ZazaFest: A Retrospective Honoring Iconic Queer Artist Diana Oh

Diana Oh. (Photo by Haley Varacallo)

In Memoriam | News

June 4, 2026 American Theatre Editors Leave a comment

ZazaFest to Honor the Life of Diana Oh

A grassroots coalition has emerged to honor the life of iconic queer artist Diana Oh, known as Zaza, who died last June, with a retrospective festival June 18-21.

By American Theatre Editors

NEW YORK CITY: After a year of organizing, a grassroots coalition has announced “ZazaFest,” a celebration of the late Diana Oh, known as Zaza, on June 18, 20, and 21 in New York City. This multi-site gathering intends to honor the iconic queer artist’s life, artistry, and spirit, on the one-year anniversary of their devastating passing .

This weekend of activities will bring together close friends, collaborators, birth and chosen family, and the wider New York artistic community to be with one another in grief, celebration, and remembrance of Zaza and their enduring impact. “ZazaFest is a space to hold each other through an incredibly difficult time, and to ensure that Zaza’s legacy continues to live, move, and resonate within our communities,” the organizers shared in a GiveButter fundraiser seeking donations for the festival.

Reached via email, organizers Mei Ann Teo, Sandy Hong, and Cat Rodriguez expanded for American Theatre . “ZazaFest emerges after a year of informal gatherings among Zaza’s chosen and biological family, and beloved community,” they said in a joint reply. “It is an offering for those who loved Zaza deeply and are still grieving, and for those who did not have the chance to meet Zaza or experience their work in person. ZazaFest is our way of carrying forward Zaza’s verve and spirit through connecting with their work and each other. Your support for this memorial is not only for this singular moment, but it will also contribute to stewarding Zaza’s legacy and lifting up the work that continues to shape vital conversations around art, liberation, identity, and collective care.”

The weekend will include a ticketed performance at Joe’s Pub called “Lullabies for Zaza” on June 18 at 9 p.m.; “Into the Zazaverse” on June 20 at 2 p.m. at the Bushwick Starr ; and a series of retrospective screenings and reunions capturing the scope of Zaza’s work, including installations of my lingerie play and Clairvoyance , never-before-seen footage, and stories from Zaza’s collaborators. Through the prism of Zaza’s Infinite Love Party and Art Church at Judson Memorial Church , community members are invited into “a softly held space to embody Diana’s words, love of glitter, and embrace of shared ritual, as pieced together by those who loved them across their lifetime.”

This fundraiser also supports the ongoing stewardship of Zaza’s archive, including publishing their written work and maintaining their digital presence, so their art remains accessible to both their community and future audiences. As the campaign has gained momentum, they’ve received a generous donation from Breaking the Binary Theatre .

“Zaza was a beloved member of the Breaking the Binary Theatre community, having participated in many of our programs and annual festivals, so it was no question that BTB would support ZazaFest, not only in fiscal sponsorship but also with a financial contribution to support the work,” executive director George Strus said. “Zaza gave so much to not only Breaking the Binary Theatre, but also the theatrical ecosystem as a whole, and we remain committed to preserving and uplifting their legacy in any and every way possible.”

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Bushwick Starr Diana Oh Joe's Pub Judson Memorial Church Showase Zaza

_Originally reported by [American Theatre](https://www.americantheatre.org/2026/06/04/zazafest-to-honor-the-life-of-diana-oh/)._