MS. BLAKK FOR PRESIDENT
Written by Tina Landau and Tarell Alvin McCraney
Directed by Tina Landau
Starring Wayne Brady as Terence Alan Smith / Joan Jett Blakk
Previews October 15, 2026
Opening Night November 1, 2026
Vineyard Theatre
105 East 15th Street
Vineyard Theatre Artistic Director Sarah Stern and Managing Producer Moogie Brooks are pleased to announce that the first show of Vineyard Theatre’s 2026-2027 season will be MS. BLAKK FOR PRESIDENT, starring Emmy Award winner and Grammy Award nominee Wayne Brady (Kinky Boots, La Cage Aux Folles) as Terence Alan Smith/Joan Jett Blakk. MS. BLAKK FOR PRESIDENT is co-written by Tony Award nominee Tina Landau (Floyd Collins) and Academy Award winner Tarell Alvin McCraney (Moonlight, Choir Boy). Landau also directs.
Introducing Joan Jett Blakk — the first (and only) Black Drag Queen Candidate for President of the United States of America. It’s the early 90s, the height of the AIDS epidemic, and Joan and the newly formed Queer Nation Chicago set off on an exhilarating and dangerous journey to drag queer politics out of the closet — and onto the floor of the DNC. Inspired — but not bound — by the true story of drag performer and activist Terence Alan Smith, MS. BLAKK FOR PRESIDENT is a joyous stampede through urgent and unfinished business.
Part campaign rally, part nightclub performance, part confessional — and all party — this singular new work by Tina Landau and Tarell Alvin McCraney stars Wayne Brady as the incomparable Joan/Terence.
Additional cast and creative team will be announced at a later date.
MS. BLAKK FOR PRESIDENT is the first of three productions of Vineyard’s 2026-27 season. Additional productions will be announced at a later date.