Melissa Etheridge’s new Broadway show, My Window, officially opened last night and will play through November 19. Aptly named after her most famous song, the show is an autobiographical journey through song. In it, the rockstar brings the audience along for the ride from her childhood in Kansas through her Grammy-winning career while accompanying herself on guitar, piano, drums, and looping machine. The show, like life, doesn’t shy away from darker moments, and details Etheridge’s personal struggles with breast cancer and the untimely death of her son.
“Yes, I bring up some very difficult subjects that were in my life,” the multi-hyphenate told Playbill, “but it’s about showing everyone how to keep walking with joy, no matter what happens.”
In My Window, Etheridge also speaks about her decision to come out in the ’90s, a time when very few queer celebrities made their sexuality public. She talks about the power of her decision to be true to herself. Today marks the 30th anniversary of her fourth album titled Yes I Am, a record that solidified her position as an out lesbian icon.
Having racked up awards, fans, tours and becoming arguably one of, if not the, biggest lesbian rockstars in history, one might assume that Etheridge has done it all. But Broadway took her by surprise.
“Oh, you Broadway folks aren’t kidding around. You get to work,” she told Playbill. “This is very different. I usually roll into town on a bus, get out, do my show, get back on the bus, have a couple of days off or something. This is for real.”
My Window is written by Etheridge, and directed by Amy Tinkham. Additional material is written by Etheridge’s wife, television writer and showrunner Linda Wallem-Etheridge. Kate Owens makes her Broadway debut as “The Roadie” in My Window. The Broadway residency is produced by Michael Cohl and EMC Presents; in association with Larry Mestel, Deborah Klein, and Steven Greener for Primary Wave Music. Glenn Orsher is executive producer. The creative team includes scenic design by Bruce Rodgers, costume design by Andréa Lauer, lighting design by Abigail Rosen Holmes, projection design by Olivia Sebesky, and sound design by Shannon Slaton.
