After debuting at the 2016 San Diego Fringe Festival and winning the distinctions of “Outstanding Solo Performance” and “Best Show”, Josephine toured throughout North America in 2017, picking up awards and 5 star reviews at every stop.

In the summer of 2018, the show traveled across Canada to five festivals, and was the top selling show at every one of them, earning another dozen awards. In the Summer of 2019, the show went to the Edinburgh Fringe for the first time, where it was a critical and box office hit. In February of 2020, the show played in Australia for the first time. At the Adelaide Fringe Festival (the second largest in the world), the show received rave reviews, sold out and extended its run, and received a coveted “Critics Circle Award”.

After touring throughout North America in 2022, Josephine settled down for a residency at the Segal Centre for the Performing Arts in Montreal, QC in 2023 for an all new production directed by Sean Cheeseman (So You Think You Can Dance). Now, Dynamite Lunchbox takes elements of that production and returns to touring in earnest, spreading Josephine Baker’s message of love and unity across the globe.

About Josephine Baker

Born in St. Louis in 1906, Josephine Baker achieved only moderate success in the United States, but became an international superstar after moving to France in the early 20’s. She starred alongside white romantic leading men in films in the 30’s, had multiple interracial marriages and homosexual relationships, and performed in men’s clothing before the term “drag” existed in the lexicon. She was also a spy for the French Resistance, a civil rights activist, and the mother of 12 adopted children from 4 continents. Her success in France and Europe often gave her the opportunity to live freely without the racial oppression of her home nation, though she never stopped yearning for acceptance in America.

Producer/Director/co-Creator Michael Marinaccio notes: “In a period of profound division in the world, we are excited to present the story of a woman who broke boundaries of race, gender, and sexuality in a time before America had begun coming to terms with the concept of diversity.”