What is “Drag Vernacular”?
TAM: I didn’t really codify it. It’s the language that is made up and constantly changing between people in the drag ball scene. Playbill.com: How did you get hooked up with Tina Landau as your director? TAM: Tina and I had worked together as actor and director back in Chicago, when I first graduated from undergrad. And I asked her to direct a reading of a play that the Public Theater was doing in “New Works Now!” I think we have a really great working relationship, so I asked her to direct that same play down at Alliance Theatre in Atlanta. It got nominated for all these awards in Atlanta and I was like “Whoa!” When the Vineyard asked if I had any directors in mind, I said “Tina” and they were very happy about that. Playbill.com: Now this play is going to play in London later. TAM: Yes, it goes up at the Royal Court Theatre in November. That’s a separate production. Playbill.com: You also act. Was it ever your intention to act in this piece? TAM: Not necessarily, but I would. Playbill
