Photo credit.
“In my own funny way, I’ve always loved gay slurs,” Justin Elizabeth Sayre shared in a statement. One has transformed into the title of a new, monthly variety show hosted by Sayre: Assorted Fruit.
Starting at The Public Theater’s cabaret venue, Joe’s Pub, Assorted Fruit had its inaugural performance on Sunday, February 20. This new monthly, queer variety show from the team that brought you The Meeting is an all-queer, all-fun night of the best in queer talent from across New York and worldwide. The show will offer lots of new faces and some old favorites. With Dusty Childers as the show’s “fabulousity director,” special guests will make each performance unique.
“I wanted to try something new and adventurous,” said Sayre. “This show lets me break out of the mold and explore more voices and point of views. I still think queer people are making the best art out there, and I wanted to create a forum to work with and showcase gay creators of all stripes.”
The “gay slurs,” Sayre continued, “are mostly so silly, but my favorite has always been a fruit. What’s so queer about fruit? Well, it’s vital and packed with goodness. I think fruit could be the new way to name the queer community. I’m a fruit. Are you a fruit too?”
With Assorted Fruit, Sayre continues a busy season of projects. Their new solo work To Build a Soul debuted at New York’s La MaMa Theatre in December 2021. 2022 continues in May with the publication of Sayre’s new book From Gay to Z: A Queer Compendium from Chronicle Books, and in June the tenth annual presentation of the Night of a Thousand Judys Pride concert to benefit The Ali Forney Center. A new piece will be performed at the Edinburgh International Festival later this year.
The second installment of Assorted Fruit is scheduled at Joe’s Pub for Sunday, March 13 at 9:30 p.m. For tickets and more info, visit here.
