email: messapotamia@gmail.com
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Messapotamia Lefae (she/her) is queer cabaret artist based in Philadelphia, PA.
Through personal monologue, lip sync, contemporary dance, devised one-on-one performance, vulnerability and comedy, Messy cultivates unique opportunities for audience members to receive individual attention, empathy, caregiving, belonging, romance, raunch, selfishness, joy, unconditional love, and permission to let go. Her work is avant-garde and designed to heal trauma, build self-esteem, generate love, encourage gender freedom, nurture queer community, and validate trans feelings.
In September 2023, Messy created an interactive, immersive cabaret experience The Doctor Is In at Late Night Snacks at The Closet with collaborators MK Tuomanen, John Jarboe, Izzy Sazak, Liz Atkinson, and Doug Greene. After a silly intake interview, audience members are provided with emotional support stuffed animals and ushered into the office to meet the therapist. Messy launches into a lip sync performance with a projected backdrop, freeing their inner child through hobby horse therapy. Every patient leaves with a balloon so that when they meet back up with their friends, they can say, “I’m better than you. I’m in therapy.”
In the 2022 Fringe Festival, Messy created one-on-one Peep Show performances at the Bearded Ladies’ Late Night Snacks Cabaret in collaboration with John Jarboe, Jo Vito Ramirez, Liz Atkinson, and Bless Rudisill, which connected her with dozens of individuals via headphones and direct eye contact through a peephole.
Messy has performed with The Bearded Ladies Cabaret in Bastille Day at Eastern State Penitentiary, Color Me Bearded at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and Do You Want a Cookie? in the 2018 Fringe Festival. In the 2019 Fringe Festival, Messy and designer Christopher Ash created immersive, projection-assisted performances inside a vintage camper at the Bearded Ladies’ Late Night Snacks Cabaret. Messy was awarded a Philadelphia Asian Performing Artist (PAPA) Mini-Residency to develop a piece called Aswang about family estrangement, secret traumas, and first-generation Filipino-American identity. Messy and choreographer Cameron Lussier created a dance film, which builds upon a creative writing collaboration with playwright Arthur Robinson.
In addition to working as an Education Interpreter at the Philadelphia Zoo, she also works as an independent communication consultant for the Anti-Racism Commission of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, and served as the Vice Chair of the inaugural diocesan LGBTQIA+ Committee. Messy pioneered an outreach ministry with Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church, delivering produce and groceries from Philabundance to The Church of the Crucifixion for their weekly free farmers’ market serving Latinx and Asian communities from across the greater Philadelphia area. Messy has volunteered with the AIDS Fund for more than 13 years and performs as a Bingo Verifying Diva at GayBINGO. She is a member of the District Attorney’s Office LGBTQ Advisory Committee, advocating for queer and transgender victims of hate crimes and discrimination.
Born in Rhode Island, Messy received dance training at Vassar College, The School of Toronto Dance Theatre, Wissahickon Dance Academy, and at the Performance Garage with Alexei Borovik. She studied voice with Cookie Diorio at Cory O’Niell Walker Vocal Studio and with Pax Ressler.
Messapotamia Lefae 