The Valkyrie Ensemble

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The Valkyrie Ensemble

Chicago based organization dedicated to promoting & empowering women in and through music

04/01/2026

Submissions are now open for our summer production of Acis & Galatea! Visit the link in our bio for all the information!

01/20/2026

We glittered and were gay!!!! Congratulations to all our STUNNING performers on two fabulous performances. Thank you so so much to our audiences for bringing all the hype and all the tips, for being amazing hosts, and for being the BEST emcee! ✨🏳️‍🌈

01/16/2026

BABE WAKE UP: GLITTER AND BE GAY DRESS REHEARSAL PIX JUST DROPPED! You absolutely do not want to miss out! Tickets still available for both shows! Ticket link in bio, see you tomorrow!

01/15/2026

Make some noise for our next performer!!! Wes Andy Sins! Catch him and the rest of our incredible cast Saturday, January 17! 6:00 and 8:30 shows. See you then!!

01/14/2026

Make some noise for our next performer!!!!

Beck Buechel (they/them) is a contralto, drag king, producer, and Gilbert & Sullivan enthusiast who is deeply dedicated to q***r collaboration. They earned degrees in Vocal Performance from Illinois Wesleyan University and The University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Since arriving in Chicago in 2017, they have attempted to put a gender-fluid twist on as many roles as they can get their hands on. Some favorites include: L Understudy in Thelma Louise D**e Remix (Theo Ubique), The Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance (Great Lakes Operetta), Marcello in La Femme Boheme (Ouroboros Opera/Valkyrie Ensemble), The Narrator in Murder Ballad (Towle Theater), Leonetta in Hildegard: The Rupertsberg Tour, Lancelot in Camelot (Janus Concert Series), and Joan in Fun Home (Towle Theater).

As Mx. O’Lydian, their motto is: If gender is a performance, I deserve a Tony Award. They spend most of their time dreaming up ways to become a well-known niche cabaret legend. In 2021, they produced Savoyeurs! a virtual Gilbert & Sullivan drag show. They are a member of the Ring of Keys Network and a Board Member of Valkyrie Ensemble. You can summon them at any time by singing a G&S tune into the night air.

01/14/2026

Welcome our next performer to the stage!

Colorado native soprano Marissa Howard is praised for her “silvery coloratura voice” and
comedic flair. This past year, she performed in Chicago Opera Theater’s North American
premiere of Leonora, toured with Opera Saratoga as an outreach artist in Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Niña in el Mundo, and sang with Bellissima Opera’s Spoon River Anthology concert series. She placed third in MIOpera’s 2025 International Voice Competition and appeared in Victory Hall Opera’s documentary YAPs, selected for the Albuquerque and Workers Unite film festivals. This season, she returns to Chicago Opera Theater for Kurt Weill’s Silbersee, performs with Bellissima Opera in concert, and joins the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for Poulenc’s Gloria and “A Night at the Opera” under Riccardo Muti. In April, she will appear with MIOpera as Suor Angelica.

01/13/2026

Please welcome Glitter and Be Gay’s first Duo!!

The Maidans are a French-American le***an folk duo bringing together the captivating harmonies and rich traditions of folk music with influences from opera and musical theater.

Formed by spouses Marie Sauze and Aidan Spencer, the duo blends their diverse musical backgrounds into heartfelt performances. Drawing inspiration from their shared love of storytelling and community, The Maidans’ repertoire features a mix of traditional folk songs, original compositions, and creative arrangements of opera and theater classics.
Whether performing at intimate venues, festivals, or special programs across Europe and the U.S., The Maidans captivate audiences with their passion, authenticity, and unique artistry.

01/13/2026

Please welcome your next performer to the stage: John Doe Ramey!

Al Kassouf is known for her “rich and flexible voice” and “powerful free expression.” A versatile singer, her repertoire spans from early music to premieres of contemporary works. Current season highlights include Carmina Burana with the Lyric Opera Chorus, Chicago Opera Theater’s production of Salieri’s Falstaff, and the role of Vittoria in GSOC’s The Gondoliers.

Active throughout the midwestern US, Al has enjoyed performing with Third Eye Theatre Ensemble, Milwaukee Opera Theater, Folks Operetta, Opera Columbus, Queen City Opera, Cincinnati Opera, and Seven Hills Baroque. She is a company member of the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company of Chicago, a member of the Grant Park Chorus, and she sings in the Florentine Opera chorus.

As a concert soloist, Al has sung at the Constella Festival, Accent 11, and the Clayton Opera House. She is an avid recitalist and an inherently collaborative artist. Al is also a practicing Alexander Technique teacher.

01/12/2026

Please welcome our next Glitter and Be Gay performer to the stage!

Laylah Love is excited to join the Valkyrie Ensemble for their production of Glitter and Be Gay. As a professional actor and classically trained crossover vocalist, Laylah performs in musicals, operas, and plays across multiple genres.

In the classical realm, Laylah is set to appear with the Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company this spring in The Gondoliers. Laylah was recently honored with her first JEFF Award nomination for Outstanding Ensemble for her role as the Iceberg in Porchlight Music Theatre’s production of Titanique.

Laylah holds a BA in Vocal Performance from SUNY Fredonia. When not performing in drag, Laylah works as a full-time aquarist at Big Fish Aquarium, where she specializes in saltwater reefs and various exotic species.

01/12/2026

MAKE SOME NOISE FOR YOUR FIRST GLITTER AND BE GAY PERFORMER!!!!

Naomi Brigell, mezzo-soprano, has been praised as “expressive, athletic and strong-voiced” on the operatic stage. Her 2025-26 season includes her role and house debut as the Duchess of Plaza Toro in The Gondoliers with The Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company, a return to Chicago Opera Theater in Salieri’s Falstaff, a world premiere as part of the Ear Taxi Festival’s Composer Showcase series, multiple art song concerts with the Salt Creek Song Festival, and the debut of her self-choreographed opera and tap dance crossover act, “The Shuffling Chanteuse,” in The Valkyrie Ensemble’s Glitter and Be Gay operatic variety show.

Naomi has sung with companies across the country including Des Moines Metro Opera, Nashville Opera, Opera Saratoga, Dayton Opera, Opera in the Heights, Chicago Opera Theater, and Opera Naples in roles such as Hänsel, Cherubino, Olga (Eugene Onegin), and Nica (Charlie Parker’s Yardbird). She has appeared as a guest soloist with the Dayton Philharmonic, Palm Beach Symphony, and Bach Collegium Fort Wayne. An active recitalist, Naomi has performed full-length recitals with the Salt Creek Song Festival, Levy Music Series, and Musicians Club of Women.

Alongside performing, Naomi is passionate about accessibility in the arts and works with the organization From the Top to support young musicians. Outside of music, she is an avid avocational tap, ballet, and jazz dancer.

Naomi lives in Chicago with her partner, literary translator Kevin Gerry Dunn, and their three-legged cat, Champion. She holds a BM from Boston University and an MM from University of Houston.

01/09/2026

Drag! Burlesque! OPERA! Glitter and Be Gay is BACK for another year of operatic buffoonery. See professional singers and drag artists giving performances worthy of the Lyric Opera stage with a silly (and sometimes filthy) twist. You won’t want to miss this one-night-only event, so get your tips and opera glasses ready!

01/05/2026

Thank you so much to and .fierce for a fabulous evening of drag bingo last night!!! We were able to raise some money for our upcoming productions and enjoy some great food, drink, and laughs on top of it all.

Check them both out for a great time and keep an eye on our page for exciting updates on Glitter and Be Gay!!! 💖✨🏳️‍🌈

Address

1044 W Bryn Mawr Ave
Chicago, IL
60660

Website

http://Valkyrieensemble.com/

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