Some might think that Joan of Arc is the original Queen of Queens, but they would be wrong. For us at The Evergreen Echo, Fran Lebowitz is that dyke who established what it really means to converse in “real talk.” Our dame of the dry wit returns to Benaroya Hall on Sunday September 22nd at 7:30pm in an intimate chat hosted by bestselling Seattle author Claire Dederer. Fran offers her acerbic views on current events and the media—as well as pet peeves including tourists, baggage-claim areas, after-shave lotion, adults who roller skate, children who speak French, or anyone who is unduly tan. In addition, she will share her unique take on the current state of our Union, which we are sure will be a hoot and a half.
Ry Armstrong (they/them) is an American, trans/non-binary artist and activist focused on pushing the overton window of our society toward an equitable and sustainable future. Born in Seattle, they began their creative journey at a young age studying with the Northwest Choirs, the 5th Avenue Theatre, and the Seattle Symphony, which resulted in a Grammy Award Nomination for contributions to the children’s album The Shoe Bird. Armstrong continued their academic pursuits at Central Washington University, where they graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre, and at American University, where they graduated with a Master of Arts in International Relations. When living in New York City, they performed in various productions Off-Broadway and on multiple sets of shows produced by HBO. Upon returning home to Seattle, they ran for Seattle City Council as a progressive Democrat and democratic socialist hoping for radical policy changes in the face of a looming climate crisis. Today, their activist focus is on labor organizing as a SAG-AFTRA Delegate to MLK Labor and on the National Council of Actors’ Equity Association. Most recently, they were chosen among many leaders to be a 2024 Outstanding Voice award winner in the LGBTQ community by the Puget Sound Business Journal. Their artistic focus continues to be on creative projects dedicated to the pursuit of truth and breaking down the binary of the world around us.
