Kayla Boye / “Call Me Elizabeth”

Description

Fresh off her 1961 Academy Awards triumph and a recent brush with death, Elizabeth Taylor is struggling with her hardest role yet: herself. Through an intimate conversation with her biographer, "Call Me Elizabeth" examines the movie star's early life, career and loves as she grapples with the culture of celebrity and her place as Hollywood's brightest star. Directed by Michael Weber, this critically acclaimed production is written by and stars Kayla Boye in "a shattering, exquisite performance that should not be missed" (Chicago Theatre Review) and "a brilliant must-watch for any Elizabeth Taylor fan" (The Ed Fringe Review).

"Call Me Elizabeth" enjoyed a live world premiere at The Zephyr Theatre in Los Angeles during the 2022 Hollywood Fringe Festival after premiering virtually during the pandemic with Broadway On Demand, Porchlight Music Theatre, and Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Presentations of the piece have been awarded grants by the Arts Midwest Touring Fund and Illinois Arts Council. www.callmeelizabeth.com

Work Sample

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LA63aOfAmxojIknS_cNm2Y-OZBBZTenp/view?usp=sharing

Archival footage from August 2022 performance of "Call Me Elizabeth" presented at Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre.

Except from March 2021 filmed production of "Call Me Elizabeth," presented via Broadway On Demand, Porchlight Music Theatre, and Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Reviews and critical reception here: https://www.callmeelizabeth.com/

Like so many, I have long been fascinated with Elizabeth Taylor, a pop culture icon who continues to captivate. In her youth, Taylor epitomized movie stardom, later becoming associated with her fabulous jewels, her popular perfumes, and her activism in the fight against HIV/AIDS. But what is the story behind the image? How does a star develop into a legend, and how does that legacy sustain itself? "Call Me Elizabeth" details the formative events in the life of this extraordinary woman, exploring how the strength of her character enabled her to break barriers with unshakable bravery "” and signature style.

I am inspired to tell the stories of trailblazing women, particularly influential figures in the entertainment industry, to show the substance behind the glamorous images created by the studio system. These women, including Elizabeth Taylor, were more than just pretty faces. They were smart, savvy, innovative feminists. Ironically, Elizabeth Taylor, arguably the biggest star of all, was responsible for destroying the very system that created her stardom. By securing her $1 million contract with Cleopatra, the highest salary for a woman on film to date, she effectively ended studio domination by taking control of her projects and her life, and leading the way for subsequent generations of women to create their own work and opportunities. I seek to honor her legacy with "Call Me Elizabeth."

History

Kayla Boye is a Chicago-based artist and member of Actors Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers. Most recently, she produced and performed Samuel Beckett's "Happy Days" at City Lit Theater Company. Additional credits include productions with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Drury Lane Theatre, Porchlight Music Theatre, Mercury Theater Chicago, Music Theater Works, BrightSide Theatre, Citadel Theatre, Fireside Theatre, Capital City Theatre, Bigfork Summer Playhouse, The Huron Playhouse, and The Youngstown Playhouse. She is the creator of "Call Me Elizabeth," a one-woman show about the early life of Elizabeth Taylor. The play continues to tour nationally since its live world premiere in the 2022 Hollywood Fringe Festival at The Zephyr Theatre in Los Angeles, and its virtual premiere during the pandemic via Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Broadway On Demand, and Porchlight Music Theatre. Presentations have been awarded grants from Illinois Arts Council and the Arts Midwest Touring Fund.

Artistic Vision

I have an affinity for new stagings of classic works and explorations of the contrast between the neatness of mid-century ideals and the comparative chaos of the contemporary world.