JENder Bender

Travel back to the Golden Age of Musical Theater and live it as never before — JEN FELLMAN reclaims the roles and repertoire once written for men and interprets them through a queer lens in 2026. As boundaries blur… gender is flipped, identity is reimagined, and these glorious songs take on new meaning in today’s world. The Golden Age that could have been — The Golden Age through the female gaze. With the music of Rodgers & Hammerstein, Lerner & Loewe, Stephen Sondheim and more. Featuring Pianist: MARK OLESZKO Director: STEVE PACEK Music Director: DREW WUTKE And special guest Lane LaVonne ✨ 🎤 Event: JENder Bender — starring Jen Fellman 🎭 Date: Sunday, April 19, 2026 📍 Venue: The Perch (Fishtown) — 2321 Emerald St, Philadelphia, PA 19125 🕰️ Doors Open: 5 PM | Show Start: 5:30 PM 🎟️ Tickets: $25 Transportation/Parking — Free unregulated street parking — Also easily accessible by bus and subway (Market-Frankford Line) Wheelchair Accessibility Please note that the performance space is wheelchair accessible; however, access to the restroom requires climbing two steps. JEN FELLMAN is a Philly-based singer, actor and cabaret performer. She released her Debut Solo Album FORBIDDEN DRIVE ( Broadway Records Label ) with sold out release concerts at Feinstein's/54 Below . Jen has performed regularly at various NYC venues including Theatre Row, Don’t Tell Mama, the French Consulate of New York, and Chez Josephine. She has lived and performed extensively in Paris, France. Venues include the American Embassy in Paris, the Petit Journal Montparnasse, and the Comédie-Française Theatre. Jen has written two other original solo shows, FRENCHY (Winner Best One-Woman Musical - United Solo Theatre Festival NYC), and A SINGER’S CIRCUS (Recipient of the Jilline Ringle Solo Performance Grant Award, 1812 Productions). Regional lead musical roles include Clara ( T he Light in the Piazza ) and Luisa ( T he Fantasticks ). @jenfellman MARK OLESZKO is a New York-based music director, pianist, educator, piano bar performer, and drag artist. His performance experiences have spanned various stages, ranging from The Apollo Theatre to The Highline Ballroom, Lincoln Center, Birdland Jazz Club, 54 Below, and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Mark currently hosts open mic weekly at The Stonewall Inn and accompanies various New York City-based choirs, including The Academy for Teachers, as well as vocal workshops at Teachers College, Columbia University. He can be found on Instagram at @markoleszko, as well as @itslyravega for his drag career and events! DREW WUTKE (Music Director/Arranger), NYC-based multidisciplinary artist/music director can be found performing with Tony, Grammy, Oscar, Emmy, and Pulitzer Prize winners at venues all over the world incl Lincoln Center, Joe's Pub, and 54Below. Solo shows incl Andrè DeShields, Kelli O’Hara, Natalie Joy Johnson, Michael R. Jackson, and Billy Gilman. In development: a new MAE WEST bio musical; a project using The Chicks’ musical catalog; Other recent shows include the West End-aimed FOR TONIGHT; Jim Steinman’s RHINEGOLD starring DeShields; and HAARLEM NOCTURNE with Marc Shaiman and DeShields. His CLASSIC WHITNEY: ALIVE! concert starring Bway's Kevin Smith Kirkwood celebrates a decade at Joe's Pub this year. In addition to his private vocal coaching studio, Drew is the Resident Music Director at the Jen Waldman Studio; and is the first-ever award-winning pianist at the legendary Marie's Crisis piano bar where he plays weekly. @drewwutke LANE LAVONNE (they/them/theirs) is a queer artist and director working in Philadelphia and NYC. Their work investigates power structures and human relationships, and the complex interconnectedness between the two. They’ve worked with PTC, PlayPenn, and self-produced in the city. Past work includes The First (Passage Theatre), Like Father, Like Son (Passage, The TANK). Rider University alum. @lalalalavonne Photo Credit: Christian Carroll Design: Lexi Lewis