This story was originally published by ArtsATL.
A theater festival aimed at showcasing queer storytellers from all over North America will hold its first-ever event June 19-23 at Out Front Theatre. Festival director Ty Autry promises that Lavender Fest, featuring multiple performances of nine different hourlong shows, will appeal to fans of new work.
“Lavender Fest has been a labor of love for the last two years as I explore ways to ignite new queer work across multiple generations — not just for young people, not just for old [people], not just plays [and] not just musicals,” Autry said in a recent interview. “This is a way to bring every facet of the queer rainbow together in a conglomerate of different performance art.”
Credit: Photo courtesy of Lavender Fest
Credit: Photo courtesy of Lavender Fest
Many of the participating artists in the inaugural event are Atlanta-based, Autry said.
“When I developed the festival, I wanted to assure that 50% of the work came from the South,” he said. “I want to educate Atlanta audiences about what festival work looks like: the odd, the new, the vulnerable and the spicy.”
Atlanta actor and playwright Davin Grindstaff, whose script “Open” will be performed twice on the main stage, said the comedy about a gay couple’s attempt at an open relationship includes some racy elements.
“In my mind, it’s spicy,” Grindstaff said. “I ask myself, ‘If I post a video from this on social media, am I going to receive an email from my mother?’ That’s the line for me. But it depends on the audience. So much queer media has pushed boundaries for the past 10 or 20 years, and what used to seem really outrageous is now standard fare.”
Grindstaff said bringing “Open” to the stage for the first time has been an interesting learning experience; he discovered during rehearsals just how quickly the jokes flew. Instead of having to edit the script to fit into an hour, the director and cast have discovered the right pacing during rehearsals.
The festival lineup also will include “The Real Black Swann: Confessions of America’s First Black Drag Queen,” by Les Kurkendaal-Barrett. The show tells the true story of William Dorsey Swann, a former enslaved person who began performing drag in the 1800s.
Credit: Photo by Sof Delgado
Credit: Photo by Sof Delgado
Autry said that performance moved him to tears when he saw it at another festival, so he’s thrilled that Atlanta audiences will get the chance to see it.
Other shows in the festival include a new musical called “Moonshot”; a play with music set in an alternate reality by Sof Delgado titled “You Are Not Your Face”; and a solo show from Canadian comedian Johnnie McNamara Walker titled “The Heterosexuals.”
“The audience can expect something very varied,” Autry said.
The selection process for the Lavender Fest lineup was modeled after other fringe and queer performance art festivals Autry attended as an independent touring artist.
“This is something I wanted to do to share the experiences that I have gleaned over the years,” he said. “I wanted to create a performing arts festival with the artists in mind. I want a safe space for everyone involved.”
Festival passes are available online for $75, and it is possible for audience members to buy tickets for individual performances as well.
Credit: Photo by Mike Glatzer Photography
Credit: Photo by Mike Glatzer Photography
“The majority of ticket sales go back straight to the artists,” Autry said. “This is where it’s key for independent producers, actors and writers for more people to come see their work — because this is where it matters for them. Not only can they get feedback or just share a wonderful story, this festival helps them financially so that they can continue onto the next project, they can say the next big thing or they can move this project to the next level.”
Though distinctly created by LGBTQIA artists, Lavender Fest will appeal to all audiences, and Autry said attendance in this political climate is more important than ever.
“This is a queer performing arts festival,” he said. “They are queer stories written by queer people about queer lives, but one of the best ways to be an ally is to show up to this work. The honest truth is we need that support — we need people who don’t belong to our tribe to see our narratives and hear our voices.”
Out Front’s support for the festival has been heartening, Autry added.
“I am just so incredibly proud and satisfied to know that this summer we have nine unique, varied shows in one theatrical space, telling nine different stories,” he said. “People are going to witness that, and they are going to love it. They’re going to have a blast.”
He laughed.
“I suggest people come see it all,” Autry said. “Damn it, queer theater needs your support.”
THEATER PREVIEW
Lavender Fest
June 19-23 at Out Front Theatre, Festival passes. $75; individual shows, $15. 999 Brady Ave NW, Atlanta. 404-448-2755, outfronttheatre.com
::
Benjamin Carr is an ArtsATL editor-at-large who has contributed to the publication since 2019 and is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association, the Dramatists Guild, the Atlanta Press Club and the Horror Writers Association. His writing has been featured in podcasts for iHeartMedia, onstage as part of the Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival and online in the Guardian. His debut novel, “Impacted,” was published by the Story Plant.
Credit: ArtsATL
Credit: ArtsATL
MEET OUR PARTNER
ArtsATL (artsatl.org) is a nonprofit organization that plays a critical role in educating and informing audiences about metro Atlanta’s arts and culture. ArtsATL, founded in 2009, helps build a sustainable arts community contributing to the economic and cultural health of the city.
If you have any questions about this partnership or others, please contact Senior Manager of Partnerships Nicole Williams at nicole.williams@ajc.com.
