Interview with Jacques Lamerre
Date11 July 2025
Mediumborn digital audio file
DimensionsDuration: 35 Minutes, 58 Seconds
ClassificationsInformation Artifacts
Credit LineCommunity History Project Collection
DescriptionAudio file of interview with Jacques Lamerre. He was interviewed by Francis Goldberg-Doyle on 11 July 2025 over Zoom.
Jacques Lamerre was interviewed as part of the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History's Community History Project discussing moments of change in his life.
Jacques Lamerre defined his moment of change as when he began writing for the drag queen Varla Jean Merman. Jacques is a resident of Manchester, Connecticut, and currently works for marketing and events agency Buzz Engine LLC where he works promoting heritage, culture, arts, and culture.
Jacques began writing for Varla Jean Merman as what he describes as a “side hustle”, after he saw her perform in 1994 or 1995 at a festival called Wigstock. Varla was offered a role in a play at Hartford Stage where Jacques was director of marketing. Jacques asked Jeffery Roberson (the man who portrays the character Varla Jean Merman) out to lunch, and they connected over shared interests. Jacques expresses that at their first meeting, he identified himself as a “gooby Varla fan”, and after finding their common ground, Jacques and Varla began working together, with Jacques writing plays and comedy routines for Varla.
Since beginning his journey writing for Varla Jean Merman, Jacques has become a more public figure, getting recognition within Connecticut, Provincetown, MA, and in the gay community. He gained more opportunities writing for other drag queens, as well as more opportunities for shows in general.
When reflecting on his own personal growth, Jacques embraces challenges. For example, he is working on a play about the Hartford Circus Fire in 1944. This is different from what he usually writes, as it is a drama/tragedy, and he typically writes comedies. Jacques also makes note that the art scene in Connecticut has many opportunities, and offers advice for graduating college students to stay in Connecticut.
Jacques Lamerre was interviewed as part of the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History's Community History Project discussing moments of change in his life.
Jacques Lamerre defined his moment of change as when he began writing for the drag queen Varla Jean Merman. Jacques is a resident of Manchester, Connecticut, and currently works for marketing and events agency Buzz Engine LLC where he works promoting heritage, culture, arts, and culture.
Jacques began writing for Varla Jean Merman as what he describes as a “side hustle”, after he saw her perform in 1994 or 1995 at a festival called Wigstock. Varla was offered a role in a play at Hartford Stage where Jacques was director of marketing. Jacques asked Jeffery Roberson (the man who portrays the character Varla Jean Merman) out to lunch, and they connected over shared interests. Jacques expresses that at their first meeting, he identified himself as a “gooby Varla fan”, and after finding their common ground, Jacques and Varla began working together, with Jacques writing plays and comedy routines for Varla.
Since beginning his journey writing for Varla Jean Merman, Jacques has become a more public figure, getting recognition within Connecticut, Provincetown, MA, and in the gay community. He gained more opportunities writing for other drag queens, as well as more opportunities for shows in general.
When reflecting on his own personal growth, Jacques embraces challenges. For example, he is working on a play about the Hartford Circus Fire in 1944. This is different from what he usually writes, as it is a drama/tragedy, and he typically writes comedies. Jacques also makes note that the art scene in Connecticut has many opportunities, and offers advice for graduating college students to stay in Connecticut.
Object number2024.79.44
NotesSubject Note: The Connecticut Museum of Culture and History’s Community History Project (CHP) is a public-facing initiative, focused on contemporary collecting, gathering items of the recent past as well as from events happening today. This program developed community historians to identify, document, and preserve their experiences as residents of Connecticut, and to share these experiences during a series of community presentations. The project focused on the theme "Redefining Moments of Change." Conneticans share stories of people or events who have changed their lives or how they have sparked change in the lives of others.Cataloging Note: Digitization and access to this collection is supported by a Congressionally Directed grant through the U.S. Department of Education.
Subject Terms
- Oral history
- Interviews
- Oral narratives
- Men
- White people
- LGBTQIA+ people
- Drag
- Playwrights
- Hartford (Conn.)
- Hartford Circus Fire, Hartford, Conn., 1944
- Performing arts
- Comedy
- Provincetown (Mass.)
- Varla Jean Merman
- Wigstock (Festival)
- Interviews and Oral Histories
- Born Digital Audio
- Community History Project U.S. Department of Education grant
- Redefining Moments of Change Collection
On View
Not on view
