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The piece was developed in the late 1980s and was originally titled "The Quilt." It was originally produced in 1989 by the [[Tweed theaterworks|TWEED]] [https://www.tweedtheater.org/new-works-festival New Works Festival] at the Ohio Theatre in Soho in NYC, where the new title was adopted. It was subsequently produced off-off Broadway in 1990 by [[Tweed theaterworks|TWEED]]'s artistic director [[Kevin Malony]] and Justin Ross at RAPP Arts Center in Manhattan's East Village. In 1992, it was produced by Giacomo Capizzano at the [[King's Head Theatre]] in [[London]], where it played for several months. In June 1993, the production was transferred by Mr Capizzano to the [[Criterion Theatre]] in London's [[West End theatre|West End]], where it played until July of the same year.<ref>[http://www.playbill.com/news/article/61395.html information about the show at Playbill.com]</ref> The London cast included [[Miquel Brown]], [[Kim Criswell]], [[Kwame Kwei-Armah]], [[James Dreyfus]], [[Simon Fanshawe]] and legendary drag queen [[Regina Fong]].
In addition to the New York and London productions of the piece, there have been professional productions in Australia, Germany and Israel, among other countries.<ref>[{{Cite web |title=Aisle Say (Special Feature): INTERVIEW WITH BILL RUSSELL |url=http://aislesay.com/FTR-RUSSELL.html information|access-date=2023-05-07 about international productions]|website=aislesay.com}}</ref>
==Subsequent production history==
===2001 New York===
"Elegies" was again performed in [[New York City]] on April 2, 2001 in the Haft Theatre at the [[Fashion Institute of Technology]] as a benefit for the Momentum AIDS Project. The cast for that performance included numerous well known performers including [[Alice Ripley]], [[Emily Skinner (actress, born 1970)|Emily Skinner]], [[Brian d'Arcy James]], [[Christopher Durang]], [[Mario Cantone]], [[Joe Piscopo]] and [[Norm Lewis]].<ref>[http{{Cite web |title=Talkin' Broadway - What's New on the Rialto? - "Behind The Scenes at Elegies - a history - 3/29/01 |url=https://www.talkinbroadway.com/page/rialto/past/2001/3_29_01.html Information|access-date=2023-05-07 on the genesis of the show]|website=www.talkinbroadway.com}}</ref> The concert was recorded, and the recording was released by Fynsworth Alley in 2001.
=== '''2004 Minneapolis''' ===
On November 3rd3, 2004, Minneapolis Musical Theater, directed by Steven Meerdink and Kevin Hansen, premiered a One-Night-Only Benefit Performance of "Elegies" in collaboration with the Minnesota Aids Project. The cast in included Prudence Johnson, Mary Jane Alm, Dennis Spears, Christopher Hopkins, Esera Tuaolo, and Cookie Coleman among others with special guest appearance by Bill Russell.
===2008 London ===
On December 1, 2008, there was a [[West End theatre|West End]] Gala performance of the show at [[Soho Revue Bar]], produced by Oliver Wood and directed by Simon Pollard. The cast included [[Anna Chancellor]], [[David Bedella]], [[Leanne Jones]], [[Les Dennis]], [[Adele Anderson]] and [[Debbie Chazen]]. All proceeds from the performance went to the UK charity [[Terence Higgins Trust]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=PAST EVENT: Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens |url=http://www.remotegoat.co.uk/event_view.php?uid=63916 |title=Information on the West End Gala performance |accessurl-datestatus=2010-08-02dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002174815/http://www.remotegoat.co.uk/event_view.php?uid=63916 |archive-date=2011-10-02 |urlaccess-statusdate=dead2010-08-02 |website=remotegoat.co.uk}}</ref>
===2010 Ireland===
In Ireland, the premiere production in Northern Ireland was on 30 August 2010 at The Black Box in Belfast. The production featured a cast of 35 actors and singers, including a special video appearance by [[Graham Norton]].<ref>{{Cite Aweb cast|date=2010-11-29 recording|title=Elegies wasfor releasedAngels, onPunks 14and DecemberRaging Queens :: Belfast 2010.<ref>[ |url=http://www.elegies.info/2010/belfast Northern|access-date=2023-05-07 Irish|archive-date=2010-11-29 Premiere|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129135321/http://www.elegies.info/2010/belfast Production]|url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> A cast recording was released on 14 December 2010. All profits from the production and the recording were donated to the [[Rainbow Project]]. The premiere production in the Republic of Ireland was in September 2010 and was produced by Limerick's Bottom Dog Theatre Company.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 January 2011 |title=Lofty ambition on a shoestring |url=http://www.irishtheatremagazine.ie/Features/Current/Lofty-ambition-on-a-shoestring.aspx |title=Lofty ambition on a shoestring, Irish Theatre Magazine, 27 January 2011 |accessurl-datestatus=17 February 2013dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130412223116/http://www.irishtheatremagazine.ie/Features/Current/Lofty-ambition-on-a-shoestring.aspx |archive-date=12 April 2013 |urlaccess-statusdate=dead17 February 2013 |website=Irish Theatre Magazine}}</ref>
===2013 University of Kansas===
===2014 New York===
The performance piece was again produced in New York City by [[Marymount Manhattan College]] in January 2014.<ref>[{{Cite news |last=Gioia |first=Michael |date=23 January 2014 |title=PLAYBILL VIP SPOTLIGHT: Bill Russell Shares Elegies of the AIDS Epidemic With College Students at Marymount Manhattan |work=Playbill |url=http://www.playbill.com/features/article/186844-PLAYBILL-VIP-SPOTLIGHT-Bill-Russell-Shares-Elegies-of-the-AIDS-Epidemic-With-College-Students-at-Marymount-Manhattan Marymount|access-date=7 ManhattanMay 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201195243/http://www.playbill.com/features/article/186844-PLAYBILL-VIP-SPOTLIGHT-Bill-Russell-Shares-Elegies-of-the-AIDS-Epidemic-With-College-Students-at-Marymount-Manhattan Production]|archive-date=1 February 2014}}</ref> With a cast consisting of over 40 current students, recent alumni, and distinguished faculty, and helmed by [[Tony Award]]-nominated book writer and lyricist [[Bill Russell (lyricist)|Bill Russell]] and music director [[Paul Jacobs (composer)]], the musical played 4 total performances (1 preview and 3 regular performances) at the [[National Dance Institute]] in Harlem. This production marksmarked the first time that the show was used as an educational course for students. After auditions were held and the piece was cast, it was announced that students would be able to earn credit towards their degrees provided they followed the course outline in the syllabus, which included daily reflections in the form of journals, analysis of poetry from [[Edgar Lee Masters]]' ''[[Spoon River Anthology]]'', extensive research on differing topics pertaining to [[HIV/AIDS]], and a small, formal writing assignment at the end of the production process.
===2015 West End===
The show returned to the [[Criterion Theatre]] in London's [[West End theatre|West End]] on Sunday 31 May 2015 to raise money for the MAD Trust, with a cast including [[Emma Hatton]], [[Fra Fee]], [[Emma Williams (actress)|Emma Williams]], [[Michael McKell]] and [[Madalena Alberto]]. It was Directed by [[Stephen Whitson]] with Choreography by [[Ewan Jones]] and Musical Direction by Dean Austin. [[Bill Russell]] was in attendance and made an appearance on stage during the curtain call.<ref name="elegies">{{cite web|title=Elegies At The Criterion Theatre In Aid Of MAD Trust|url=http://britishtheatre.com/elegies-at-the-criterion-theatre-in-aid-of-mad-trust/|website=britishtheatre.com|date=9 April 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=28 May 2015 |title=Mark Shenton's theatre picks: May 28 {{!}} Opinion {{!}} The Stage|url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/opinion/2015/mark-shentons-theatre-picks-may-28/ |access-date=287 May 20152023 |work=The Stage}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Matthewman |first=Scott |date=1 June 2015 |title=Elegies For Angels, Punks and Raging Queens – Criterion |url=http://musicaltheatrereview.com/elegies-for-angels-punks-and-raging-queens-criterion-theatre/ |access-date=17 JuneMay 20152023 |website=Musical Theatre Review}}</ref>
===2019 London===
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