Blacklips
Encyclopedia
The Blacklips Performance Cult was an avant-garde drag
theater troupe based in New York City
's Lower East Side
, at the Pyramid Club
. The troupe was active from summer 1992 to spring 1995.
The troupe was originally founded in the summer of 1992 by Antony Hegarty
, Johanna Constantine and Psychotic Eve. In a short time, the troupe had grown to consist of 15 downtown artists.
The troupe started doing shows in the Crow Bar, but soon moved to the Pyramid Club
, where it would set up different plays
each Monday night
. The first play was The Scarlet Letter by Antony, shown for the first and last time 12 October 1992. The last play was 13 WAYS TO DIE, which was shown for the first and last time 13 March 1995.
The troupe quickly became famous in the underground
club
culture of the Lower East Side
- especially known for its trademark: "Bloodbags and Beauty". In one of the plays, called Starvation, the dancers dressed as maggots and threw liver
around.
It was in the Blacklips Performance Cult that Antony Hegarty
first gained attention thanks to his extraordinary voice. During performances he sang Cripple and the Starfish
, Blue Angel and Hitler in My Heart. These songs were later published on his first full-length album. Antony has now reached fame far beyond underground culture with his band, Antony and the Johnsons
.
Drag (clothing)
Drag is used for any clothing carrying symbolic significance but usually referring to the clothing associated with one gender role when worn by a person of another gender. The origin of the term "drag" is unknown, but it may have originated in Polari, a gay street argot in England in the early...
theater troupe based in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's Lower East Side
Lower East Side
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
, at the Pyramid Club
Pyramid Club
__notoc__The Pyramid Club is a nightclub in the East Village of Manhattan, New York City. After opening in 1979, the Pyramid helped define the East Village drag and gay scenes of the 1980s...
. The troupe was active from summer 1992 to spring 1995.
The troupe was originally founded in the summer of 1992 by Antony Hegarty
Antony Hegarty
Antony Hegarty is an English singer-songwriter, best known as the lead singer of the band Antony and the Johnsons.-Early life:...
, Johanna Constantine and Psychotic Eve. In a short time, the troupe had grown to consist of 15 downtown artists.
The troupe started doing shows in the Crow Bar, but soon moved to the Pyramid Club
Pyramid Club
__notoc__The Pyramid Club is a nightclub in the East Village of Manhattan, New York City. After opening in 1979, the Pyramid helped define the East Village drag and gay scenes of the 1980s...
, where it would set up different plays
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
each Monday night
Night
Night or nighttime is the period of time when the sun is below the horizon. This occurs after dusk. The opposite of night is day...
. The first play was The Scarlet Letter by Antony, shown for the first and last time 12 October 1992. The last play was 13 WAYS TO DIE, which was shown for the first and last time 13 March 1995.
The troupe quickly became famous in the underground
Subculture
In sociology, anthropology and cultural studies, a subculture is a group of people with a culture which differentiates them from the larger culture to which they belong.- Definition :...
club
Club
A club is an association of two or more people united by a common interest or goal. A service club, for example, exists for voluntary or charitable activities; there are clubs devoted to hobbies and sports, social activities clubs, political and religious clubs, and so forth.- History...
culture of the Lower East Side
Lower East Side
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
- especially known for its trademark: "Bloodbags and Beauty". In one of the plays, called Starvation, the dancers dressed as maggots and threw liver
Liver (food)
The liver of mammals, fowl, and fish are commonly eaten as food by humans. Domestic pig, ox, lamb, calf, chicken, and goose livers are widely available from butchers and supermarkets....
around.
It was in the Blacklips Performance Cult that Antony Hegarty
Antony Hegarty
Antony Hegarty is an English singer-songwriter, best known as the lead singer of the band Antony and the Johnsons.-Early life:...
first gained attention thanks to his extraordinary voice. During performances he sang Cripple and the Starfish
Cripple and the Starfish
"Cripple and the Starfish" is a song written by Antony Hegarty and performed by Antony and the Johnsons, a Mercury Prize-winning music act from New York City. It first appeared as a split single with a song from the group Current 93 and was soon thereafter released on Antony and the Johnsons, the...
, Blue Angel and Hitler in My Heart. These songs were later published on his first full-length album. Antony has now reached fame far beyond underground culture with his band, Antony and the Johnsons
Antony and the Johnsons
Antony and the Johnsons is a music group presenting the work of Antony Hegarty and his collaborators.-Career:British experimental musician David Tibet of Current 93 heard a demo and offered to release Antony's music through his Durtro label. The debut album, Antony and the Johnsons, was released...
.
List of troupemembers
- Antony HegartyAntony HegartyAntony Hegarty is an English singer-songwriter, best known as the lead singer of the band Antony and the Johnsons.-Early life:...
(sometimes credited as Fiona Blue) - Flloyd
- Lost Forever
- Johanna Constantine
- Lulu
- Kabuki Starshine
- Pearls
- Psychotic Eve
- Sissy Fit
- James F. Murphy
- Hattie Hathaway
- Mouse
- Howie PyroHowie PyroHowie Pyro on 28 June 1960 is a Queens, New York City based rock musician and bass player. He is a founding member of D Generation.-With D Generation:*No Way Out - Single - **Re-released in 1994 and 1996....
- Clark Render
- Lily of the Valley
- Ebony Jet
- Herr Klunch