We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Oliver Closeoff. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Oliver below.
Alright, Oliver thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
I produce a show called “Beyond the Binary,” Indiana’s only reoccurring all trans and non-binary variety show, which began back in 2023. The show has had poetry, drag, burlesque, circus acts and strippers just to name some of the types of performances that can be seen during the show.
I am a drag king but in day to day I live as a trans man. Both in and out of the queer community, trans people are often isolated and on the receiving end of bigotry and misunderstanding, especially in Indiana. I began this show to bring light to the issues the trans community faces while having fun doing so. It has also allowed me to create a space where performers can be seen on stage for who they are without questions and with full support.
Not only has this space become important for our cast members, but works also as a sanctuary for audience members. It gives hope to the freshly 21 trans person who comes to the bar alone and has never seen someone like them on stage, or may not feel comfortable presenting as their true self in all spaces but can do so at our shows. For the trans people in the audience it creates a space of safety, community and representation.
I hosted the show alone the first year, and brought on my co-host, Kitt St. Clair, in January of 2024. We ran the show strictly at The Back Door in Bloomington Indiana, until this past July where we had a pop up show at The White Rabbit Cabaret in Indianapolis. To have so many other queer people see the hard work and care Kitt and I put into the project had easily made it my life’s most meaningful work.
Oliver, 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?
I began performing as a Drag King in May of 2022 after encouragement from my best friend, fellow performer, Tristyn St. Clair. I had no experience on a stage prior and was the type of person who was too scared to even do Karaoke or dance in front of others. I had my first real performance at The First Church of Cannabis for an All Drag King show- I was the baby. But really, along with some close friends, arranged a make-shift living room drag show for me to practice and get my nerves out before hand. I performed “Sexy and I Know It” by LMFAO- a song I would absolutely never do now.
Since that goofy number in the church, I have now performed on stages across the Midwest, alongside “celebrity” performers, and more importantly, alongside some of my biggest idols. My style of performance has shifted a lot through the years, as I lean more into draglesque (a mix of neo burlesque and drag) now but one thing as stayed consistent: my goal to be a confident, proud trans man and representation for other trans folks. I do numbers revolving around trans existence, capitalism, as well as less “serious” acts, such as fan-favorite Fish Boy.
I love performing, but my true passion within the performance world has come from hosting and producing shows, specifically Beyond the Binary at The Back Door. This show happens nearly every other month, and occasionally travels to The White Rabbit in Indianapolis. In the nearly 3 years, my co-host and I have had over 100 different performers.
That same friend, Tristyn, who got me into performing helped me a lot with the first edition of this show that ever happened in January 2023. Tristyn sadly passed away in January 2024, so every anniversary of the show we celebrate the show, of course, but it also is a night we celebrate her and her life, and in turn, a show that was made possible because of her encouraging and supporting me so much.
The dates for the rest of the shows this year are October 11th at The Back Door, November 20th at The White Rabbit for Trans Day of Remembrance, December 6th at The Back Door. Our 3 year anniversary will take place January 10th at The Back Door, where we will be flying in an extremely special guest from New Orleans.
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
If anyone is looking to get into performing, I highly suggest attending open stages such as Indy’s Got Talent at Black Circle or Open Stage at The Back Door. Outside of putting yourself out there, there are many workshops and classes that can help build your performance craft, whether it’s Aerial arts , burlesque, pole dancing etc. Go out and support local shows, connect with performers you admire, but most take time to learn from the people around you who are trained and skilled in their field. I wish I would have taken a class on emceeing before my first time on a mic- it would have saved a me from some embarrassment and anxiety.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
For me, the most rewarding part of this art outlet has been seeing the direct impact it makes on people. Sure, I may spend 3-7 minutes on stage actually doing my number, but in those 3-7 minutes I can make someone laugh or cry or just feel seen. Especially in the world we live in, it’s important to find simple joys, even if they’re as simple as watching a clown rip off tear away pants.
Through the three years of running Beyond the Binary, I have received numerous messages from attendees thanking me for making a safe space for trans people and celebrating trans lives; for creating a space they feel seen and welcomed. Where this practice lets me get all my little weird ideas out, it’s an honor to see the direct impact it is making on my community.
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Indy Photos After Dark
Indy Ghost Light Photos
Kimber Batman