On Dec. 14, 2025, Patti LuPone attended a performance of Drew Droege’s show, “Messy White Gays.” A drunken audience member disrupted the show, and afterwards, LuPone told them to “never go back to the theater again.” The New York Post ran the headline, “LuPone Blasts Theater Idiot.” On Aug. 29, audiences will meet the Theatre Idiot in Droege’s new show at Out Front Theatre.
After the incident, Droege set to writing the show, which premiered on April Fools’ Day at Dynasty Typewriter in Los Angeles. Since then, he’s taken what he calls the “structured improv” show to New York and back for a second performance in LA.
“It’s very interactive,” he told Georgia Voice. “I promise, I don’t make anybody in the audience look bad… I would tell the audience to come ready to play and rest assured that I will take care of you and I will not make fun of you.”
Droege is a major player in the queer arts scene, most recently appearing in “Stop! That! Train!” and “Queer.” He’s performed Off-Broadway in “Titanique” and written and starred in “Messy White Gays,” “Happy Birthday Doug,” and “Bright Colors And Bold Patterns.” Many will also remember that Droege famously played actress Chloë Sevigny in long-running series of parodies on YouTube.
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Droege said he plays the theater idiot as earnest. Instead of a mean-spirited villain, he’s well-meaning and naive, genuinely believing he’s acting out of love for theatre.
Each performance of “Theatre Idiot” is different, informed by the audience’s participation.
“Every night is for that crowd,” Droege said. “I know about 75% of what’s going to happen, but the big part of it is relying on the group that’ll be there.”
Droege hopes to bring the show to other venues across the country in the near future. The Atlanta performance of “Theatre Idiot” is Aug. 29 at 8 p.m. at Out Front Theatre. Tickets start at $37.55.
