At Chutzpah! Festival, 8 Gays of Channukah sparkles with songs and stories of togetherness in troubling times
Performers Gila Münster, Yan Simon, and Sarah Freia bring their diverse talents and individuality to a glittering celebration of queerness and representation
8 Gays of Channukah—The Musical. Photo by Jamie Marshalls
The Chutzpah! Festival presents 8 Gays of Channukah—The Musical at the Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre on November 13
THE HOLIDAYS ARE ABOUT to get a glittery glow-up. When 8 Gays of Channukah—The Musical makes its West Coast debut on November 13 at the Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre, as part of this year’s Chutzpah! Festival, audiences can expect an explosion of drag artistry, Broadway-style musical numbers, and heartfelt stories that celebrate queerness, Jewish identity, and community.
Created and performed by award-winning drag performer Gila Münster, actor and singer-songwriter Yan Simon, and multidisciplinary performer and writer Sarah Freia, 8 Gays of Channukah has evolved from a scrappy bar show into a full-fledged musical extravaganza. Initiated by Münster during her days at York University, where she led the Rainbow Jews student group, 8 Gays of Channukah has turned into a popular annual tradition that’s taken on a life of its own.
Now in its seventh year, there have been plenty of twists and turns along the way. In the show’s third year, it served as a fundraiser for Machane Lev, Canada’s first Jewish overnight camp for LGBTQ+ youth. The partnership continued for two more years, after which Münster decided to reimagine 8 Gays of Channukah.
“I thought about what I want audience members to get out of this,” Münster explains. “I want them to hear stories about what we’re going through at this very peculiar moment in time. But I still want it to be a celebration of the holiday and queer culture.”
Münster is based in Kingston, Ontario, and she reached out to Simon, who lives in Ottawa, and Freia, who splits her time between Toronto and New York, to help rebuild 8 Gays of Channukah. After much virtual collaboration, the show is now driven by a narrative that blends musical-theatre-style numbers, intimate storytelling, and plenty of camp.
8 Gays of Channukah—The Musical. Photo by Elliott Raben
“The premise is that we find ourselves onstage without a plan. There’s a lot of bickering and looking at each other’s differences,” Münster says. “In the second act, we start looking for the things that make us more similar than different. We realize that our differences are the things that make us work so well together.”
Simon echoes the show’s emphasis on promoting a sense of togetherness. “In a way, it’s a commentary on society’s tendency to revile one group of people to uplift another.”
The trio recognizes how beneficial their collective talents, individuality, and lived experience have been in making the show come together.
“I think something that’s really unique to this project is that, because it features three distinct voices, it’s the sort of project where being introspective and bringing your own story to the table is so important,” says Freia. “Because the story is so character- and story-driven, it comes from our own place. I think that’s something that gives this project a lot of strength.”
Although 8 Gays of Channukah promises plenty of sparkle and humour, it’s also grounded in authenticity and the intention to create a platform for diverse stories that can inspire audiences.
“Representation matters,” Freia says, sharing an experience she had with an audience member after one performance. “The woman said she had been struggling with her faith in God and thought she wasn’t allowed to be Jewish and queer. She told me that seeing someone like me, who is openly Jewish and queer, made her think that maybe it’s okay to be like this. Things like this matter. The more you see yourself onstage, and the more voices are amplified, the more people can identify with themselves.”
Münster adds: “I hope that folks see this as a reminder of the importance of investing in queer arts and giving a platform to queer artists while paying them fairly and equitably. As double minorities, we often get passed over for these opportunities. I really appreciate the Chutzpah! Festival for making a dedicated effort to ensure our voices are protected and that our time is appreciated.”
As Münster, Simon, and Freia put the finishing touches on 8 Gays of Channukah, they look forward to reuniting in Vancouver and sharing their stories with local audiences. Beyond the glitter and joy the show promises to deliver, the trio realizes the significance their voices can carry in these times.
“I would certainly hope that the show inspires people to remember that we are all in this together,” Simon states, “and that unity is something to work towards.” 
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