What do Shakespeare’s Cleopatra and pop superstar Britney Spears have in common? Torrid romances, betrayal, and maybe even a little madness. Through the revindication of Shakespeare’s female characters and contemporary pop references, The Shakespearean Tour is an interactive and deeply personal performance that recounts histories of abuse, gender discrimination, and self-acceptance. Blending teatro-cabaret humor and improvisation (yes, even via Zoom) with energizing multi-media interjections, Mariano Ruiz’s one-person show is an impressive tour de force. Ruiz is a playwright, actor, LGBTQ+ community activist, and one of the most notable teatro-cabaret practitioners of their generation. Openly queer, trans, and non-binary, Ruiz’s work poses poignant critiques about the way Othered bodies lack official protections and offers introspective commentary on their own journey to self-love, yet always presented with a sense of humor. Following their performance, Ruiz will join the audience for a talk-back about their piece and performance practice more generally.