Gil Segev is an Israeli-Canadian artist, activist, and attorney in training. Gil is also known as Gila Munster – Toronto’s cross dressing and cross-stitching Jewish princess. We caught up with them to learn more about the upcoming “8 Gays of Hanukkah” musical at the Prosserman JCC, cross-stitching and Jewish joy.
Kultura Collective: Hi Gil! Can you please tell us a bit about you and Gila Munster?
Gil Segev: Shalom! I am an Israeli-Canadian artist, activist, and attorney in training. I’ve worked in the Jewish not-for-profits and beauty industry, but always kept an art practice of some kind. My days are currently spent pursuing my J.D. at Queen’s University in Kingston, but by night I am known as Gila Munster – Toronto’s cross dressing and cross-stitching Jewish princess.
Since 2019 Gila has been my vehicle to connect with a wide range of audiences, from children through to seniors, in and out of the Jewish community, to 2SLGBTQIA+ people and allies. Gila sings and performs standup in English and Hebrew, and I’ve also developed workshops and programs including “Drag Queen Story Time” with the Toronto District School Board and Toronto Public Library.
KC: On December 15 you will present the “8 Gays of Hanukkah” musical at the Prosserman JCC. Can you tell us what audiences can expect from the event?
GS: “8 Gays of Channukah” is Toronto’s marquee queer Jewish event. This year I partnered with two other professional entertainers to write a fully scripted queer Jewish storytelling extravaganza. The show features original music, dazzling costumes, and heartfelt stories dealing with everything from coming out, first crushes, and being a minority within a minority. Something in the show will speak to anybody from any walk of life.
We are also excited for the various activations happening in the space! Our partners are pleased to offer guests complementary kosher alcoholic beverages and festive treats, as well as express beauty services, goodie bags, and a silent auction – you don’t want to miss this!
KC: This will be the 6ith iteration of 8 Gays. What was the inspiration for it? How has it shifted and changed through the years?
GS: This project began when I was a fourth-year student at York University. I was experiencing antisemitism from the school’s queer group and needed an alternative. Hillel, the Jewish student organization in nine campuses across Ontario, gave me an internship to develop a “Rainbow Jews” chapter. It was the group’s idea to have a queer Channukah event, and the rest is history!
The first five years were billed as a variety show, so we had everything from drag queens and kings to burlesque dancers, singers, musicians, comics, visual artists and other types of artists. We sold out every venue, and received letters of support from the Prime Minister, Premier, and Mayor, as well as been featured in the press.
This year is different for so many reasons. As queer Jews we have felt that our voices haven’t been heard since the war broke out, and we wanted to use this platform we built to address assumptions, share our stories, and challenge ourselves artistically. I believe we’ve done that. The show is an interdisciplinary spectacle, and the production value will surprise you!
KC: Can you tell us about your co-hosts for the event?
GS: Yan Simon is a singer-songwriter, actor, theatre composer, and published recording artist currently living in Ottawa. Born and raised in Be’er Sheva, he comes from an Israeli Russian background, so his perspective in this piece is unique. He wrote most of the music in the show and is playing the piano live as well. His talent is endless!
Sarah Freia is a multilingual actor, singer, stand-up, model, and published poet and writer. Her background is Moroccan, and she brings a regal elegance to the show. She wrote two beautiful songs for the show, one sung acapella. When she’s not performing, she is studying creative writing in Oxford University. I am humbled to share a stage with her!
Jamaican Jewish comedian Tamara Shevon is our opening act. Tamara started her comedic storytelling through wine-coloured glasses in Beijing, China. She has been featured on “Just For Laughs,” CBC “Laugh Out Loud,” “The New Wave of Standup” on CBC Gem and the Beijing Improv and Comedy Festival. Tamara is the host of the “Chaotic Good” comedy show and the co-host of the “Pretty B*tchy Podcast.”
The show is directed by Hershel Blatt, a Jewish queer Canadian actor and emerging writer/director living between New York and Toronto. His expertise and guidance have polished this show into the shining gem it is today! Other crew members include Jesse Levy, Olivia Daniels, and Aaron Penciner.
KC: Why is this event important to you? How do audiences react?
GS: The past two years have been very bizarre as an Israeli drag queen. Last year I was being accused of being a “groomer” by the far right, and this year I was targeted for being Israeli by the far left. The rise of antisemitism in the arts and in the queer world motivates me to keep this going. I can’t complain that things are bad if I don’t do anything about it.
Our audiences are so diverse. They range in ages from 18-70, and we’ve got a healthy mix of Jews and gentiles, as well as queer people and allies. Everybody will take away something different. I think the cult following this event has created over the past six years speaks to the magic of putting queer Jewish artists on stage and seeing what happens.
KC: Can you tell us more about working with the Prosserman JCC to stage the show in Toronto?
GS: We were so excited to partner with the Prosserman JCC for this year’s event, bringing the show to a Jewish home for the first time. The professionals on the team have been nothing short of amazing in helping make sure that this event can be presented in the best light. We are proud to be part of both their fall arts program and their Channukah programming lineup.
The beauty of working with the JCC is that they have a built-in audience for us to meet, and that it is literally positioned in the heart of the Jewish community. We’re hoping to take the show on the road to different cities in the future, possibly working with other JCC’s. Stay tuned!
KC: How do you bring your Jewish identity into your performances?
GS: At first, I was a “Jewish drag queen.” Now, I feel like a “drag queen for the Jews.” I should put that on a T-shirt…
The character of Gila was born at an event called “Jew-Paul’s Drag Race,” so you can imagine my Jewish identity is a big part of what I do. When folks hire Gila, they know they are getting, among other things, Jewish humor and singing in Hebrew. I am unapologetic about taking up space as a queer Jewish person. If somebody doesn’t like it, they can leave – I still get paid!
Besides bringing Jewishness into my performances, it’s also been fun bringing my performances into Jewish spaces. I’ve performed at Pride Shabbat events and in synagogues, given lectures to JCC adult audiences, and presented at Jewish summer camps. Parts of the Jewish community have done a great job at accepting and welcoming queer Jews, but other parts have a way to go. I hope that seeing me inspires conversations around the (Shabbat) dinner table about diversity and representation.
KC: You are also a cross-sticher! How did that happen and what are you working on?
GS: Cross dressing and cross stitching, yes! During the pandemic I didn’t have much to do, so I picked it up as a hobby. It quickly morphed into an obsession! Nothing like stabbing something thousands of times to prove how mentally healthy I am… These days I am taking courses through the Embroidery Association of Canada to expand my skills and designing original patterns that I sell. I deliver workshops for all ages on stitching, and my work has been displayed in galleries in Toronto and beyond.
I also love cross stitching because it ties me to my mom. She taught me to stitch when I was small and nurtured this and all my other artistic impulses. She is the reason I am the artist and person I am today.
KC: What does “Jewish joy” mean to you?
GS: My name literally means “joy” in Hebrew, so Jewish joy is who I am! Jewish joy means to me taking pleasure in the traditions that make me Jewish. Food, holidays, songs, ceremonies, they’re all sources of wonder and delight for me. I also draw on those joys for my art. Another tradition I adore is Jewish gathering, which I practice as often as I can. It fills up the cup from which I pour.
KC: Apart for 8 Gays, how will you be celebrating Hanukkah this year?
GS: By taking a well-deserved rest from law school exams! This year has felt very challenging in so many ways, so I’m looking forward to recharging with friends, family, and my partner while partaking in the celebrations. There’s a lot of shows to catch up on…
Other than that, I will be performing at the Royal Ontario Museum “After Dark” event on December 20th. The theme is “Festival of Lights,” so I’m very happy to be representing queer Jewish arts there. Tickets are on sale now!
KC: What’s inspiring you Jewish-ly lately?
GS: At the Kultura Jewish Futures 2024 event Sharoni Sibony spoke about the Jewish Studio Process. She taught the Jewish concept of “hafoch ba,” which means to look at something in different ways over and over. It’s so brilliant, I’m tempted to get it tattooed (but I won’t, mom!).
KC: Who are your creative Jewish role models?
GS: There’s a Jewish drag queen in Toronto known as “Fontaine.” She was one of the biggest names in Toronto’s gay entertainment for over forty years, all while raising a family and living a Jewish life. I have so much respect for the work she has done paving the way for people like me. I don’t think she’ll mind if I say that she and other queer Jewish elders are my creative Jewish role models. There’s a great anthology of queer Jewish ancestors and history called “A Rainbow Thread” by Noam Sienna that I refer to when I need inspiration.
KC: If you could have Shabbat dinner with anyone, who would it be and why?
GS: There’s no table big enough to accommodate everyone I would invite. But if we’re being practical, I’d love to have dinner with Micah Siva, who recently published a Jewish cookbook for vegetarians called “Nosh.” Luckily, she is my partner’s cousin, so I predict this dinner will in fact take place.
KC: Lightning round question!
Fiddler on the Roof vs Joseph? I saw “Joseph” when it was last in Toronto, and after seeing Jac Yarrow on stage there’s no competition. Sorry, Tevye.
Timothee Chalamet or Troye Sivan? Troye. Love that he’s taking queer Jewish arts mainstream.
New York vs Montreal bagels? New York only to build a sandwich, otherwise Montreal with a generous schmear of cream cheese and a Lactaid.
Since 2019, Israeli Canadian drag queen Gila Münster has entertained audiences both onstage and in unconventional venues. Her first performance was a “Jew-Paul’s Drag Race” show in the Toronto Gay Village, and since then she has sold out shows across the city, and even in other provinces. Outside of drag Gila is known as Gil, who is studying law and creating cross stitching art.
Learn more at:
www.Facebook.com/GilaMunsterQueen
www.Instagram.com/GSIProductions
www.YouTube.com/GSIProductions
www.Etsy.com/shop/GSIProductions
“8 Gays of Channukah” is Toronto’s marquee queer Jewish event. The show is a fully scripted storytelling extravaganza featuring original music, dazzling costumes, and a VIP cocktail reception. The show features drag queen Gila Munster, singer-songwriter Yan Simon, and actress Sarah Freia, directed by Hershel Blatt with opening act by Tamara Shevon. The event takes place December 15th 6-9PM at the Prosserman JCC in North York.
Tickets are available at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/8-gays-of-channukah-tickets-999464905437, find out more at https://www.8gaysofchannukah.com/.
