The Gold Dust Orphans is a fringe theater company based in Boston and Provincetown, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1995 by writer/performer Ryan Landry, Scott Martino, Afrodite (aka Andre Shoals), and Billy Hough. It is a group of actors, musicians, dancers, writers and visual artists dedicated to the production of shows that are often based on works of film, theater, and popular culture. Many of the roles are played in the classical tradition by men in drag.
Production history
1993
Psycho Beach Party, Camille
1998 How Mrs. Grinchly Swiped Christmas 1999 Charlie's Angels & the Case of the Tobacco Heiress, Medea 2000 The Bunny Trail, Joan of Arkansas 2001 Madame Ex 2002 Rosemary's Baby - The Musical!, Camille, Scarrie, Joan Crawford's Christmas On the Pole 2003 The Bad Seed, The Gulls, Who's Afraid of the Virgin Mary? 2004 Pussy On The House, The Septic Wives, The Exorcissy, Who's Afraid of the Virgin Mary? (revival) 2005 A T Stop Named Denial, The Golden Squirells, Cinderella Rocks! 2006 Death Of A Saleslady, Cleopatra the Musical, The Twilight Zone, Silent Night Of The Lambs 2007 The Plexiglass Menagerie, The Milkman Always Comes Twice, Silent Night Of The Lambs (revival) 2008 Medea, Whizzin'!, All About Christmas Eve 2009 Of Mice and Mink, Willie Wanker and the Hershey Highway, Valet Of The Dolls, All About Christmas Eve (revival) 2010 Phantom of the Oprah, The Gulls (revival), Mrs. Grinchly's Christmas Carol 2011 Pussy on the House (revival), Peter Pansy, The Rocky Horror Show, Mrs. Grinchly's Christmas Carol (revival) 2012 The Little Pricks, Mary Poppers, Rudolph the Red Necked Reindeer 2013 Mildred Fierce, Pornocchio 2014 It's a Horrible Life, Snow White and the Seven Bottoms, Jesus Christ, It's Christmas! 2015 Thoroughly Muslim Millie, Little Orphan Tranny 2016 Legally Blind - The Helen Keller Musical, Murder on the Polar Express 2017 Greece - A Highschool Musical, Whatever Happened to Baby Jesus? 2018 Brokelahomo, Nightmare on Elf Street 2019 The Ebonic Woman, Christmas on Uranus 2021 Mrs. Grinchly's Christmas Carol (revival) 2022 Little Christmas Tree Shop of Horrors 2023 The Rocky Menorah Christmas Show 2024 Rosemary's Baby Jesus 2025 Sweeney Claus: The Demon Father of Sleet Street
Awards and nominations 2007 Elliot Norton Awards Nominated for Outstanding Production by a Fringe Company - Silent Night of The Lambs 2008 Elliot Norton Awards Nominated for Best Choreography - All About Christmas Eve 2010 Elliot Norton Awards Won for Best Director, Small or Fringe Company- Larry Coen for Phantom of the Oprah Won for Outstanding Musical Performance- Jeffery Roberson aka Varla Jean Merman in Phantom of the Oprah Nominated for Outstanding Musical Production - Phantom of the Oprah Nominated for Outstanding Design, Midsize, Small, or Fringe Company -Phantom of the Oprah 2011
Nominated for Outstanding New Script - Ryan Landry for Mrs. Grinchley's Christmas Carol Won for Outstanding Production (Fringe Theater) - Mrs. Grinchley's Christmas Carol 2012 Elliot Norton Awards Nominated for Outstanding Design (Fringe, Small, Medium Theater) - The Rocky Horror Show Nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Actor - Scott Martino for The Little Pricks Nominated for Outstanding Musical Performance by an Actor - Gene Dante for The Rocky Horror Show Nominated for Outstanding Musical Production (Small/Midsize Theater) - Peter Pansy 2013 Elliot Norton Awards Nominated for Outstanding Design, Midsize, Small or Fringe Theater - Mildred Fierce Nominated for Outstanding Musical Production by a Midsize, Small or Fringe Company - Mildred Fierce Nominated for Outstanding Director, Small or Fringe Theater - James P. Byrne for Mildred Fierce Won for Outstanding New Script - Ryan Landry for Mildred Fierce 2014
Nominated for Outstanding Musical Production by a Mid-Size/Small Company - It's a Horrible Life Nominated for Outstanding Musical Performance by an Actor - Paul Melendy as George Bailey - It's a Horrible Life 2016
Won Outstanding Musical Performance by an Actor - Tim Lawton as Mary Cheney - Thoroughly Muslim Millie Nominated for Best Musical - Thoroughly Muslim Millie 2023
Won Outstanding Costume Design, Midsize or Small Theater - Scott Martino - Little Christmas Tree Shop of Horrors, Nominated for Outstanding Musical Production - Little Christmas Tree Shop of Horrors Nominated for Outstanding Leading Performance in a Musical - Tim Lawton - Little Christmas Tree Shop of Horrors Nominated for Outstanding Musical Direction - Tim Lawton and Tad McKitterick -Little Christmas Tree Shop of Horrors Nominated for Outstanding Choreography - Briana Scafidi - Little Christmas Tree Shop of Horrors Nominated for Outstanding Scenic Design, Midsize or Small Theater - Scott Martino - Little Christmas Tree Shop of Horrors Nominated for Outstanding Lighting Design, Midsize or Small Theater - Matthew Brian Cost - Little Christmas Tree Shop of Horrors Nominated for Outstanding New Script - Ryan Landry - Little Christmas Tree Shop of Horrors
2025
Nominated for Best Director, Small - Kiki Samko - Rosemary's Baby Jesus
2026
Nominated for Outstanding Choreography - Hallie Nowicki - Sweeney Claus: The Demon Father of Sleet Street Nominated for Outstanding Ensemble - Sweeney Claus: The Demon Father of Sleet Street
External links Official Website Facebook page @GoldDustOrphans Official Twitter Boston Globe Bay Windows Weekly Dig
Boston Globe Boston Globe