Smoke & Queers is a queer-led, co-ed burlesque, drag, and performance art troupe that encourages all weird and wild expressions of self, gender, identity, and sexuality. As a budding nonprofit arts organization, our mission is to help connect and unify the LBGTQ+ community in Cincinnati (and beyond!) and to create a space where those outside the typical standard of beauty come to feel sexy, celebrated, and empowered. 

Photos above and below by Eden Estes

Photo by Emily Palm

Photo by Emily Palm

Photo by Rachel Rampleman

created by local artists,
sustained by a vibrant community

ADDITIONAL THANKS TO RUBY BACHEMIN, JACE RUBINO, Matt Gilliam, & HANNAH JONES

Clarity amrein (she/Her)

​Clarity is a native of Dayton, Ohio,
​but after five years in Cincinnati and graduating from the University of Cincinnati, she considers this city home. With her degree in English, specifically in technical writing, Clarity is a writer, freelancer, published poet, and the content designer for S&Q. As an actor, activist, and proud queer femme, she created S&Q to celebrate queerness and foster community while exploring experimental performance art forms. She also just really likes to dance. See her full portfolio at clarityamrein.com.

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christina coobatis (They/Them)

Originally from Canton, Ohio, Christina came to Cincinnati in 2010 to study Graphic Communication Design at the University of Cincinnati College of DAAP. Now, as lead designer and one of the troupe leaders for S&Q, Christina applies their graphics skills toward building community-centered events with a collaborative, DIY ethos. They approach both artistic expression and art event production as forms of activism, cultivating spaces that reflect the kind of open, accepting world they want to live in.

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meet the cast

Meet the rotating cast members of Cincinnati's only queer burlesque troupe! See names, photos, and bios to spot them in our next performance and follow them on social media to catch their solo events. 

come to an event

Scheduled shows, pop-ups, benefit events, and arm wrestling tournaments (really) will be announced on the Events page and on our social media pages. Follow us on Facebook to respond to events.

contact or join

Contact us for troupe information, press inquiries, booking us in a show, community service projects, or any other questions. If you're ready to join the troupe, check out Join to see when our next cycle starts.