Long Live the Queen
music by Andrea Clearfield
libretto by Cookie Diorio
Where Classical Music Meets Drag —
and History Gets a Makeover
Long Live the Queen (a her-story of drag) is a 90-minute genre-defying cantata created by drag artist, opera singer, and costume designer Cookie Diorio, and Philadelphia-based composer Andrea Clearfield scored for:
drag soloist (tenor)
chorus
vocal quartet (or quartet from the chorus)
instrumental chamber ensemble (or piano accompaniment with option to add other instruments).
Told in three parts (Before, Now, and Forward)
The piece dives into the history of drag, its role in queer culture, and its power to challenge systems and spark change. It doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff: Long Live the Queen calls out the ways misinformation and policy are being used to silence artists and communities, while lifting up drag as a fierce, joyful act of resistance and self-expression. It is opera reimagined through a drag lens, from a drag voice.
Premiering in June 2026
The full work will premiere as part of ArtPhilly’s city-wide quincentennial festival, responding to the theme “What Now.” The production will include Orchestra 2001, and singers from the Philadlephia Gay Men’s Chorus, ANNA Crusis Feminist Choir and Philadelphia Voices of Pride.
“As a drag artist, I’ve always been in touch with my musical self. If I can perform gospel in drag, why can’t I create operatic content in drag?”
— Cookie Diorio
Part 1 of the piece was premiered in May 17, 2024 with the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus
“The words Cookie wrote felt operatic — a new hybrid art form emerged.”
— Andrea Clearfield
Art. Visibility. Democracy.
In a time when drag performance is being challenged across the country, Long Live the Queen stands tall — and sparkly — for creativity, equality, and freedom of expression.
“It’s a middle finger, if you will, to the idea that drag doesn’t belong. It’s about democracy, equality, and voice.”
— Cookie Diorio
Original texts by Cookie weave in quotes from her drag queen role models, celebrating the vital role drag plays in society and the LGBTQ+ community. The piece highlights drag performers not only as artists but also as activists and catalysts for social change, exploring how our social systems shape and challenge drag across three periods: Before, Now, and Forward. Through this dynamic work, audiences are invited into a vision of understanding, acceptance, and cultural transformation — especially urgent in a time of increasing discrimination against drag artists and events in the U.S.
Help Bring Long Live the Queen to Life
Support this bold new work by contributing to production costs, sequins included. Fundraising is underway through Fractured Atlas, and salon-style preview performances are being planned.
Long Live the Queen is an ambitious undertaking — the sequin budget alone!
You can help bring this groundbreaking project to life by contributing to its production through Fractured Atlas.