Ever felt like you were robbed of your moment to shine? Liam Collins and their partner Jonah Hager turned that universal theater kid trauma into the cabaret series I’ve Been ROBBED!!! Before their upcoming show on Wednesday, May 14, we sat down with the non-binary triple threat to discuss how they’re creating space for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC artists, the show’s origin story, and reclaiming theatrical robberies through music.
Chloe Yang (CY): The theater world loves a good heist story, but usually we’re talking about stealing scenes, not being robbed! So tell me, what exactly inspired I’ve Been ROBBED!!!?
Liam Collins (LC): My name is Liam. I’m originally from Syracuse in upstate New York. Having done theater my whole life, I moved to the city in 2016 for college at Manhattan School of Music, and graduated in 2020. I was in the inaugural Musical Theatre class there, which was a fun time but kind of chaotic being the first class to get things going.
During COVID, we had to redirect our careers when everything went virtual, and figure out ways to still make a living while enjoying the artistic aspect of it all. I looked more into directing and producing because I always had that passion on top of being a performer. I kept thinking, “I would love to produce cabaret at some point, but I don’t know how to go about it.”
Cut to Jonah and I—we met one night at a gay club, and have been together for three years now. They also went to school for musical theater, but when they moved to the city, they took a break and went into fashion instead. They’ve played piano their entire life, but I didn’t find out until a year into our relationship. When my voice teacher found out Jonah played piano, he asked, “So when are you two doing a show?” I reached out to the Green Room 42, and looked into how to produce a show properly. My biggest thing was that I didn’t want it to be just another cabaret where people go up, sing a song, walk off stage, and nothing else happens. I was like, “If I’m going to produce a show, I’m going to make it a show and make it worth everyone’s money.”
CY: So you’re basically the origin story of a theatrical power couple! I’m dying to know how you went from “let’s do a show” to creating this cabaret all about being wronged.
LC: We got the idea while watching the Grammys in 2024. We’re big Lana Del Rey fans, so we were really rooting for her album Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd. We were hoping it would win something, but Taylor Swift swept that year with Midnights. No shade—I’m just not the biggest Taylor Swift fan. I thought, “She robbed Lana!”
Then I started thinking about all the other robbed icons in our lives, like Toni Collette not getting nominated for Hereditary, Wicked being robbed of Best Musical at the Tony Awards, and Demi Moore being robbed of the Oscars… I could name all these iconic people who’d been robbed in the arts world. I thought, “How can I take that idea and make it into a cabaret?”
Theater people have all felt robbed of a role, a show, or a character type. So I decided to make that into a show—us reclaiming these robberies and making it fun, not being petty like “I deserve this more,” but “I was robbed of this, and I’m going to show you why.” I talked to my friend Spencer R Petro about theme ideas, and when I mentioned this concept, they said, “That’s actually brilliant. You should run with that.” So I was like, “Okay, period! Done.”
As we grew, we started to honor our favorite robbed icons. This past February, we did a Divas edition where we honored theater divas like Patti LuPone, Stephanie J. Block, Carolee Carmello, and Marin Mazzie. In April, we did my magnum opus, I’ve Been ROBBED!!! The Pop Star Edition. It’s been a crazy roller coaster—when we started last June, I had no idea it’d become such a big thing where we’ve sold out our past four shows and people keep begging for more.
CY: Okay, I’m completely obsessed with the Divas Edition! Of all these venues where cabarets happen, what made The Green Room 42 your venue of choice?
LC: Before doing the show, I’d only been to The Green Room 42 once before. I was talking to Spencer, who’d performed at a bunch of venues. They told me, “Honestly, Green Room has the best sound system, the best lighting, and it’s one of the few places in the city that doesn’t have a food and drink minimum,” which is a huge selling point because we’re starving artists trying to save money. Also, it’s more central, right on 41st Street, and it’s a really nice venue.
CY: Speaking of the show itself, I’m curious about the format. Do performers come out and dramatically declare “I’ve Been ROBBED!!!” before launching into song?
LC: We always have an opening number related to a musical that was robbed. I normally lead the opening numbers since I’ve taken on the role of host versus performer. I’ll make a nod toward something I was robbed of, then do my opening speech. Then each performer has a little banter with the audience before getting into their song, so the audience can get to know them. That’s been one of the big things people have mentioned positively about the show—they like getting to know the performer a little beforehand, instead of just having them sing at us.
One of my biggest goals is to give opportunities to LGBTQ+ and BIPOC performers who are more marginalized and have a harder time getting recognition in the theater industry. I really wanted to make it a safe space, because as a queer, non-binary performer myself, I know how frustrating it can be to not always be looked at on the same level as others.
In the submission form, I ask “What’s THE role you were ROBBED of?” I’m very open with it. I just ask them to send a video where they feel they sound their best and most confident.
CY: As a fellow non-binary person, I’m living for this! Are there any shows out there that you think are doing gender-expansive casting right?
LC: I feel like we’ve come a long way in the theater, though there’s still a long way to go. Operation Mincemeat is a great example. Personally, one of the biggest moments was when I saw the character May in & Juliet. I could play that character tomorrow—I see myself in that role.
There are many new shows coming out with a more open mind toward casting and gender. I really appreciate Actors’ Equity Association doing non-gendered calls for singers and dancers, because sometimes when I see “male singer” or “female singer” calls, it sometimes feels like my identity isn’t being acknowledged, as a non-binary person.
With pop music, I’ve always identified with Lady Gaga because she’s been such a huge advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. She’s one of the biggest pop stars of all time with one of the best discographies, but she’s never won Album of the Year at the Grammys. During our Pop Stars show, she was the robbed pop star I honored at the end—I did “Bad Romance” for her.
CY: Has any performer’s take on being “robbed” surprised you?
LC: In our March show, Steven (Saint) Thomas approached it from the perspective of Lola in Kinky Boots being robbed of many things in life including a father figure, and having to give up so much to become Lola. It was a really interesting take on the prompt.
In our Divas show, we honored Gavin Creel, whom we lost last year, with the finale to Hair. I try not to get too political in the shows, but in my speech leading up to it, I mentioned that Hair was a huge political movement in theater, and with what we’re experiencing now, I can’t do the song without acknowledging how we need to speak up and make a change. Many people connected with me afterwards over that message. I was anxious about it because I sometimes struggle with words when talking about things I’m passionate about. So that was really reaffirming for me.
CY: Let’s talk about the financial drama behind indie theater. Every producer’s villain origin story has a budget crisis! Do you have any tips for getting shows off the ground without selling a kidney or your Playbill collection?
LC: It’s definitely difficult putting on work without money behind it at the beginning. We’ve been lucky to have an electric piano in our apartment, so we do all the rehearsals up to the dress rehearsal at home. My biggest advice is to make it as feasible for you and the cast as possible, so you’re not spending extra money where you don’t need to. We did a GoFundMe for our October show, because it was the first time we had a band and videographer. I understand wanting to be self-sufficient, but if you have people willing to invest and help out, take it.
CY: In terms of your personal journeys, how does this show factor into your and Jonah’s artistic paths? Is this something you want to take to bigger stages?
LC: When we started this project, it was like, “If it’s successful, great. If not, we tried something new and learned from it.” After the first show, so many people said, “When’s the next one? You have to do another one.” And as time has gone on, this cabaret has helped me reaffirm myself as a performer while expanding into directing and producing. It showed me I can do both without sacrificing either, which has been really cool.
People who’ve done the show have told us, “This has been one of the most thrilling, fun, and affirming cabarets I’ve ever done.” That’s touching because I want everyone to enjoy themselves and have a good time. If you’re not enjoying creating art, then we’ve lost the plot.
This has been Jonah’s first music directing gig as well, and they’ve discovered a love for it and want to continue. We definitely want to keep growing the show while still pursuing our other goals—for me, the performing aspect, and for Jonah, the music directing aspect.
CY: If the universe finally delivered justice, what’s your dream role?
LC: My dream role is Sally Bowles in Cabaret. I grew up thinking, “I have to be the Emcee.” But once I discovered I’m non-binary, I thought, “Why can’t I be the first non-binary AMAB performer to play Sally on Broadway?” To me, she’s the best character ever written in musical theater.
CY: Before we wrap up, I want the tea on your upcoming show!
LC: This one’s going to be the regular theme: I’ve Been ROBBED!!! A Night Dedicated To Riggory and Robbery. Everyone will be telling their personal stories or honoring someone they choose. We have a good number of pop songs, carried over from the Pop Star Edition. We have a lot of belting ballads in this one, which is fun. I’m opening with “Vanish Into You” by Lady Gaga because I was robbed of seeing her Coachella set in person.
CY: Does Jonah handle all the music arrangements?
LC: We’re not having a band for this next show, but when we do, like for the Pop Star and Halloween shows, Jonah arranges everything. Sometimes we’re lucky to find existing music to work from, but for the most part, Jonah writes the charts and sheet music for the band.
Liam Collins and Jonah Hager’s cabaret series I’ve Been ROBBED!!! plays monthly at The Green Room 42. Their next show is May 14th, 2025 at 7:00 PM. Follow @robbed_cabaret on Instagram for updates on upcoming shows. Come ready to witness riggory, robbery, and theatrical redemption in action!
Liam and Jonah are the best!! Long live ROBBED!!!