WIFVNE Shares: PLAYLAND screening at Wicked Queer Docs festival

The Playland Café, Boston’s oldest gay bar, was established in 1937 and was a vital queer hub in the city until 1998, when rampant ‘urban renewal’ projects led to its closure. Demolished but never forgotten, it acted as a meeting ground for an exceptionally diverse crowd — throughout its lifespan, it featured acts from drag performances to DJ sets and was connected to Pride rallies and underground gay newspapers. As a gathering place for outsiders, it was also a target for police raids and zoning. Following its employees and others who have haunted the space, weaving together a tapestry of personal and community anecdotes across the bar’s existence.

A number of WIFVNE members worked on Playland, including: Nerissa Williams Scott (Production Manager); Carley Byers (Assistant Set Decorator); Kayla McEniry (2nd assistant Set Decorator); Yvonne Corbett (Sound Mixer); Melanie Nesteruk (Best Grip); Caterina Lopez (Production Coordinator); Irene Wachsler (Auditor)

Entire cast and crew list on IMDb.

Queer bodies are under fire and authentic representation is life saving, Wicked Queer: Docs will be a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community and our vibrant underrepresented histories.

The Opening Night selection, Alexandria Bombach’s It’s Only Life After All, will screen at the Museum of Fine Arts on November 10th at 7:30PM.  The Closing Night selections, Paul B. Preciado’s Orlando My Political Biography and Jane M. Wagner’s Break the Game, will screen at the Brattle Theatre on November 20 at 7PM and 9PM respectively.

The festival will screen at the Brattle Theatre and the Museum of Fine Arts from November 10-20. With a virtual encore of the films from November 21st-30th.

Tickets go on sale October 31 through the venues with the full schedule available on wickedqueer.org.