The Womyn’s Variety Show, an annual women-only fundraiser benefitting Oven Productions, began in 1975. Initially conceived as a women-only get-together and winter fundraiser for Oven Productions, the Womyn’s Variety Show has since gone on to become a yearly event which highlights entertainment and culture produced by women for women in the greater Cleveland area. The Womyn’s Variety Show has traditionally been an women-only adult-oriented event. Women have been encouraged to participate in the Variety Show by performing individual or group “acts, skits, comedy, or music” that reflect the event’s goals of being “anti-racist, anti-sexist, and empowering of all women.” Womyn’s Variety Show events have been held at The Civic, the Agora Theater, Grays Armory, The Temple, and Park Synagogue. The Civic (3130 Mayfield Road) has been the Womyn’s Variety Show’s longest-running venue. In 2019, Oven Productions announced the Womyn’s Variety Show would thereafter be produced as a quarterly (rather than annual) event. No Womyn’s Variety Show was held in 2019.
High Gear. February 1982. 
What She Wants. March 1982. 
Gay People’s Chronicle. February 1985. 
Gay People’s Chronicle. January 7, 1986. 
Gay People’s Chronicle. January 7, 1986. 
Gay People’s Chronicle. February 1, 1989. 
Gay People’s Chronicle. January 1990. 
Gay People’s Chronicle. February 1, 1990. 
Oven Productions. 1991. 
Gay People’s Chronicle. February 1, 1992. 
Gay People’s Chronicle. January 22, 1993. 
Gay People’s Chronicle. January 28, 1994. 
Gay People’s Chronicle. February 10, 1995. 
Gay People’s Chronicle. January 12, 1996. 
Gay People’s Chronicle. November 26, 1999. 
Gay People’s Chronicle. February 11, 2000. 
Gay People’s Chronicle. February 2, 2001. 
Gay People’s Chronicle. January 25, 2002. 
Gay People’s Chronicle. January 31, 2003. 
Gay People’s Chronicle. February 11, 2005. 
Gay People’s Chronicle. January 6, 2006. 
Gay People’s Chronicle. February 24, 2006. 
Gay People’s Chronicle. January 19, 2007. 
Gay People’s Chronicle. January 16, 2009. 
Gay People’s Chronicle. January 15, 2010. 
Gay People’s Chronicle. January 14, 2011. 
Oven Productions. February 2, 2013. 
Oven Productions. 2014. 
Oven Productions. 2018. 
Oven Productions. 2018.
Additional information coming soon.
Resources
- B., J. L. “15th Variety Show at Civic.” Gay People’s Chronicle. February 1989. Page 1.
- “Brynna Fish Interview, 17 August 2023.” Cleveland Voices.
- Castle, M. F. “Oven Productions Cooking Up Annual Variety Show.” High Gear. February 1982. Page 14.
- Cudnik, Doreen. “Numbers Down, But Variety Show Will Go On, Organizer Says.” Gay People’s Chronicle. February 26, 1999. Page 1, 4.
- “Debra Hirshberg Interview, 11 July 2023.” Cleveland Voices.
- Frustacci, Joanne. “Variety Show Nostalgia.” Gay People’s Chronicle. March 1986. Page 6.
- Gmucs, Heather. “From Rock to Comedy, Variety Show Remains A Crowd Pleaser.” Gay People’s Chronicle. March 1, 2002. Page 3.
- Harris, Patti. “New Hall, More Talent Make Variety Show A Fun Evening.” Gay People’s Chronicle. February 22, 2008. Page 1, 2.
- Hirshberg, Debra. “Show is Well-Baked After 30 Years in the Oven.” Gay People’s Chronicle. February 4, 2005. Page 8.
- Oven Productions. Facebook.
- “Sally Tatnall Interview, 19 July 2023.” Cleveland Voices.
- Schneck, Ken. LGBTQ Cleveland. Charleston: Arcadia Publishing, 2018. Page 32-33.
- “Women’s Variety Show At Agora.” Gay People’s Chronicle. February 1989. Page 1.