From August 2022 to May 2023, I had the immense pleasure of hosting and producing The Sassy Salon, San Diego's free variety show of epically sassy proportions. This monthly event brought together the diverse talent of San Diego's performance community on Diversionary Theatre's Clark Cabaret stage.

About the Show

The Sassy Salon was a celebration of queer artists in San Diego, at their sauciest and sassiest. Each month, we featured a lineup of performers including dancers, clowns, storytellers, comedians, poets, actors, and musicians. The evening always concluded with an open mic, allowing audience members to share their own talents and become part of the show.

As the host, I took on the persona of Baba Yana, everyone's favorite Soviet Jewish Grandma Clown. In this role, I had the joy of bringing together the community, creating a supportive environment for performers, and adding my own brand of clown to the proceedings.

Memorable Themes

Throughout its run, The Sassy Salon explored various themes, each bringing its own unique flavor to the stage:

"Hot Ghoul Summer" (August 2022): A spooky-sexy celebration of the season

"How Do You Like Them Apples?" (November 2022): An exploration of our relationships with food

Baba Yana's Birthday Roast (May 2023): Our final show, where the tables were turned and the audience got to roast the host!

Impact and Legacy

The Sassy Salon created a space in San Diego for queer performers to experiment, for audiences to discover new talent, and for the queer community to come together in laughter and creativity. While the show has concluded its run in San Diego as I've moved to the East Coast, the spirit of sassiness lives on in the hearts of all who participated.

Thank you to all the performers, audience members, and supporters who made The Sassy Salon such a joyous and memorable experience.

A monthly vaudeville-style variety show hosted by Baba Yana at Diversionary Theatre’s Clark Cabaret