Musical But I’m a Cheerleader + Other LGBTQ+ Coming Attractions

Conversion Camp Spirit

The much-anticipated But I’m a Cheerleader: The Musical opens February 23 at London’s Turbine Theatre. Based on the classic 2000 indie film, the musical centers on a wholesome teenage girl shipped off to a “conversion” camp after displaying lesbian tendencies (the over-the-top comedy starred icons Natasha Lyonne, Clea DuVall, Cathy Moriarty, and RuPaul). The new live production features a book and lyrics by Bill Augustin, music by Andrew Abrams, and direction by Tania Azevedo.

Celebrating a Brilliant Fashion Creative

French designer Thierry Mugler (shown with Grace Jones in 1980) epitomized glamour in the ‘80s and ’90s, creating sexy silhouettes, utilizing elaborate fashion shows, and dressing Hollywood royalty like Demi Moore. Then, in the early 2000s, Mugler shuttered his ready-to-wear collection, leaving behind a fragrance line and mystery. He grew reclusive and, sadly, his contributions were forgotten by the general public. Thankfully, the gay designer’s work — which has quietly continued — was the subject of an expansive exhibit at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in 2019. Now, Thierry Mugler, Couturissime moves to the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, where the fanciful, multi-sensory experience includes stage costumes, photographs, films, music, and digital performances. See it before it closes April 24.

Historic Hall Uplifts Marginalized Voices

Carnegie Hall isn’t simply a venue; the 130-year-old Manhattan theater also organizes programming that uplifts marginalized voices. Carnegie’s citywide festival, Afrofuturism, celebrates and highlights Black contributions to the arts, specifically music. Spread around different Carnegie-affiliated performance spaces, Afrofuturism presents performances and discussions from lauded musicians like Flying Lotus, Sun Ra Arkestra with Kelsey Lu and Moor Mother, Nicole Mitchell and Angel Bat Dawid, Chimurenga Renaissance and Fatoumata Diawara, Carl Craig Synthesizer Ensemble, and Theo Croker. The party begins February 3 with the Make a Joyful Noize event at Zankel Hall.

Welcome to Nomadland

Considering life on the road, but not yet ready to commit? Check out Vantastic: Van Living, Sustainable Travel, Food Ideas, Conversions. Adventurer Kate Ulman advises readers on how to choose the right vehicle or turn your old van into a rolling home. Ulman helps newbies figure out the basics of #vanlife, from cooking to hitching up.

Climb Every Mountain

The LGBTQ Outdoor Summit returns.

Presented by OUT There Adventures and Pride Outside, the annual LGBTQ Outdoor Summit returns after a two-year hiatus, April 1-4, on Massawomeck Ancestral Land at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Queer members of the outdoor recreation community will seek solutions to boosting LGBTQ+ equity, representation, and engagement. Past offerings included how to support queer youth conservation corps, backpacking basics, and queer nature writing. Unlike previous iterations, the 2022 event hopes to be exclusively LGBTQ+. Allies please support the efforts from afar. (lgbtqoutdoorsummit.com)

Lego Camping

Ease the kids into the itinerant lifestyle with this awesome new Lego Holiday Camper Van that comes complete with accessories and a hip little family.

This coverage initially ran in Out Traveler print magazine. The Winter 2022 issue is now available on newsstands.