On Tuesday, June 9, we’re thrilled to present a special Pride Month edition of New York on Film: a screening of the groundbreaking 1990 documentary “Paris Is Burning” (1990). The screening will be followed by a conversation with director Jennie Livingston and Bill Rauch, director of the Tony-nominated Broadway production “CATS: The Jellicle Ball”, moderated by Michael Roberson, a leading advocate and cultural ambassador within the ballroom community.

“Paris Is Burning” is a seminal portrait of New York City’s ballroom scene in the 1980s. Through intimate access to its “houses,” performers and competitions, the film captures a world where Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ communities created spaces of self-expression, artistry, kinship and survival in the face of systemic exclusion. Its influence has shaped fashion, language, music and contemporary understandings of performance and identity.

After the film, director Jennie Livingston will be joined by theater director Bill Rauch for a talkback exploring the film’s cultural legacy alongside “CATS: The Jellicle Ball,” the recent Broadway reimagining of “Cats” that draws directly from ballroom aesthetics, movement vocabulary and community structures. The talkback will be led by Michael Roberson, author of “Ballroom: A History, A Movement, A Celebration” and cultural consultant for “PoseFX”

Together, they will discuss the intersections between queer life and performance across both works: how ballroom culture operates as both art form and survival mechanism; how pageantry and transformation function as acts of identity-making; and how these traditions continue to evolve as they move from underground spaces into mainstream theatrical and cinematic expression. The conversation will also consider what it means to honor and translate lived cultural forms into new creative contexts while preserving their history and spirit.

Join us in the Great Hall at Conwell Coffee & Cocktail Hall for an evening of celebration and conversation as we pay tribute to ballroom culture and its enduring influence on contemporary storytelling across film, theater and beyond.

Tickets are $10 and include popcorn. Proceeds will be donated to the Ali Forney Center.

New York on Film is a screening series featuring films that highlight the history, culture and controversy that has defined the city over the years. Screenings are followed by conversations with notable figures who are involved with the film or the subject matter, allowing attendees to engage more deeply with the content. Proceeds are donated to a charitable organization of our speakers’ choice.

LM Live’s Cultural Conversations bring together thought leaders and innovators to discuss current issues affecting New Yorkers. Leveraging the rich talent and expertise in Lower Manhattan, these events offer the downtown community a chance to connect and build relationships around important topics.

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