Summer is here and I couldn’t be happier about it, especially the announcement that Broadway legend Patti LuPone – on the heels of her buzzed about triumph in Ari Aster’s new A24 film Beau Is Afraid – will be making her Fire Island debut August 26 at the Ice Palace as the crown jewel in nightlife impresario Daniel Nardicio’s glittering Cherry Grove lineup. Patti caused quite a stir last fall when she announced she was leaving Actors Equity and didn’t foresee any more stage work, at least not in Broadway musicals.
As a lifelong LuPonista, I’m here to tell you she’s made similar claims before – as far back as 1997 by my recollection – but parting with the union got even my attention. She’s booked at Carnegie Hall for next April, but this Fire Island gig may be the only chance for New Yorkers to see her live before then. And another thing: Fire Island! A diva is nothing without her adoring gays. I’ve seen Patti on the road in the provinces and I’ve seen her in the city at the AIDS benefits, etc. These events – with her people – are the place to see her. I go in with Judy Garland level expectations and I’m never disappointed.
Well, when God closes a door, She opens a window; one diva departs Broadway as another makes her debut. Once Upon a One More Time (Marquis Theatre, opens June 22), the “new musical powered by the hits of Britney Spears,” is here at last.
Even more long-awaited, Alex Timbers’ acclaimed 2013 Public Theater production of the David Byrne/Fat Boy Slim musical about Imelda and Ferdinand Marcos, Here Lies Love (Broadway Theatre, previews June 17), finally moves uptown. They’ve gone to great expense reconfiguring the main level of the venue for this interactive disco musical, but I, for once, will prefer a mezzanine seat, so I can sit still and watch this fabulous piece in comfort!
This is me from 1984 flying through time in a DeLorean to tell you to see Back to the Future: The Musical (Winter Garden Theatre, previews June 30) on Broadway for the first time – or is it?
New York’s venerable Upper East Side cabaret institution, the CAFE CARLYLE, is back firing all cylinders with some very intriguing bookings including:
- Mira Sorvino (June 13-17)
The Oscar winner reveals whether she inherited her father’s virtuosic pipes.
- Megan Hilty (June 20-24)
Kick off Pride with the Smash star and Broadway favorite.
The artistic heart of Downtown, JOE’S PUB, is always a good bet.
- Cat Cohen with Ikechukwu Ufomadu (June 5-30)
The comedian and singer taking the world by storm offers more opportunities for you to join the movement.
- 11th Annual Night of a Thousand Judys (June 12)
Justin Sayre and the International Order of Sodomites pay tribute to Judy Garland, raising funds for the Ali Forney Center.
- Kevin Smith Kirkwood KSK on the BQE: A Black Queer Experience (June 25)
The brilliant Broadway musical actor, known for his uncanny Whitney Houston shows, looks inward.
- Alexis Michelle (June 27-28)
The RuPaul’s Drag Race queen you love to hate will make you love to love her even more.
It’s not Michael Feinstein’s anymore, but 54 BELOW is as cosmopolitan as ever with a lineup including:
- Jenn Colella: Out and Proud (June 8 & 10)
- Joe Iconis & Family (June 12-17)
- Shaun Cassidy: The Magic of a Midnight Sky (June 21-25)
- Amber Gray (June 28-July 1)
- Liz Callaway: Screen Gems (July 6-11)
- Lucie Arnaz: “I Got the Job!” Songs From My Musical Past (July 19-22)
“Broadway’s Night-off Hot Spot,” THE GREEN ROOM 42, is where it’s AT this season with a little bit of something for the show queen in everyone:
- Flotilla DeBarge: A Big Hunk of Ghetto (June 1)
- John Hill: Wellness Check with John Hill (June 2)
- Lady Bunny: Don’t Bring the Kids! (Tuesdays at 7pm)
- Apollo Levine: The Freedom Experience, Volume 1 (June 5)
- Janine LaManna (June 10 & 26)
- James Jackson, Jr. & John-Andrew Morrison: 5 Questions with James & JAM (June 12)
- Becca Blackwell: Back to She (June 14)
- Drew Droege & Mitch Silpa: It’s Mitch & Drew and We’ve Never Felt Younger (June 18)
- Leola’s Lady Land Lounge (June 22)
- Liz McCartney: One Fine Day (June 25 & July 2)
- Natalie Joy Johnson (June 30)
The queer 90s mecca, Chelsea, is back, baby – and nowhere more than at the airy, swanky CHELSEA TABLE + STAGE.
- The Augie Bello Jam (June 1, 15, 29)
- Reeve Carney (June 4)
- Nicolas King (June 7)
- Michael Kirk Lane (June 10)
- The Bad Judies: The Bad Judies Take Pride (June 15)
- Samantha Pauly (June 26)
For those of us hanging out on Fire Island just waiting for that Patti LuPone show, there’s a lot of great things to see in the meantime. Daniel Nardicio’s fierce ICE PALACE lineup includes:
- Broadway Sings Whitney Houston (June 1)
With Tamika Lawrence, Blaine Krauss, Natalie Joy Johnson
- The Golden Girlz LIVE (June 26)
With Jackie Beat, Sherry Vine, Drew Droege, Sam Pancake
- Joey Arias: Let’s Make Love (June 29)
- Alaska (July 1)
- Marilyn Maye (July 8)
- Paula Poundstone (July 22)
- Broadway Sings Lady Gaga (July 27)
With Taylor Iman Jones, Corey Mach, Lauren Patten
Plus, at CHERRY’S, you can’t go wrong attending Broadway on the Bay (Sundays at 7pm)
with Marti Cummings & Tammy Spanx.
And in the Pines, you mustn’t miss the Queen to read them all, the star of every summer, the truly great Pixie Aventura, at the PAVILION (Mondays at 10pm).
Last modified: June 22, 2023
