Ain’t No Mo’
RICH LOPEZ | Staff writer
Rich@DallasVoice.com
Queer theater fans have much to be excited about this month if they are seeking out something particularly Pride-ish. Big musicals, quirky dramas and even a little bit of magic and some roller disco camp highlight these select shows that bring LGBTQ stories to the boards.
Additionally, queer playwrights and actors add to the layers of representation these shows offer. Snag your tickets for these rainbow-centric productions.
Ain’t No Mo’ by Soul Rep Theatre
Jordan E. Cooper’s Tony-nominated play closes Soul Rep’s 30th anniversary season. The queer playwright made his Broadway debut with this production which would go on to nab six Tony noms in 2023 including one for Cooper, making him the youngest Black American playwright to be nominated.
When the drag queen flight agent, Peaches, played by Keelan Singleton, prepares for a flight while talking to her friend, it is revealed the flight is the final one in a government initiative that subsidized one-way tickets for all Black people who wanted one-way tickets to Africa.
The show runs Friday-Sunday at the Kalita Humphreys Theater. SoulRep.org.
Open by Echo Theatre
This one-woman regional premiere by Crystal Skillman centers on Kirsten, a novice magician who must perform the impossible to save the life of her partner, Jenny. Starring Aren Hugo with understudy Meagan Harris, Kirsten mimes and muses on love, strength and vulnerability, slowly transforming a novice sleight of hand act into a powerful act of queer resilience.
Director Mikaela Baker describes it as, “a story of overcoming fear, embracing identity, and finding hope in letting ourselves imagine what could happen if we lived outside the scope of our own limiting beliefs.”
Of note: This is not a magic show, but it does employ theatrical techniques to imply the magic tricks. This production is for ages 18 and older and contains explicit language and violence.
The show opens Friday-June 21. EchoTheatre.org.
Xanadu the Musical by Theatre Three
You might be thinking, “Wait! Didn’t this happen already?” Well, sort of. Uptown Players staged the campy musical in late May. Now it’s Theatre Three’s turn. Directed by Joel Ferrell with music directed by Vicky Nooe, this version takes on the challenge of staging the show with a mere five actors — including Lee Walters. But hey, we’re here for a second dose of roller discos and high camp following struggling artist Sonny Malone and the Greek muse Kira who helps him along.
This is a crucial show for Theatre Three: On the first day of rehearsals, the theater revealed a dire need for funds to keep its doors open. Through a donation match and community donors, the company raised $200,000 to keep both the theater open and the show on schedule.
The show opens Friday-July 6. Theatre3Dallas.com.
Moulin Rouge! The Musical at Bass Performance Hall
This sexy stage retelling of the movie features an updated soundtrack and a whole lot of genderbending. At the heart of the story is the romance between Satine and Christian, but the music medleys and choreography lifts this production into major levels of slay.
The show runs June 10-15. BassHall.com.
A Strange Loop at Circle Theatre
After A Strange Loop won big at the 2022 Tonys, Fort Worth’s Circle Theater last year announced the addition of the musical’s regional premiere to its season. The wait is now over as audiences will meet Usher, a Black queer musical theater writer wrestling with his thoughts as he attempts to write a musical about, umm, a Black queer musical theater writer. Yep. Michael R. Jackson’s musical explores identity, art and the inner turmoil of living in one’s truth.
The show runs June 19-July 22. CircleTheatre.com.