Josephine, presented by the Winnipeg International Burlesque Festival

Before Ella, Tina, Billie Or Beyonce, There Was Josephine:

The First African-American International Superstar

Josephine, a Burlesque Cabaret Dream Play, combines cabaret, theatre and dance to tell the story of the iconic Josephine Baker, the first African-American international superstar and one of the most remarkable figures of the 20th century. 

After a successful residency at the Segal Centre in Montreal, Josephine, a Burlesque Cabaret Dream Play, returns to Winnipeg with the new and improved version of the hit off-Broadway and international touring show. This revived show includes new content, new songs, and some stunning new costumes. 

Josephine settled down for a residency at the Segal Centre for the Performing Arts in Montreal, QC, for an all-new production directed by Sean Cheeseman (So You Think You Can Dance). Now, Dynamite Lunchbox takes elements of that production and returns to touring in earnest, spreading Josephine Baker’s message of love and unity across the globe. 

Josephine, a Burlesque Cabaret Dream Play, is an award-winning one-woman biographical musical that combines cabaret, theatre and dance to tell the story of the iconic Josephine Baker, the first African-American international superstar and one of the most remarkable figures of the 20th Century. 

After debuting at the 2016 San Diego Fringe Festival and winning the distinctions of "Outstanding Solo Performance" and "Best Show," the production toured throughout North America in 2017, picking up awards and 5-star reviews at every stop. In October 2017, The Soho Playhouse in New York City selected the show for the 2017 Fringe Encore series. 

Josephine was then awarded the honour of the encore series “Outstanding Production” award, and in early 2018, was offered a limited 8-week off-Broadway run at Soho Playhouse, where it sold out performances and received high critical acclaim. For the off-Broadway run, Tymisha Harris was nominated for a 2018 Vivian Robinson AUDELCO Award for Outstanding Solo Performance. 

In the summer of 2018, the show travelled across Canada to five festivals and was the top-selling show at every one of them, earning another dozen awards. In the Summer of 2019, the show went to the Edinburgh Fringe for the first time, where it was a critical and box office hit. 

In February of 2020, the show played in Australia for the first time. At the Adelaide Fringe Festival (the second largest in the world), the show received rave reviews, sold out and extended its run, and received a coveted “Critics Circle Award.” From there, Josephine had a planned tour of Europe and dozens of engagements in the US and Canada, but in March 2020, the pandemic had other plans.

Thankfully, in 2021, Josephine returned to venues across the US and Canada, starting with a 6-week run at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater. After touring throughout North America in 2022, 

"It’s is a perfect piece of theatre for the time we are currently in." 

★★★★★ -Plays To See NYC

The show is intended for adult audiences, as it contains adult content and nudity. Josephine shatters stereotypes of race, gender roles and sexuality in this intimate, charming and haunting cabaret with a twist.

About Josephine Baker- Born in St. Louis in 1906, Josephine Baker achieved only moderate success in the United States but became an international superstar after moving to France in the early 20’s. She starred alongside white romantic leading men in films in the 30s, had multiple interracial marriages and homosexual relationships, and performed in men’s clothing before the term “drag” existed in the lexicon. Baker was also a spy for the French Resistance, a civil rights activist, and the mother of 12 adopted children from 4 continents. Her success in France and Europe often gave her the opportunity to live freely without the racial oppression of her home nation. However, she never stopped yearning for acceptance in America. 

Tymisha Harris, Performer/Costume Designer/Choreographer. Tymisha Harris (aka “Tush”) has performed professionally for over 25 years. Her early credits include assistant choreographer and backup dancing for the 90’s pop group N*SYNC, a backup dancer for LFO, multiple roles at Universal Studios Orlando, and a featured role in the hit movie series Bring It On. More recent endeavours include the national tour of Rock of Ages, a European tour with the innovative and world-renowned Pilobulus Dance Theater Company, and founding member and Assistant Director/Choreographer of the successful Orlando-based troupe VarieTease.

Producer/Director/Co-Creator Michael Marinaccio notes: “In a period of profound division in the world, we are excited to present the story of a woman who broke boundaries of race, gender, and sexuality in a time before America had begun coming to terms with the concept of diversity. You would be hard-pressed to find a more remarkable human being than Josephine Baker, and it’s about time this extraordinary woman has her story told.” 

“Tymisha Harris’ performance is a tour de force. Not only can this gal sing, but her burlesque numbers are captivating, and her dalliances with audience participation are perfection. When she belted out Bob Dylan’s The Times They Are A-Changin’, I cried.” ★★★★★, Staff Pick –CBC 

“If there’s a truly must-see show at this year’s Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival, it’s Josephine.” ★★★★★ – Winnipeg Free Press

Host or Publisher Tits Up Productions