Listen to mama here for a moment...around about eight or nine years ago, back in my homeland of Minneapolis, MN, I decided that in my next life I wanted to be a Sri Lankan lesbian. I filled out all the forms, and though the waiting process is long (I am hoping a good 60 more years), I am fairly certain I will be approved.
Every Sri Lankan woman and/or trans man that I have met is fucking fierce. I am so ok with making that generalization. And since I am permanently, cross many lives queer, I figured...well Hell...I might as well go on ahead and switch it up a little...but not too much. Here pussy pussy pussy!
So back in Minneapolis, through my fantastic friends Chamun Wanduragala (also check out and BUY Chamun's art and clothing) and Deepa Jeeva, I met another fierce Sri Lankan by the name of D'Lo. Now, I knew D'Lo, originally, through his poetry---and I believe we both performed at the 2004 PeaceOut East Queer Hip Hop Festival in NYC, it was through Deepa and Chamun and their performance production group Diaspora Flow that I got to know D'Lo. In fact, in 2005, I had a staged reading of my play, Dividing Lines, and D'Lo was the director.
I haven't seen his beautiful fierce self since probably 2006, but let me tell you that my love for him, his work, and the way he lives his life and creates community are appreciated and valued by me.
Now I have a chance to give a little bit back from what I received those many years ago.
D'Lo has a show going on RIGHT NOW in New York at Dixon Place, and this comedian, poet, actor, fool (in the old school meaning of the word....as in funny as shit entertainer)...is gonna give you something to feel about, talk about, maybe touch yourself about for a very very long time.
Help me show D'Lo some real love by checking out his show this weekend or next weekend. I am including a bit below about the show, a couple of links to trailers and info on how you can get tickets. This is what's up y'all. Check this show out!
About D'FunQT
Every Sri Lankan woman and/or trans man that I have met is fucking fierce. I am so ok with making that generalization. And since I am permanently, cross many lives queer, I figured...well Hell...I might as well go on ahead and switch it up a little...but not too much. Here pussy pussy pussy!
So back in Minneapolis, through my fantastic friends Chamun Wanduragala (also check out and BUY Chamun's art and clothing) and Deepa Jeeva, I met another fierce Sri Lankan by the name of D'Lo. Now, I knew D'Lo, originally, through his poetry---and I believe we both performed at the 2004 PeaceOut East Queer Hip Hop Festival in NYC, it was through Deepa and Chamun and their performance production group Diaspora Flow that I got to know D'Lo. In fact, in 2005, I had a staged reading of my play, Dividing Lines, and D'Lo was the director.
I haven't seen his beautiful fierce self since probably 2006, but let me tell you that my love for him, his work, and the way he lives his life and creates community are appreciated and valued by me.
Now I have a chance to give a little bit back from what I received those many years ago.
D'Lo has a show going on RIGHT NOW in New York at Dixon Place, and this comedian, poet, actor, fool (in the old school meaning of the word....as in funny as shit entertainer)...is gonna give you something to feel about, talk about, maybe touch yourself about for a very very long time.
Help me show D'Lo some real love by checking out his show this weekend or next weekend. I am including a bit below about the show, a couple of links to trailers and info on how you can get tickets. This is what's up y'all. Check this show out!
About D'FunQT
D’FunQT is
a one-person show featuring the inimitable comedian D'Lo sharing
hilarious and poignant snapshots of the worlds that shaped who he is
now. D'Lo grew up in a strict immigrant family, caught between two
overzealous parents who provided a wealth of material for his
self-reflective musings, rants, and
side-splitting coming out stories. Written and performed
Leguizamo-style, this one-person show celebrates the joy of survival in a
world often intolerant of difference. As a queer boy/stud/transgender
person, D'Lo unapologetically takes center
stage and uses his fluidly morphing form and spot-on timing to bring
the fierce with the funny.
Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/events/319047878173083/
Youtube Teaser: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us-zFjXUqZ4
We've had two packed shows so far, and the crowds have been
incredible. In the house on opening night, we had SALGA (South Asian
Lesbian and Gay Association) and Q-Wave (a queer Asian organization),
and they're responses were overwhelmingly positive especially in
reaction to the parts about growing up in an immigrant family. The next
night, when Bklyn Boihood (a collective of Masculine of Center people of
color) came to the show, the formulating of a new queer masculine/trans
identity really spoke to them. After the show, we've been gathering
everyone into the lounge for an informal after party where many people,
straight and queer, have come up to me to tell me how important they
think D'FunQT is, not only for queer people who can relate, but
for non-queers who have never really had to consider what it means to
live the lives we live every day.
D'FunQT shows
four more times: this weekend and next weekend (Fridays and Saturdays).
D'Loco Kid Productions
PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tim Ranney tim@dixonplace.org Office: (212) 219-0736
New York City, June 6, 2012 – As part of the annual HOT FESTIVAL, Dixon Place Theater presents D'FunQT (pronounced
"defunct"), a one-person stand-up storytelling show by L.A. based
theater artist/writer D'Lo. D’FunQT opens Friday, July 6th at 9:30pm at Dixon Place Theater at161A Chrystie Street, NY, NY 10002. Run time is approximately 1 hour and twenty minutes; there is no intermission. D’FunQT runs from July 6th to 21st,
Fridays and Saturdays at 9:30pm. Tickets are $15 pre-sale, and $20 at
door. Students and Seniors can pay $15 dollars at door. Box office opens
½ hour before showtime. Any inquiries for group discounts and industry
tickets please email contact@dixonplace.org. Media comps, photos, videos and interviews are available upon request fromtim@dixonplace.org. For tickets and information call (212) 219-0736 or visit www.dixonplace.org
D’FunQT is
a one-person show featuring the inimitable comedian D'Lo sharing
hilarious and poignant snapshots of the worlds that shaped who he is
now. D'Lo grew up
in a strict immigrant family, caught between two overzealous parents
who provided a wealth of material for his self-reflective musings,
rants, and side-splitting coming out stories. Written and performed
Leguizamo-style, this one-person show celebrates the joy of survival in a
world often intolerant of difference. As
a queer boy/stud/transgender person, D'Lo unapologetically takes center
stage and uses his fluidly morphing form and spot-on timing to bring
the fierce with the funny.
Director
Steven Sapp has strengthened the workshop production of D’FunQT that
was originally presented at Dixon Place’s 2010 Hot Festival. Co-Founding member of Universes, Steven Sapp’s credits include: Playwright/Actor-AMERIVILLE
(dir. Chay Yew); One Shot in Lotus Position (The War Anthology-Curious
Theater-dir. Bonnie Metzger); RHYTHMICITY (Humana Festival); SLANGUAGE
(NY Theater Workshop-dir. Jo Bonney). On working with D’Lo, Sapp says,
“D’FunQT comments
on transgender secularity and spirituality through a stand up lens.
D’Lo is a fresh new voice; the politics and the personal combine, he’s
in the middle of black & white politics, in the middle of the
conversations of man and woman, and happens to be a gender
non-conforming actor whose writing and poetry talents show even in
stand-up.”
D'Lo
is a queer Tamil Sri L.A.nkan-American, political theatre
artist/writer, director, comedian, and music producer. His writing has
been published in many anthologies and academic journals. D’Lo is a
recipient of multiple grants from the National Performance Network and
has been touring the NPN circuit as well as the college/university circuit for over a decade with
performances and speaking engagements, as well as presenting his one-person shows in theaters internationally. www.dlocokid.com
D'Lo
has gone from performing for his friends at grade school to performing
in front of fans all over the world. D'FunQT the show is D'Lo's gift
to all the communities with which he identifies. The challenges confronting fierce queers and people of color reform under his sharp observations. “This
show is a chance to be seen and reflected, to exhale in peace, to
celebrate in laughter, and to feel accepted in all our glory in the
presence of other good people.” D'Lo is a source of power all by himself, championing a voice that speaks to the heart of what matters most.
Catch
this show. You may just catch yourself cracking up and when it's all
said and done, being put back together again. One thing's for
sure: D'Lo knows how to fight against being defunct.
For tickets and information: (212) 219-0736
I saw him perform a few years ago in Seattle at this spot called the Hidmo; a supper coool eritrian restruant (so goood).
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