Have you ever wondered how to be a good sub? Leather-donned guests at Performance Space‘s 2026 gala didn’t have to wait around long to find out as they were shepherded to their seats by a cadre of doms.
Last Friday night, the downtown institution transformed its East Village home into an ecstatic playground for its annual benefit, aptly titled “Feel Everything.” With a dress code of “haute fetish,” this year’s event honored designer and artist Michèle Lamy, artist Paul McCarthy, and writer Samuel R. Delany. Creative direction came from playwright and novelist Jordan Tannahill, who set the gala up as a collision of nightlife and fetish culture. “Experimental performance is the world I come from, so it felt really exciting and natural for me to jump into this and help program it,” Tannahill shared of the “sex club meets rave” ambiance. At the center of the evening were hosts and regular collaborators Julia Fox and Richie Shazam, who kicked the festivities off with opening remarks before Fox gamely delivered a tongue-in-cheek tutorial on the five rules of being a good sub (complete with willing audience participation).
For Pati Hertling, the institution’s senior director, the gala serves a rare, dual purpose as it allows for a temperature check on the year’s fleshy, revelrous output while meeting philanthropic benchmarks. “The gala is an opportunity to show people what we do—especially those who might not always have time to follow everything happening in downtown experimental theater,” she said. “It’s a chance to create a huge production and make people feel genuinely excited to be there.”
French pop musician Yseult performed the U.S. debut of her song “Freak,” accompanied by what Tannahill described as a “fetish circus” featuring balloon-popping provocateur Mistress Nina, lube-based choreography by Dahlia Damoiselle, and surreal puppetry by Tristan Allen. Further along, guests bore witness to a excerpted reading of Delaney’s book “Times Square Red, Times Square Blue” by artist Miles Greenberg (wearing a plunging, furry reinterpretation of an evening gown), and a musical performance by Moses Sumney.
“I was such a geek for the early performances [at Performance Space]—artists like Diamanda Galás, Anohni and the Johnsons when they were part of Blacklips, that whole East Village scene. It always had such an allure to me,” Tannahill said while perched onstage, surveying the room he had brought to life. “It’s been such a pillar of this community for decades.” Ahead of the festivities, we pulled the playwright who gave us Prince Faggot aside for his rapid-fire guide to partying.
The Partycrasher Questionnaire with Jordan Tannahill
Partycrasher sneaks you past the velvet rope into New York’s wildest galas, soirées, and afterparties. No invite? No problem—this is your backstage pass to the city’s most glittering nights.
Who are you most excited to see tonight?
Everybody—it’s sort of like choosing between my kids. But the artist who surprised me the most is Alex Tatarsky. I actually wasn’t familiar with her work before she was programmed as part of the evening. She’s wild. Watching her work with an audience is incredible. I literally hold my breath and just laugh in wonder at what she does. It’s so magnetic, smart, and hilarious. I was joking with my husband that it reminds me a little bit of that scene in The Square where the performance artist lets mayhem loose in a room. It’s not quite that level of chaos, but it is a very destabilizing presence in a really fun way.
What’s the best thing about this year’s gala, in your eyes?
It really draws heavily from our local underground nightlife scene. What’s exciting is that it uplifts performers who are mostly working in nightlife spaces and brings them into this context.
Where do you beeline when you walk into a party?
Toward my friends.
What’s the best table here tonight?
Honestly, I wish I could say all of them, but if I’m being totally honest, the Telfar, Precious, and Dara table is the one I wish I could have joined.
What’s worse—showing up underdressed or overdressed?
Always underdressed.
What’s the most important ingredient of any great party.
The people. You can have zero production value and just the right people in an empty room, and you’ll still have a great time.
Who’s your dream person to run into tonight?
Ladyfag. I haven’t met her before and I’m a big fan. I know the seating plan, so I’ll probably be taking certain routes toward the washroom to maximize my chances.
What’s the most chaotic thing you’ve ever witnessed at a gala?
Actually, it was here last year. Watching Kelsey Lu dressed as Kermit the Frog performing with Debbie Harry was true chaos, but also totally sublime.
When’s the ideal time to make your exit?
When you find who you want to go home with.
Do you after-party or Irish exit?
Always after-party.
in your life?