Sordid Lives at Austin Rainbow Theatre

Austin Rainbow Theatre, Central Texas’ new home for LGBTQIA+ theatre, presents their inaugural production of Del Shores’ raucous Texas comedy Sordid Lives at Ground Floor Theatre October 6-14th. This production stars nationally-acclaimed drag entertainer and local celebrity Nadine Hughes as Brother Boy, a role previously made famous by the late Leslie Jordan. Written by trailblazing playwright & “master of Texas Comedy,” Del Shores, this hilarious romp is filled with southern charm and underscores what it means to be queer in Texas.

After the sudden tawdry death of their matriarch Peggy, a colorful family in small town Texas is forced to come together.  Chaos erupts at debate over the release of “Brother Boy”, a Tammy Wynette impersonating drag queen, currently confined to a mental institution simply for being gay.  Meanwhile, grandson Ty, a closeted West Hollywood actor, struggles with the decision to return home and face his dysfunctional family.  As the funeral approaches all of the family’s “sordid lives” are exposed and unconditional love is put to the Texan test!

“Though Sordid Lives is a side-splitting comedy,” says ART’s Executive Artistic Director Christopher Preslar, “it is at its core a heart-warming play about accepting our loved ones for who they are. In a time when LGBTQIA+ individuals are increasingly under attack in Texas, Sordid Lives is as relevant now as when it was first produced.”

Winner of 14 DramaLogue awards, including Best Production, this play spurred the cult-classic film starring Olivia Newton-John (“Grease”), Delta Burke (“Designing Women''), and Leslie Jordan (“Will & Grace”), among others.  The film garnered numerous awards including Best Feature award at the Austin LGBTQ+ Film Festivals and New York Independent Film Festival, as well as spawning a subsequent TV series and film sequel “A Very Sordid Wedding.”

The cast of SORDID LIVES will feature Nadine Hughes as “Brother Boy”, Nolan Muña as “Ty”, Jane Newchurch as “Sissy”, Maureen Slabaugh as “Latrelle”, Christina Little-Manley as “Lavonda”, Debbie Leopold as “Noleta”, Scott Poppaw as “Wardell”, Leslie Hethcox as “G.W.”, Erin Kressler as “Dr. Eve”, Naomi Payette as “Bitsy”, CJ Legare as “Juanita”, and Bryan Headrick as “Odell”.

The creative team includes ART’s Executive Artistic Director Christopher Preslar (Director), Lucinda Culver (Lighting Designer), Katie Birks-Kilman (Set Designer), and Michael Chappo (Stage Manager).