The Supreme Court struck down the federal Defense of Marriage Act just in time for New York City’s Gay Pride proceedings on June 30! One of the biggest citywide parties of the year, gay pride celebrations can be found all over Manhattan, even on Broadway. Below, we highlight eight LGBT-themed shows to see in NYC this weekend. The higher the rainbow count, the gayer the show.
The Nance
Nathan Lane gives a performance for the ages as Chauncey Miles, a self-hating gay burlesque actor who finds love with a much younger man. This stellar drama has music, drag, nudity and a story that will remind pride theatergoers of the rough road paved by generations who came before.
Kinky Boots
Tony winner Billy Porter owns the stage as no-nonsense drag queen Lola in this season's Tony-winning musical. Featuring a team of kickass drag Angels and diva-licious footwear by Gregg Barnes, Kinky Boots is the perfect way to get the party going this pride weekend.
My Big Gay Italian Wedding/Funeral
Sunrise, Sunset: Meet Anthony J. Wilkinson's dysfunctional Staten Island family in the outrageous and semi-autobiographical comedy My Big Gay Italian Wedding, then come back for more hilarious homosexual hijinks in My Big Gay Italian Funeral.
Choir Boy
Tarell Alvin McCraney's drama about an effeminate high school student who must find his place within the black community, church community and gospel choir at his all-boys' prep school strikes all the right chords.
Buyer & Cellar
This solo show stars Ugly Betty’s Michael Urie as a gay actor hired to work as a "clerk" in the basement mall of shops Barbra Streisand created at her Malibu mansion. Enough said? Urie also plays Barbra and his character's Babs-obsessed boyfriend.
Avenue Q
This long-running hit isn’t quite a “gay play,” but the journey to self acceptance by the musical’s closeted gay Republican puppet Rod (who nervously sings of a never-seen girlfriend who lives in Canada) is worth a major shout-out.
A Kid Like Jake
LCT3’s intriguing new drama centers on a family’s struggle to get their four-year-old son into one of New York’s elite private elementary schools, but the thing that makes Jake (and this show) special is his “gender-variant” play: an obsession with dress-up and Cinderella.
The Book of Mormon
LGBT themes are not at the forefront of The Book of Mormon, but the gay Mormon tap number “Turn It Off” stops the show every time!