“This is the first time I’ve ever done any type of interview that is theater-related,” says iconic New York City club promoter Ladyfag. Born Rayne Baron, Ladyfag has spent the past nearly two decades producing queer nightlife in New York, shepherding dance parties like Holy Mountain, Battle Hymn, and LadyLand, a Pride music festival whose headliners this summer were Cardi B and FKA Twigs. Now Ladyfag is stepping off the dance floor and onto the stage to produce a play called Smuta, which premieres in Brooklyn on October 9.

“I guess I’m a theater queen,” she says.

Smuta isn’t much of a departure from strobe lights and the DJ booth. Written by up-and-comer Jacob Wasson and directed by Niamh Osh Jones, Smuta (pronounced smoo -tah) takes place in 2019, inside a club patroniz

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