Live Arts Pride: The House Party

Live Arts Pride: “The House Party” marathon celebration of chosen family, dedicated to Arnie Zane, takes inspiration from the infinity character to celebrate 8 years and amplify the “Pride” movement’s advocacy for the rights, self-affirmation, and visibility of the LGBTQIA+ community. This year’s royal rumble of sorts will feature most every fierce artist/nightlife collective that has been presented since 2018 including: Bodyhack, Bubble_T, Casa Diva, Double Dutch Dreamz, House of Transcendence,Legends of Drag, Papi Juice, RAGGA NYC, Switch n’ Play and Yas Mama!

In the Live Arts lobby, the program will feature a Ford Foundation Live Gallery exhibition co-presented with Queer I Art and Lite Brite Neon Studio, as well as an anticipated marketplace offering goods and more made by queer artists and artisans. The lobby remains free and open to the general unticketed public, providing both event attendees and passersby access to bathrooms, water, seating and WiFi. 

“Pride now, Pride forever. The trans community is under attack. It is imperative that gays, lesbians, bisexuals and our straight and cisgender allies rally, speak out and stand up for our trans, nonbinary, gender nonconforming, and intersex family. We’ve always existed and we are not going anywhere! I created this event to celebrate chosen family and let me just say that our chosen family is infinite…Welcome to Infinity Pride,” said House Party Creator and Curatorial Organizer, Tyler Ashley. 

This year’s marketplace features Valentine Amartey, A World of Hurt by Jos Hurt, Made by AO, Club Yvonne, Triple T-Shirts by Beau McCall, Prince Peacock and Bug Spray Perfumery. It is also free and open to the public, maintaining the accessibility of Live Arts’ lobby bathrooms and water fountains to all attending or passing by.

• BODYHACK, represented by Resident DJs Archangel & Cisne,is a mutual care resource and international fundraising collective for and by trans and queer people of color. “We host a happy hour and afterparty for trans, non-binary cuties, and the squirrels that love us.”
  
• BUBBLE_T, represented by special guest performance by OHYUNG, is a collective experience centering queer and trans Asian Pacific Islander communities. Through stages and dance floors, they uplift and amplify performers, DJs, musicians and artists who celebrate our intersectional, cross-cultural heritage. They enter each space with a deep respect for our shared histories and unique identities. Here, they support and move in solidarity with one another.
  
• CASA DIVA, represented by a DJ set in the Marketplace by Founding Member Charlene Incarnate is a queer home, DIY event space, and drag collective founded by Alexis Penney, Sam Banks, and Charlene Incarnate in 2015. Their underground drag shows feature a diverse range of performers from Brooklyn’s most cherished to most elusive.
  
• Double Dutch Dreamz, led by Malika Lee Whitney, presents Get Your Jump On! Be part of an exciting and fun-filled experience jumping ropes with the rhythm and rhymes of happy feet. The energetic creative activity invites  poetic call and response chants. Join with community in a time honored creative cultural activity.  Participants are invited to share moments of personal narratives and reminiscence about back in the day experiences. 
  
• HOUSE OF TRANSCENDENCE, represented by performance from Founding Members The Perfect Poison and Linda La, emerged during the Soaring 20s amidst a global pandemic, seeking a more trans-inclusive home and mission. Their mission is to provide safe spaces for Black and Brown transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) communities to connect with resources while fostering their development as artists and leaders through multimedia performing arts and Vogue/Ballroom culture. 
  
• LEGENDS OF DRAG, represented by a performance fromspecial guest Egyptt LaBeija at The House of LaBeija, is a new photography book by Harry James Hanson and Devin Antheus. The bookcelebrates these queer elders who have long been cultural and spiritual leaders within their communities. Since 2018, they have photographed 81 drag legends in 16 cities, each styled with a custom floral arrangement. 
  
• PAPI JUICE, represented by Founding Members and Resident DJs Oscar Nñ & Adam R., is a Brooklyn-based art collective that aims to affirm and celebrate the lives of queer and trans people of color. Papi Juice consists of resident DJs Oscar Nñ and Adam R., and art director Mohammed Iman.
  
• RAGGA NYC, represented by a Marketplace DJ set from Founding Member Neon Christina and special guest DJ Total XTC, is a platform/project and art collective founded by Christopher Udemezue (@NeonChristina). RAGGA NYC connects a growing network of queer Caribbean artists and allies working across a wide range of disciplines—including visual art, fashion, poetry and more—to explore how race, sexuality, gender, heritage, and history inform their work and their lives.
  
• SWITCH N’ PLAY represented by performance frommembers Vigor Mortis and The Illustrious Pearl,is a Brooklyn drag collective established in 2006. Queer in every sense of the word, Switch n’ Play spans the gender spectrum in life and on stage. The collective’s impressive roster of artists includes Divina GranSparkle, K.James, Miss Malice, Nyx Nocturne, the Illustrious Pearl, Vigor Mortis, and Zoe Ziegfeld. The collective currently produces monthly shows at Littlefield in Gowanus, Brooklyn. 
  
• YAS MAMA represented by a DJ set from Founding Mother Horrorchata (co-founder of Bushwig) and a performance by special guest Xana Whoria, is all about celebrating queer Latinx culture! founded by Horrorchata. It’s a space for community, pride, music, and fierce Latin drag, showcasing some of NYC’s finest and most fabulous artists.