Each year, La MaMa’s Squirts gathers the most exciting voices from New York City’s queer performance world, across the generations.
For 2023's festival, curated by Paris Alexander, Squirts focuses on the persistence of queer nightlife, and drag artists throughout time who have forged communities and beautiful art in spite of the oppressive forces that bind- with the pursuit of uplifting drag as fine art, and towards putting the puzzle pieces together that connect us–the queer alternative artists in the Brooklyn scene of today with the East Village scene from the end of the millennia. Today is very different from yesterday, but history repeats itself in peculiar ways, and so does art.
Blacklips Quenched
June 9
Members of the Brooklyn drag collective Haus of Quench (est 2020) collaborate on an homage to the Blacklips Performance Cult (est 1992-1995), starring Klondyke, Spawn, Vague Static and Polyester, with a special appearance from Claywoman. Featuring works by Lily of the Valley, Lost Forever and Flloyd. With a post-performance conversation with Michael Cavadias.
The Blacklips Performance Cult was a group of alternative experimental queer artists who presented plays, numbers and happenings together every Monday night at the Pyramid Club from 1992 to 1995. Blacklips consisted of: ANOHNI, Michael Cavadias, Johanna Constantine, Psychotic Eve, Kabuki Starshine, Flloyd, Lost Forever, James F. Murphy, Ebony Jett, Hattie Hathaway, Sissy Fit, Lulu, Clark Render, Herr Klunch and Page, with guests like RuPaul, Linda Simpson and Kembra Pfahler, among others. In the archival tome Blacklips: Her Life and Her Many, Many Deaths, ANOHNI is mentioned referring to “a family tree of transvestism in the avant-garde,” consisting of The Cockettes, Angels of Light, Bloolips, Hot Peaches, Jack Smith, Charles Ludlam and the Theater of the Ridiculous. Blacklips is a part of that lineage.
Generations of Drag
June 10
Long form drag performances from artists of varied ages, styles and expressions, featuring performances by Glenn Marla, Voxigma Lo and Untitled Queen, Egyptt Labeija, Xaddy Addy, Paris and a surprise guest. Hosted by Brenda and Linda Simpson.
Sunday Tea & Sympathy
June 11
Performances and conversation between legendary queer staple Kevin Aviance and up-and-coming legend in the making Julie J.
