A quarterly play or musical discussion group devoted to exploring works by artists who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disabled, female/femme, and/or non-binary.
Our 2023 TRL programming continues to deconstruct the Western canon with engaging works focused on distinct categories.
Quarter Two: Queer Empowerment
At the Wake of A Dead Drag Queen by Terry Guest
The End of Incorporated Filth by Chloé Hayat
I Wanna Fuck Like Romeo & Juliet by Andrew Rincon
Date: Thursday, June 22nd, 2023
Time: 7:30-9:30pm CST
(5:30-7:30 PST/6:30-8:30 MST/8:30-10:30 EST)
Price: FREE*
*This is a Community Event so it is free and open to all. However, if you would like to make a donation to help cover the costs of paying our actors & special guests, that would be greatly appreciated. Suggested Donation $5.
Synopses: At the Wake of A Dead Drag Queen — Courtney Berringers would like to welcome you to her wake! But—make no mistake—this ain’t your grandma’s funeral. At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen is a one-act play about Blackness, southern queerness, and the fine art of drag. From African Gods and Goddesses to Trina and Whitney Houston, At the Wake thoughtfully uses storytelling, drama and drag to explore identity, illness, and the narratives we construct for ourselves. Come party at the wake. Bring your own heels!
The End of Incorporated Filth — The very last performance of the very last queer burlesque in New York City as the Hayes Censorship Laws are violently enforced.
I Wanna Fuck Like Romeo & Juliet — On "Snow in July, comets falling from the sky, the world is thrown into chaos as Cupid rips off her wings and gives up on Love. But her old flame Saint Valentine has a plan to bring her spirits back up; and it involves the relationship between two men, Alejandro and Benny. Moving from outer space to Hackensack NJ, I Wanna Fuck Like Romeo and Juliet is a Queer Love story of epic proportions that investigates God and mortals, realism and fantasy and the shame and joy within Queer love of Color."
Plays: At the Wake of A Dead Drag Queen can be found on NPX here. I Wanna Fuck Like Romeo & Juliet can be found here. The End of Incorporated Filth can be found on NPX here. Please contact us if you have any further questions.
Discussion format: Actors will be reading scenes from the play and/or we will listen to select songs to kick off our discussion. This will provide a jumping off point as well as some context for people who are unable to read it ahead of time. The Thumbprint Team will be facilitating an open conversation where we hope that people will feel confident to bring their thoughts and experiences to the discussion. Additional materials will be provided to you in our Welcome Packet to dig in further to the study of this work, if you so choose to use them.
You do not need to have read the material beforehand to participate.