A new musical spotlighting the life of ballroom scene trailblazer José Xtravaganza is now in development via Baltimore Center Stage. Titled Xtravaganza, the project will feature a book by R. Eric Thomas, music and lyrics by Khiyon Hursey, and direction by Tony nominee and Baltimore Center Stage artistic director Stevie Walker-Webb.

The musical will explore how Xtravaganza's artistry helped pioneer Voguing and bring it to the world stage. Set against the backdrop of New York City’s underground ballroom scene of the 1980s and 1990s, the show fuses musical theatre with Voguing battles, dance, original music, and storytelling through the the eyes of Xtravaganza, one of the only living ballroom pioneers.

BCS is collaborating with an independent producing team (comprising Isabel Kallman, Laura Mayes, Craig Kallman, and Kurt Deutsch) on an invited workshop production in New York City at Gibney Studios, 890 Broadway, where Xtravaganza received ballet training.

The workshop company will include Jackson Kanawha Perry, Samora la Perdida, Angel Lozada, Amuri Nabeel, Luis Herrera, Amara Gisele Xtravaganza, Sis Thee Doll, Nesziah Dennis, Cedric Leiba Jr., Kya Azeen Thomas, Maximo Xtravaganza, Ernest Allen, Bryce Farris, Michael Samarie George, Darius “Zenith” Case, Justin Thomas Rivers, Dava Huesca, Isabella Xtravaganza, Caleb Bermejo, and Kevin JZ Prodigy. Several members of the cast come from the Ball community, including members from the House of Xtravaganza, The Iconic House of Miyake-Mugler, Haus of Telfar, International House of Unbothered Cartier, and Iconic House of Juicy Couture.

Bill Sherman (Just in Time, In the Heights) will serve as music supervisor, leading a music team including LA-based producer duo Matthew Campfield and Daniel Klein of Some Randoms and the workshop’s music director-conductor Patrick B. Phillips. Bespoke Theatricals serves as general manager.