We were lucky to catch up with Lily Chrones recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Lily thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
The first time I knew I wanted to pursue a creative path professionally was during my senior year at the Boston Conservatory, where I was studying contemporary theatre. For my senior capstone, I wrote, produced and performed a one-person show called Girly Girl — a queer coming-of-age story that takes audiences through the different faces of my adolescence in my search for authenticity during the Golden Era of YouTube. The show explores what happens when a child, heavily influenced by social media, puts their life online before even knowing who they truly are. Writing and performing Girly Girl cracked something open in me. It was the first time I told my own story on stage in such a vulnerable and unapologetic way, and it planted the seed that maybe I could create space for other queer and trans people to experience the same.
At the time, I was struck by how little theatre reflected the kind of work I wanted to be part of. Everywhere I looked, LGBTQIA+ narratives were centered around tragedy, pain, or on teaching cis, straight characters a lesson through our suffering. It was frustrating, because I knew we are so much more than that. We are joyful. We are resilient. We are complex. We are so much more than our queerness and transness alone — those are parts of us, but not the whole. I wanted to create a company that highlighted that fullness, that gave queer and trans artists the freedom to bring all of themselves to the stage.
I never thought I’d start my own theatre company, but the moment the idea came to me, it was thrilling. That vision became Euphoria Theatre Company Inc. — a space committed to producing joyful queer and trans narratives that go beyond tragedy, a home where LGBTQIA+ artists can feel safe, seen, and celebrated in their authenticity. Our mission is to showcase that our stories are not just about what we’ve survived, but about how we thrive: in community, in creativity, and in joy. I’m especially excited that we’ll soon be gaining nonprofit status, which will open up even more doors for us to cultivate a broader community and expand the impact of the work we’ve already begun.
Once I began producing theatre and events, I knew I was destined to be a producer, among all the other hats I wear. It felt like something I was meant to do. Now, almost five years later, I am so proud of how much we’ve grown and of the beautiful community we’ve created here in New York City — a community that reflects the joy, resilience, and authenticity I set out to build from the very beginning. And as we step into this new chapter as a nonprofit, I’m excited to see how ETC can continue to grow, creating even bigger opportunities to celebrate our stories, our artistry, and our community together.
Lily, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Lily Chrones (they/them), and I’m an actor, producer, writer, cosmetologist, and professional tarot reader based in Brooklyn, New York. My journey into theater was actually kind of an accident. In 5th grade, one of my friends signed up for a community theater summer program and asked me to do it too so we could spend time together. I agreed, not knowing what to expect, and to my surprise, I loved the process — even though I had terrible stage fright. I stuck with it every summer, and by 7th grade, the director of the program took a special interest in me and asked my dad if he’d consider signing me up for private acting and voice lessons. I was furious when I found out. I remember crying and saying, “Fine, I’ll go to one lesson and that’s it!” But of course, something clicked once I actually went. I loved it despite my nerves, and those lessons ended up continuing all the way until I left for college. Looking back, that was really the beginning of everything. From then on, I was hooked — I did every play, every musical at school, and even did hair and makeup for the productions because I had always been passionate about cosmetology, too.
When it came time for college auditions, I discovered the Contemporary Theater program at Boston Conservatory, and it immediately felt like home. The school was filled entirely with artists, which fostered this incredible, buzzing atmosphere of creativity. I was part of a 12-person ensemble there, which not only honed my craft as a performer but also gave me the collaborative skills that would later become essential to my work as a producer. It was also at the Conservatory that I met my first non-binary person. That moment cracked something open in me and led me to start questioning my own identity, which ultimately led to one of the biggest discoveries of my life: that I am non-binary.
In 2022, I had top surgery — an experience that changed my life forever. It felt like a literal and figurative weight was lifted off my chest, and for the first time in my life, I felt fully comfortable in my body. That was the turning point that ignited something deeper in me about the importance of visibility. Inspired by that experience, I began sharing my journey openly on TikTok as @lilychrones. I started creating content about top surgery, queer and trans visibility, and self-discovery. That’s when I realized just how impactful visibility is to our community. So many people in my comments told me they had never even seen or heard of a non-binary person before, and that my videos gave them the representation and language they had been missing. That’s when it truly hit me: my voice mattered. While visibility is never a requirement in our community — everyone has the right to safety and privacy — I’ve chosen to be visible for those who cannot.
Advocacy has always been part of who I am, even before I knew I was queer and trans myself. In high school, I came out as queer in a school of over 2,500 students, where I was one of maybe ten out kids. I’ll never forget my first Pride parade in Chicago, feeling the overwhelming love, diversity, and acceptance of my newfound community. Looking back now, it’s actually funny to see how passionate I was about LGBTQIA+ rights even before I had the language for my own identity. In one Instagram post from 2013, I wrote: “love is love no matter what gender and if you can’t accept that you’re the disgusting one. learn to respect others. everyone is equal and deserves the same rights as everyone else.” It’s so clear that advocacy was always at my core, even when I didn’t label it as activism — to me, it was just about standing up for what I believed in.
Social media has always been a part of my journey. Back in middle and high school, I ran a YouTube beauty channel called Livin4Fashion, where I grew to over 27,000 subscribers. That channel was all about encouraging people to be themselves — a message that has stayed with me across everything I do. My YouTube journey later became the inspiration behind my one-person show, Girly Girl — a queer coming-of-age story that explores the different faces of my adolescence in my search for authenticity during the Golden Era of YouTube. The show dives into what happens when a child influenced by social media shares their life online before even knowing who they are.
Over the past year, I’ve also discovered a passion for tarot, which led me to create @divinelylily on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Through tarot, I empower people all over the world to connect with who they are inside and align with their highest path. To me, it feels like a natural extension of everything else I do — helping people embrace their truth and authenticity.
Alongside performing, beauty, and content creation, producing has become one of my greatest callings. Once I started producing theater and events, I knew it was something I was meant to do. Almost five years later, I’m proud of how much Euphoria Theatre Company Inc. has grown and the beautiful community we’ve created in New York City. One of my favorite productions is our annual HoliGay Cabaret — a glitter-filled celebration of drag, circus arts, original music, and even a 70-year-old lesbian contortionist who still manages to steal the show. It’s pure joy, and we’re about to host our third annual this year.
Across theater, beauty, social media, tarot, and producing, the common thread has always been my passion for helping people feel seen, safe, and celebrated. Watching the impact of my work — from heartfelt comments online about how my videos helped someone feel less alone, to witnessing artists thrive on stage at my events — is what keeps me going, even in the face of thousands of hate comments. Visibility and advocacy aren’t always easy, but for me they’re worth it. Every time someone feels represented, every time someone realizes they belong, I’m reminded why I do what I do. I am a proud non-binary lesbian!
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
I first started creating content when I was 11 years old, inspired by YouTubers like Gigi Gorgeous and Michelle Phan. I begged my dad to let me make a YouTube channel, and after some persistence, he finally said yes. I saw these creators doing makeup tutorials and sharing their lives, and I thought, I want to do that too. I didn’t overthink it — I just started posting what made me happy, and before I knew it, I had begun growing a following. Over time, social media grew into something bigger for me — it became not just a creative outlet but also a way to share my activism for the LGBTQIA+ community. It’s woven into who I am: a space where I can express myself fully while also using my voice to uplift others. I’ve seen firsthand how sharing my story has inspired people to discover more about themselves, and the impact has reached far beyond the LGBTQIA+ community — it’s touched people from all walks of life who connect to the honesty in my journey.
My advice to anyone starting out is: don’t worry about being niche, because you already are one — you. People will always tell you to pick a lane, but I believe the most powerful thing you can do is share what lights you up. Be consistent, yes, but more importantly, be curious. Share your passions, your struggles, your victories, the things that inspire you. Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable within the level of comfort that feels safe for you. That’s how people begin to trust you and invest in your story. And above all — give yourself permission to take up space online exactly as you are.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
For me, the most rewarding part of being an artist is honestly hard to choose, because so much of it fills me with joy. As a producer, there’s nothing like sitting in the audience on opening night of a show that’s taken months — sometimes even a year — to bring to life. Watching the lights come up, hearing the audience respond, and realizing that something which once only lived in my imagination has transformed into a full, living experience is one of the most magical feelings I know.
But beyond the art itself, what means the most to me is the community it creates. I’m deeply grateful to be able to foster safe spaces where LGBTQIA+ artists and creatives can come together, collaborate, and share their passions. It’s especially rewarding to give queer, trans, and BIPOC artists a platform to perform and share their work in a world where those opportunities are still far too limited. At Euphoria Theatre Company, we celebrate everyone who makes a show happen — whether it’s playwriting, drag, acting, lighting design, sound design, set design, or directing. Every role is equal and essential, and I’m proud that our company reflects that ethos. My mission has always been to produce work that showcases the full breadth and beauty of our community — not just the struggles, but the resilience, the joy, the humor, and the brilliance.
One of my favorite examples of this is our annual HoliGay Cabaret. It’s an unapologetically bold, joy-soaked celebration that brings together drag artists of all kinds, circus performers, live original music, and even a 70-year-old contortionist who always steals the show. Hosted by two incredible drag performers, it’s become a tradition that audiences look forward to year after year, and this winter we’ll celebrate our third. Watching the actors shine on stage, knowing the entire team — from designers to crew — is working tirelessly behind the scenes to make everything seamless, is indescribably rewarding. Seeing artists of all disciplines light up the stage while audiences leave feeling seen, safe, and celebrated — that’s the heart of why I do what I do. And in many ways, it all goes back to the fact that I didn’t see the kind of art I wanted to be part of when I was younger. So I built it. That’s why I encourage others to create the art they long to see in the world — because chances are, someone else is waiting for it too.
And for me, that’s the real reward — knowing that the work doesn’t just stay on stage. Whether it’s theatre, social media, or tarot, my goal is always the same: to spark something in people that reminds them of their own power and worth. Being an artist isn’t just about self-expression — it’s about leaving a trail of light for others to follow, and showing them that they are not alone.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.euphoriatheatre.org www.lilychrones.com
- Instagram: @euphoriatheatreco @lifewithlily @divinelylilyofficial
- Youtube: @Livin4Fashion @divinelylily
- Other: Tiktok: @lilychrones @divinelylily
Image Credits
HoliGay Cabaret photography by Carrigan Boynton and Michael Gebhardt.
Say “NO” to One Paseo (by Sienna Marilyn Ledger) photography by Austin D. Patterson