A new play written by an Atlanta native is coming to town this week.
In rural Georgia, drag star Courtney Berringers (given name: Anthony Knighton) would like to welcome you to her wake. She has recently died from complications due to AIDS. But make no mistake, this isn’t your grandma’s funeral. There will be no black frocks, no perfumed flowers, and no crying. Tonight is a celebration.
At the Wake of a Dead Drag Queen is written by Terry Guest, a former native of Atlanta. Now based in Chicago, Guest is an award-winning Playwright, Actor, Director, and Teaching Artist. With his play set in Georgia, this is a full circle moment to have its premiere at Out Front and is a tremendous success story of a playwright who originated their work in Atlanta.
The play is also directed by Damian Lockhart, who also directed a production in Florida in 2021, and has a strong attachment to the piece.
Guest said it feels special to have a showing in the city where he was born and it’s a full circle moment.
“It’s special to have the show at Out Front because the audiences that the show is truly about the Black queer people in Georgia will for the first time have the opportunity to see the show,” he said.
Guest also said the play is “full circle” because he’s from Atlanta.
“When I was there I had so many limitations around who I thought I was as a person and as an artist, and I didn’t even think that I could write a play for real. I certainly didn’t think it would ever be produced by anyone,” he said. “Leaving home and building a career outside of Atlanta has been so fruitful and it’s taught me in so many ways, my power. It’s really special that my play is…
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