Olive Ghardon

Fueled by a gay wedding with an egregious dress code, “Bright Colors And Bold Patterns” is a hyper-verbal and tragicomic one-person show that asks essential questions about contemporary gay life. It’s the night before Josh and Brennan’s picture-perfect Palm Springs wedding, and their old drag queen friend Gerry arrives car-cranky and a few beers in, furious that the invitation demands that he “refrain from wearing bright colors or bold patterns.” Gerry stews poolside with his ex and the ex’s twentysomething boyfriend in this hyper-verbal and tragicomic one-queen show that asks some essential questions about contemporary gay life: Why do people settle for assimilation instead of liberation? Where’s khaki in the rainbow? Is there any cocaine left? Written and originally performed by Drew Droege, the show has had sold-out engagements in Los Angeles and off-Broadway since premiering in 2016.

Content Warning: Regularly occurring swearing and depictions of drug use.

Chad Rabago / Olive Ghardon is a DC-based performer, music director, and drag artist. Performance credits include Legally Blonde, Seussical, Dogfight, Spamalot (WATCH Award, Outstanding Cameo in a Musical), and Rent with Rockville Musical Theatre, [title of show] with Dominion Stage, and Dog Sees God at Chapman University. Music directing credits include James and the Giant Peach with Rockville Musical Theatre, Firebringer with Dominion Stage, and The Last 5 Years and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Chapman University. He is also a member of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC.

As their drag persona, Olive Ghardon is an assistant chain restaurant by day and delusional jester diva by night. Olive is the season 6 winner of DuPont Dynasty and a 2024 DC Drag Award nominee for Breakthrough Artist and Best Comedy Performer. She has performed at bars, brunches, comedy clubs, improv shows, and theatres across the DMV, including Highball Productions’ all-drag tribute shows Shecago and Highball Musical and her cabaret show Ménage à Tw*t with Anja Dick, which toured in Lost River WV, DC, and Rehoboth Beach.