Abe Rybeck and Damien Thibodeaux in costume for a performance of "Pure PolyESTHER"
Description
Pure Polyesther is a hilarious and subversive retelling of the Old Testament story of Esther. The Theater Offensive's purimspiel mixes slapstick, klezmer, cross-dressing, outrageous scenery-chewing, and queer coupling with an earnest message about being true to yourself and your community. First staged as a live-action production in 1992, Pure Polyesther has acquired a loyal following for its annual presentation during the festival of Purim. Information on back of photograph: Abe Rybeck and Damien Thibodeaux in Pure PolyESTHER: A Biblical Burlesque at the Boston Center for the Arts, March 14 through 24, presented by The Theater Offensive. Call for tickets, 617/423-0942.
Abe Rybeck at a protest against the war in Nicaragua
Date
1985
Description
Abe Rybeck, wearing a blonde wig, standing with two other men, one in a bathrobe, at an outdoor protest. Banners on a wall behind the men read "Hunger Kills As Well As Guns, Stop the Embargo" and "No U.S. War on Nicaragua, Stop the Embargo." Other protesters are visible, as well as a camera crew.
In 1989, founding Artistic Director Abe Rybeck and a group of artist/activists formed The Theater Offensive to expand on the success of the gay men's guerrilla theater troupe, United Fruit Company. The Theater Offensive mounts and produces festivals and individual productions by national and local queer performers, and also serves as a development environment for new theatrical work. In addition, The Theater Offensive works to build community through education, outreach, and political activism. In this photograph, Abe Rybeck and other actors from United Fruit Company are posing in costume outside a concrete building.
Creator
Debbie Rich
Subject
Theater Offensive
Rybeck, Abe
United Fruit Company
Publisher
The History Project, Inc.
Rights
Please credit Debbie Rich. Email info@historyproject.org for information about rights, reproductions, etc.
Four members of Adult Children of Heterosexuals, including Abe Rybeck, posed in song
Date
circa late 1980s or early 1990s
Description
On verso: Adult Children of Heterosexuals performs their unique brand of high camp, raucous cabaret at Nightstage in Cambridge on July 6 at 8pm. Band members (l to r) Scott Madden, Felice Shays, Lynn Brown, and (bottom) Abe Rybeck will croon to make you swoon.
Creator
Chan, Larry
Subject
Rybeck, Abe
Madden, Scott
Shays, Felice
Brown, Lynn
Adult Children of Heterosexuals
Theater Offensive
Stephen Harrington, Abe Rybeck, and Scottie Madden of Theater Offensive, posing with puppets
Date
1988-03-20
Description
Stephen Harrington, Abe Rybeck, and Scottie Madden of the Theater Offensive standing in a row with five puppets. Each man is speaking into a microphone.