Image: Kelsi James teaching a vocal lesson.
In Pursuit Of More Queer-Affirming Vocal Scores – Kelsi James
Pure Research 39
Research focus
Kelsi James will be researching aspects of theatrical singing: building more trans and gender diverse (TGD) inclusive vocal scores for new musicals, and how this can be applied beyond the professional theatre world into community music and community theatre spaces. Kelsi will work with groups of singers and small audiences to explore inclusive methods of teaching, arranging songs, and its impact on performance.
About the researcher
Kelsi James (they/she) is a white queer and asexual theatre creator, producer and performer, who works most often from the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh (Vancouver), and from Tkarón:to (Toronto). Kelsi has composed and/or written plays for Sheridan College (First Drafts), Driftwood Theatre, Talk Is Free Theatre, Theatre Rusticle, Coquitlam Heritage, Paprika Festival, Arts Club Theatre (LEAP), Tarragon Theatre (NYPU), Sound Off, Rumble and the frank. From Oct 2024-Oct 2025, Kelsi facilitated a monthly community choir with Dreamwalker at Morrow, and loved the heck out of it. Kelsi is particularly interested in: the intersection of theatre and community gathering, queer accessibility and inclusion, and low-barrier, joyful music-making. @kelsilindajames
Collaborators and credits
Kelsi James, with Nightswimming’s Brian Quirt and Gloria Mok, as well as Tarragon Theatre’s Mike Payette and Jeff Ho.
Pure Research Toronto 2026 is a partnership with Tarragon Theatre. All studio sessions will be hosted in Tarragon Theatre’s Extraspace, May 5 – 10, 2026.