Who could forget Darcelle?

Not anybody who knew the great drag queen or the man behind the iconic celebrity — Walter Cole — and not people who saw the performer at Darcelle XV Showplace in Old Town through the years. Nobody should forget Darcelle, but perhaps some newcomers to our area haven’t been educated on the Portland entertainer and lifelong Portlander Cole himself.

Well, you now have your opportunity to learn about Darcelle (and Cole), as Donald Horn, who spent years documenting Darcelle/Cole’s life, and Triangle Productions will stage an encore of the 2019 musical “That’s No Lady.”

Staged June 5-22 at The Sanctuary at Sandy Plaza, 1785 N.E. Sandy Blvd., it traces the life of Cole through the 52 years of his life as Darcelle, and Cole’s relationship with partner Roxy Neuhardt. Kevin C. Loomis returns in the lead role, and James Sharinghousen plays Roxy.

Horn wrote five books about Cole/Darcelle, along with the musical. He spent a lot of time around Cole in the years/months/days before his death in 2023 at age 92.

Horn remembers how much of a thrill it was for Cole to be there during the first run of “That’s No Lady,” and Cole had high praise for Loomis’ portrayal of him (and her, Darcelle). And after the musical, he told Sharinghousen, “Thank you for bringing back my love (Roxy).” Horn wanted the feeling back, the feeling of his good friend being celebrated and, in a way, still with us through memories.

“I miss him,” Horn said. “I sit down and listen to music, watch the video (of the musical), and say why should I do this?” The simple answer: “People forget people. The impact he had in our community … Walter’s story was universal.”

His story ages well, Horn added. “(People) need to be reminded that their life has value. The story can still be told as we get older.”

Book and original song will be by Horn (along with direction) with additional lyrics and music by Tom Grant, Marv/Rindy Ross, Jon Quesenberry, Storm Large, Rody Ortega, Wesley Bowers — it quite a selection of original tunes developed for “That’s No Lady.” Additional songs like “Rhinestone Cowboy,” “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” “Hangem’ High,” and “Bad Girls,” all favorites of Darcelle’s at the club, will also be used. Horn said that rights to a couple other Darcelle favorites, “Send in the Clowns” and “Proud Mary,” couldn’t be acquired for the encore performances.

One song has been added: “Walter’s Rose,” written by music director Scott Bradner.

Horn is also working on a reprisal of his musical about drag queen Divine, hoping to take it off-Broadway.

“That’s No Lady” is near and dear to his heart.

“He was like my dad for all those years, a dear friend,” Horn said.

Horn would like to take “That’s No Lady” to New York City for a production, but he estimates that it would cost $2 million. “Can you find that kind of money now?”

There promises to be some special moments during the “That’s No Lady” stagings. Horn said that Cole’s daughter, Maridee Woodson, has granted him permission to have the urns and ashes of Walter and Roxy on stage.

Whereas so many people knew Darcelle, Horn has enjoyed his work about the celebrity because it honors Walter Cole.

“He was very special to a lot of people because he didn’t pretend. He was true to who he was,” meaning a true entertainer, a gay man and beloved community member who loved Portland.

More: trianglepro.org.