You can see all of that and more in Jade Esteban Estrada's charming, ambitious and, yes, scholarly one-man show Icons: The Lesbian and Gay History of the World (Vol. 1), currently touring the U.S.

Though I had only heard of him as a musical performer, Estrada appears perfectly at home on the theatrical, (and especially the comedic), stage. With a keen, coy and sometimes wicked wit, he skillfully blends gay silliness with academic erudition in a way that both entertains and educates.

Through original songs, dance, costumes and monologues, Estrada gleefully channels such famous characters as Sappho, Michelangelo, Oscar Wilde, Gertrude Stein, Silvia Rivera (of Stonewall Rebellion fame) and even Ellen DeGeneres. He lovingly takes on the roles of these historic "icons" and relishes speaking their great thoughts aloud.

Estrada composed the music and wrote the lyrics for Icons. The music is the weakest part of the show. The simple song structures and light, crooned melodies are of the generic broadway/pop variety, and at times seeming more suited to a children’s musical. But the lyrics are worth listening to, and the songs themselves are sweet and well intended.

Onstage, Estrada carries himself through his characters with flowing, self-assured body language. Amusingly, he has the ability to come off as both innocent and naughty at the same time--with a kind of Barbara Eden-as-Jeanie demeanor. He delivers his icons' thoughts via beautiful smiles and loving eyes (so much so that when, late in the show, he arrives at the ultra-deadpan persona of Gertrude Stein, the change comes as a shock).

Here and there, to punctuate a poignant idea or to just make us laugh, he purposely steps out of character to briefly deliver a side comment or wisecrack using his own sweet personality, to great effect. Since some of his icons lived hundreds, even thousands of years ago, Estrada is thus time-traveling at high-speed all over the stage.

Icons emphasizes the universality of each gay/lesbian icon's contribution to the world, the value contributed by each icon's life and thoughts not just to GLBT people, but to all people. Indeed, the message of Estrada's play may well be that all our lives and thoughts are of importance to all people. I particularly enjoyed the choice of quotes in Icons. It managed to create more than a few "I never knew that about him/her" murmurs among the packed opening-night house during the evening.

In this day and age, it's heartening to see a young person so into the teaching, awareness and appreciation of the humanities and world history. While Icons will surely succeed in its current tour of theatrical entertainment venues across the U.S., I hope Estrada also gives a thought to it's potential in high schools as a valuable tool for educating students in both GLBT history and the humanities. It is a show worthy of a grant.

Icons is currently touring throughout the U.S. For 2006, Estrada is planning Volume 2 of Icons, covering Alexander the Great, Queen Christina of Sweden, Susan B. Anthony, Billy Jean King, Harvey Milk and Sept. 11, 2001, hero Mark Bingham. Read more at getjaded.com.