Santina Maiolatesi as Inez, Christopher Alexey Diaz as Freddy, Joey Schuman as Wes, Kobe Morrison as Patrick, Timoth David Copney as Willie And at the Piano, Xander Conte as Buddy. Photo courtesy of Iron Crow Theatre.
In this timely, beautiful, and energy-filled production, The Iron Crow Theatre’s production of “The View Upstairs” (the show premiered off-Broadway in 2017) soars with excellent vocals, a captivating set, and wonderful costumes. This production is a must-see, prompting reflection on how we remember queer love, joy, and community, and what community-building can and should look like today.
…timely, beautiful, and energy-filled production…a must-see…one of the best I’ve seen locally in Baltimore’s theater scene…
Located just three blocks away from Baltimore’s own historic gay bar, Leon’s, Max Vernon’s “The View Upstairs” takes place at the Upstairs Lounge in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1973. The audience walks in to find their seats as the actors mingle at an eclectic bar, brilliantly designed by James V. Raymond, complete with a light pink piano and an elegant back bar, canopied by sets of old window shutters.
One of the early numbers, “Some Kind of Paradise,” gives a toe-tapping start to a production that tells the story of a band of local “misfits” who are regular visitors to the bar. (The music would particularly appeal to fans of musicals like “Rent,” “Waitress,” and “Next to Normal.”) The scene then cuts to the main character, Wes, played by Joey Schuman, a self-absorbed Gen Z influencer who has just bought the building which includes the bar. (Read our “A Quick 5” interview with Joey Schuman here.) Wes is horrified to find it in such a barren state and shares plans to tear it all down to turn it into an up-and-coming retail venue. Wes is then transported (or possibly hallucinating) into the past, where he meets the former loyal patrons of the bar in 1973. Emphasizing themes of chosen family and the generational differences in the approach to queer survival and resistance, the production provide insights as the stories of its regular patrons unfold. The show ultimately concludes with the tragic story of how the bar was burnt down by arson on June 24, 1973 and 32 people died. Wes appears to have taken on the mantle of remembering the story into the present.
Directed by Sean Elias, this production is perhaps one of the best I’ve seen locally in Baltimore’s theater scene in a long time. All of the cast bring strong vocals and clearly place extensive intention behind each of their characters. I was particularly impressed by the voice of Kobe Morrison as Patrick and Santina Maiolatesi as Inez. As Willie, Timoth David Copney brilliantly shines as an “old-guard” drag queen who goes on and on about his encounters with old stars “back in the day.” Even with relatively few lines, Copney delivers each with extravagant flair and confidence and a demanding stage presence. Christopher Alexey Diaz as Freddy is also commanding on stage and performs a brief, but fun, drag performance towards the latter-end of the show. The musical includes a number of funny quips which help to lighten the plot with such a heavy story, including my personal favorite, a riff-off at the end of a church hymn between two of the characters.
The work of the cast is expertly enhanced by their costumes designed by Xorlali Plange who uses wonderful pieces including a delightful, red velvet dress worn as part of a drag performance by one of the patrons, Freddy. Thomas P. Gardner’s lighting design expertly follows the changing mood of various numbers, forming a starry sky in one, while also playing with ideas of light and shadow in a piece where the patrons worship together to communicate feelings of hope, doubt, and spiritual isolation.
The show is produced by Iron Crow Theatre, a local non-profit focused on supporting queer theater in Baltimore since 2009. If you are looking to learn some little-known and important history this Pride Month that will remind you of the importance of remembering and building community, this production will surely not disappoint. During a time when queer history continues to be silenced and erased, this production brings life to a forgotten chapter of LGBTQ+ history and reminds us to lean into opportunities to continue to build community today.
Running Time: Approximately one hour and 45 minutes with no intermission.
Advisory: Contains some sensitive material which may not be appropriate for all audiences, including partial nudity and some sexual content. Includes violence, explicit language, and heavy themes, including discussion of the AIDs epidemic, homophobia, suicide, and drug use.
“The View Upstairs” run through June 14, 2026 presented by Iron Crow Theatreat the Baltimore Theater Project, 45 West Preston Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. For more information and to purchase tickets, call 443-637-CROW (2769), at the door, or go online.
