Leave It On the Floor

If you're African-American, gay, and fabulous, you know the place to be seen is at the balls. Vibrant and fierce, stylish and risqué, these raucous underground extravaganzas bring together the young and fashion-obsessed who “vogue” on catwalks, competing for trophies in various drag genres. LEAVE IT ON THE FLOOR is a colorful musical set in the L.A. ball culture where “houses” provide surrogate families for gay or transgender youths whose families have rejected them. Brad, handsome and 22, is kicked out of the house by his malevolent mother. While wandering through the city, he meets cute Carter and follows him into a warehouse, discovering a boisterous ball in progress. Carter and Princess, members of the House of Eminence, both lust after the studly newcomer, while House Mother Queef Latina is skeptical of his intentions. As he finds a place in this new family, Brad sings and dances his way through love, loyalty, and loss. Ephraim Sykes of Broadway's Memphis is a sexy standout as Brad. – B.B.