Courtesy EPIC
Queens Broadway Performer Takes Center Stage in Y2K Showcase
MOHAMED FARGHALY
mfarghaly@queensledger.com
Queens native and Broadway performer Conor Tague is bringing his passion for performance and advocacy for neurodiverse artists to the stage of Joe’s Pub later this month. The Astoria resident will co-host and perform in Y2Kabaret, a nostalgic musical showcase by EPIC Players, New York’s leading neuro-diverse theater company, on Sunday, October 26.
The production, which celebrates music from the early 2000s, features a cast of 44 neurodiverse performers alongside Broadway guests, including Jessie Hooker Bailey, and Tague’s How to Dance in Ohio co-star Hunter Hollingsworth. The event will feature two shows at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., with tickets priced at $35.
For Tague, who was born in 2000 and has lived in Queens for most of his life, the moment is a full-circle experience. “I was born in the city, and I’ve been here like my whole life,” he said. “Growing up, I had a nice time, and I really worked on my passion for performing — watching a lot of VHS tapes and reenacting scenes. I discovered Michael Jackson, learned all his moves, and by fourth grade, I performed as him and won my talent show.”
That early love of performance would later blossom into a professional journey that led him to Broadway. Tague made his debut in How to Dance in Ohio, the first Broadway show featuring openly autistic actors playing autistic characters. “It was literally the best thing that I’ve ever done in a long time,” he said. “Being part of a cast that was openly autistic, as well as working with Broadway names, was such a blessing. I still miss it to this day, and I’m proud to say that I made that Broadway debut.”
Tague joined EPIC Players in 2020, during the height of the pandemic, after learning about the company through friends. “I joined in the summer of 2020. Everything was virtual at the time, but I got to hang with my closest friends and make new ones,” he said. “Everyone in the cast of our cabaret has something that’s really going to blow people’s minds.”
Founded in 2016, EPIC Players — which stands for Empower, Perform, Include, Create — provides performing arts opportunities and training for neurodiverse and disabled artists. The organization also offers free classes, professional productions, and community-building programs in both New York and Los Angeles.
“At EPIC, we are committed to the idea that everyone deserves a chance to be seen,” said Aubrie Therrien, Executive Artistic Director at EPIC Players. “This event is an exciting opportunity to shine a light on the incredible talent of our neuro-diverse actors and celebrate the progress we are making toward a more inclusive stage.”
As co-host of Y2Kabaret, Tague is taking on a new kind of challenge. “Since I’m co-hosting with Talia, who’s really incredible, we get to create a banter between performances and engage the audience,” he said. “The key to being a really good host is to light up the room with the best energy — and it’s more fun when you’re not doing it alone.”
The cabaret will feature performances of hits from artists like Green Day and Kelly Clarkson, all tied to the Y2K era. “Every cabaret that we’ve done is themed, and this one focuses on music from 2000 to 2009,” Tague said. “I’m in a few group numbers — one of them is ‘Bye Bye Bye’ by *NSYNC. It’s going to be amazing.”
For Tague, the show isn’t just about the music — it’s about the message. “It’s very important for audiences to experience neuro-inclusive theater,” he said. “Some people might think that those of us in the neurodiverse community can only do the simplest things, but we can do a lot more. Performing live shows that we’re given the chance — we can do many things, and that’s something that can never be taken for granted.”
Looking back on his journey, Tague hopes his story can inspire other neurodiverse artists. “Never be afraid to show off the best part of yourself,” he said. “If they like you or even love you, embrace it — because you are welcome no matter what.”
Y2Kabaret will take place at Joe’s Pub at The Public on October 26 at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets and more information are available at publictheater.org
