Celebrating queer culture is more important than ever before. That's just one of the many reasons we're excited to be a part of this year's 25th anniversary HOT! Festival at the historic Dixon Place in NYC. When we asked Ellie Covan, founder and artistic director at Dixon Place, how HOT! and the Dixon Place got started she provided a brief but fascinating history of the organization. "In 1992, there was nothing like HOT!, so opportunities to bring the artistic community together weren't on the horizon after Pride." Covan said.
"Today, even though there are other festivals happening, it's crucial to continue to support and celebrate the daring new risk-taking work of emerging and under-recognized artists in NYC. We don't want the helium to slip out of the balloons after Pride month!" she added.
Here's everything you need to know about this year's event:
1. It's more than just theatre.
While theatre is an important part of HOT!, it's only a piece. The festival includes "music, dance, circus arts, literature, visual art, and homoeroticism." That's quite the line-up!
2. It starts today!
HOT! starts tonight and runs through August 13. That's plenty of time to check everything out. Make sure to get your tickets soon!
3. It's the longest running festival of its kind in the world.
HOT! has been bringing queer culture to the festival crowd for 25 years, and people have taken notice. This unique event has been the model for countless similar festivals, acting as the gold standard for queer cultural entertainment.
4. Monstah Black is this year's centerpiece show.
Monstah Black's show HYPERBOLIC! (The Last Spectacle) headlines this year's event. The "genre-crossing" show is described as a mixture of "music, dance, theater and fashion," telling the tale of "the very last party on earth." Count us in!
5. Dixon Place is celebrating its 30th anniversary.
Dixon Place was originally started as a salon in a Paris apartment. And now, it showcases some of the most innovative artists of today. Dixon Place has outlived many other like-minded theatres and remains the center of New York's experimental art scene.
