FILE VII: Lily Divine Productions
Lily Divine Productions is a small production company that aims build a supportive community for queer individuals. They do this in three ways: by creating community spaces, helping develop queer artists through workshops and mentoring, and providing grant funding for health and social service organizations that cater to the queer. Liz Cruz started the idea for Lily Divine Productions over seven years ago in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a queer performer herself whose routines straddle the border between burlesque and stripping, she found frustration in the segregation of the two styles. What she initially decided to create was an open and welcoming environment for people to explore their gender identities. The end result is Lily Divine’s monthly centerpiece production: DEBAUCHERY.
Focusing on the celebration of our bodies, DEBAUCHERY invites amateurs and professionals alike to give two-minute performances that express sexuality, lust, love, loss, and humor, all in the name of community, support, and philanthropy. DEBAUCHERY still happens every month in the Bay Area and for three years, Liz has worked hard to build up the monthly show here in Seattle. Making a home base at the LGBQT nightclub Neighbors, Lily Divine Productions has expanded from their DEBAUCHERY show to put on other productions, with all the proceeds going to different organizations that support the queer community in the Puget Sound area. So far, Lily Divine Productions has given out over $10,000.
Shunpike: What inspired Lily Divine Productions?
Liz Cruz: I went to school for contemporary dance and when I graduated I knew I wanted to use dance in way that would support communities. I loved the idea of connecting with people in real and down-to-earth ways but realized that contemporary dance is something that is not accessible to many people. I found that people didn’t know how to understand that style. It was a tough time for me because I wanted to find a way to express my own style and still make it accessible for people who aren’t versed in dance.
Then, my partner came home and told me that he wanted to do a 1,000 mile bike ride to raise money for HIV/AIDS research and he was really excited about the ride but there was a hitch: he had to raise $2,500 at a minimum to participate. He asked me for some help and, in the spur of the moment, I suggested we do a strip-tease fundraiser. I had a few friends who did something similar that was successful, so I called up some friends and asked if they would be willing to do a strip-tease for charity. A few people signed on, we secured a night at our local bar and we had a fun night of drinking, stripping and raising money for a good cause.
It was supposed to be a one-night thing but people enjoyed it so much, they wanted to do it again. They told me how much they loved to see the positive reflections of queer people on stage, expressing themselves in a fun way and exciting way… So we kept on doing it.
SPK: What challenges does Lily Divine Productions face?
LC: Starting DEBAUCHERY in Seattle, I was facing the challenge of whether it was different enough from the popular burlesque scene in the city. We started to realize that it is: we have completely different audiences and we were the only event that catered directly to the queer community.
The bigger challenges for us as an organization come from the fact that we have grown bigger than I had ever thought we would. In the beginning, it was just me producing a show. I never thought it would grow to the point where there needed to be a bigger organizational structure to deal with everything. We are the point where other queer organizations see us a solid partner and we help produce things outside of our own programming. It’s the toughest part but it also the most exciting! We have a lot of opportunities, but I, myself can’t do more. At this point, we’re in the process of figuring that aspect out.
SPK: How has Shunpike helped Lily Divine Productions?
LC: We applied for fiscal sponsorship with Shunpike after our first show in Seattle and it was the best decision we ever made; they enable us to do what we do. For example, we can have a board meeting to figure out who to give this money that we raised to and not have to worry about the legal aspects. If we have question, they will answer it. Shunpike balances our books and files our taxes. Just having Shunpike as a foundational support for those financial and legal aspects has been a gift. They also care a lot about the development of our organization. We can go in and talk with someone about how to grow effectively. We have been able to attend their workshops, which are amazingly helpful. I can’t think of another place where you can attend an organizational development workshop for $25. I mean that’s incredible.
SPK: How has this endeavor changed your life?
LC: There is so much that has changed me through this whole experience. Not only is Lily Divine the name of the organization, it is also the name of my character when I perform. Lily Divine, the performer, has really given me the opportunity to express things in a way that I would have never been able to do otherwise. I mean, I have the ability to get on stage, pour a bottle of champagne all over myself and have a hundred people screaming for me to take off my clothes! (laughs) It’s truly an empowering experience and to be able to create that experience for myself AND for other people, it’s something I am grateful for.
The company and DEBAUCHERY especially, have given me an outlet to support the community that I love. In a way, Lily Divine Productions holds a space for people to discover their truth, to come to a more authentic experience of themselves. This is the thing that really keeps me going when the going gets tough. It has given me my life and my foundation.
SPK: Where do you see Lily Divine Productions in 5 years?
LC: I really think of our work and where I want us to be in terms of our impact. I would love to see us strengthening the way we have partnered with other organizations, specifically organizations like Queer Youth Space. The reorganizing we are doing now will hopefully set us up to be able to do more of these special things and continue these partnership. It may look like we want to do more shows, and we do, but for the sake of developing these partnerships for the community. I would also love to be more active in artist development, such as putting on more workshops for performers and other artists.
You can find out more about Lily Divine Productions on the website: http://www.lilydivine.com/
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