

Corrente Schankler

Brandy Schillace

Lauren Simpson

Robert Strassler

Kenneth Topolsky

P. Wallach

William Waters

Greg Williamson

Supporters ($100)

Anonymous (70)

Wesley Abrameit

Barry Abramson

Michelle Achkar

Gail Alexander

Cynthia Allen

Rob Anderson

Eleanor Androulidakis

Gary Apple

Charles David Ard

Kennet Aymong

David A. Bader

Andrew Baldwin

Michelle Bandoain

Elan Barish

Natalie & Tim Barry

Peter Barsocchini

Jonathan & Barbara Baskin

Erin Beam

Michael Becker

Timothy Beebee

David Berger

James Bilsborrow

EM Blitzer

Bruce Bosso

Andrew Boyes

Raymond Bragar

Michael Brams

John Brett

Catherine Brienza

Ralph Brown

Alizah Brozgold

Jesse Brundige

Barbara Burger

John Burke

Elizabeth Wendell Butler

Ann & Eric Byne

Cynthia Byram

Colleen Cahill

James Callahan

Dr. George Callan

Lloyd & Darcy Campbell

Rose Case

Gabriel Chenard-Poirier

Elaine Chin

Kathleen Clark

Wendy Cohen

Elisa Cohen

Ashley Collins

Michelle Comparetti

Joel Confino

Ralph Contini, William Priest III

Gregory Courtright

The Covell-Ranheim Family

Andrea Cummis

Miranda Danusugondo

Jennifer Dauk

Mary J Davis/MBL Productions

Leslie De Jesus

Francisco de Leon

Susan & Rick Derrickson

Jenni Dickson

Robert Discolo

Dr. Peter & Debra Distler

Dr. Bob Drake

Elizabeth Durante

Robert Dwyer, Jr.

Jay Edelman

David Eiaenhardt

Thomas Ellenson

Lex & Helen Haris

Cristina Enriquez-Bocobo

Patrick Fay

Richard & Andrea Feinsilver

Danielle Ferry

Marc Fink

Geoffrey Flick

Frank Fontana

Katie Ford

Alyson Forde

Dr. Jonathan Foster

Robin Foster

James Joseph Fox, Esq

Lynda Fox Frazer

Abby Gilmore & Arthur Freierman

Susan & Michael Fromm

Christopher Gahl

Alexander Galanos, Orley Granot

Grant Gardner

Judith Mary Gee

Valerie A Gerardi

Michael Ghitelman

Dave Giffen

Barrie Gillies

Dr. Tamara Gillis

Alyse Ginsberg

Matthew Ginsburg

Florence Giordano

Tamara Glenny

Robert Goldberg

Stacy Goldfarb

Elizabeth Gray

Anne Green

Kathleen & James Grendell

Michael Grimaldi

Louise Guarneri

Edmond C. Haase III

The Haggerty Family

Elise Hanes

Peter Harrar

Ali Hart

Brad Hebel

Caroline Heller

Susan Hodges

Persephone Holman

Thomas Holt

George Hopkins

Robin Howald

Cheryl Humes

Bob & Kathy Iuliucci

Jennifer Jackson

Karen Jacobs & Mark Bradley

Jared Jaichon

Michael Jantzen

Jay Jantzer

Spike Jenkins

Mark Joy

Laura Kaminsky, Rebecca Allan

Alexandria Kansao

Rebecca & James Katz

Kristina Kinet

Steffie Kirschner

William Klayer

Riley Knippling

Little Johnny Koerber

Jeff D Kopelman MD

Elizabeth S. Lasdon

Timothy & Mary Lee

Jamie Levey

Debra Levin

Steve Levitan

Neal Levy

Smadar Levy

Stephanie Liang

Susan Lish

Mr. & Mrs. Patrick K. Long

Thomas Lookstein

Deborah Lyons

Cornelia Macfadyen

Sher Madigan, Richard Madigan

Steven & Patricia Madsen

Anne Maltz

Michelle & Dan Mannix

Atea Martin & Allen Honigman

Michael Matishek

Kyle Mauch, Faby Balcazar Suarez

Dr. Lesly A. McAnelly

Dr. Eileen McInerney

Mary Mears

Catherine Menichino

Sara Lynn Michener

Sachyn Mital

Keon Moghaddam

Lisa & Mark Montifiore

Miranda Morrison

Denis Morton

Richard J Moylan

Mathew Neiger

Rick Nelson

Melanie Nelson

James B Nish

Hope Nitsche

Jeffrey Norwalk

Susan Nussbaum

Allison & Edward O’Keefe

Stewart Otley

Edwin Pelto

Donna Pepe

Steven Perlstein

Rick Picardo

Julie Pitman

Andrew & Kelly Pontano

Scott Porter

Kaitlin Powell

The Powers-Brisiel Family

Adrienne Prasso

Michael Price

Philip Pucciarelli

The Rackow Family

Roslyn Richter

Veronica Richter

David Rimmer

Lee Ringelheim

Moldowan-Risch Family

Shelley Risk

Phoebe Robinson

William Rollo

Kristin Romano

Vicki Roosevelt & Rob Jorgensen

Joanne & David Rosen

Amy Roth

David Roth, Annette Bond Roth

Ronald Rotter

Reva Rubin

Brian Rubin-Sowers

Jenna Ryall

Alan Sacks

David Sacks

Shira & Marc Safran

Faith Salie

James Sall

Maureen Salter

Gina Sarno

Maria & Rob Schafer

Adam Schanke

Keith Schneider

Peter Schneider

Cindy & Rich Schulz

Marilyn & Michael Schwartz

Charles Schwartz

Anastasia Mann, Eldar Shafir

Kathleen Shelton

Stefan Sherman

James Siokos

Andrew & Sabina Soloway

Kevin J Spencer

Jason Spiro

A Stein

Michael Steiner

Adam Stepansky

Toby Wiser-Stern & Hal Stern

Sarah Sulkowski

Dr. Steven Sussman

Diane Sweeney

Erin Sweeney

Victoria Sweet

Barbara Takenaga

Martin Tandler

Bruce & Stephanie Temple

Tanya Thonre

Linda Tsang

Betsy Vogel

Ellen Wachtel

Robin Wagge

Sophia Waitword

Allison Warenik-Queenan

Kirsten Wargo

Cory Weiss

Iris Wertheim

Adam Wiener

Richard F Williams

Stanley Wine, Lillian Tang

Dustin Wright

Alan Yacavone

David Yaffe

Robert Zangrando

Thanks for putting art in the heart of the community

Bank of America recognizes The Town Hall for its success in bringing the arts to performers and audiences throughout the community e commend you on creating an opportunity for all to enjoy and share a cultural experience.

Thanks for putting art in the heart of the community

Visit us at bankofamerica.com/about.

Bank of America recognizes The Town Hall for its success in bringing the arts to performers and audiences throughout the community e commend you on creating an opportunity for all to enjoy and share a cultural experience.

Visit us at bankofamerica.com/about.