Thursday, January 22, 2026

'The Big Johnson' brings an East Village legend to the Quad


"The Big Johnson," the documentary that chronicles the life and untimely death of East Village drag and nightlife legend Dean Johnson, makes its theatrical debut tomorrow (Friday) evening at the Quad Cinema.

There's a Q&A after the screenings tomorrow evening featuring director Lola Rock'N'Rolla, as well as Mary Feaster, Penny Arcade, Viva-Ruiz, David Ilku, Michael Musto, DJ Tennessee, and Daniel Nardicio. Murray Hill moderates. 

The 7:30 p.m. screening is sold out, but seats remain for the 10 p.m. showing. 

"The Big Johnson" took home the top prize for Best Feature at the 15th edition of the Lower East Side Film Festival last May. During the closing-night party, Michael Musto, who is featured in the film, said this to EVG's Stacie:
"Lola Rock'N'Rolla has done a heroic job of compiling and condensing miles and miles of interviews and archival footage into a brilliant examination of a changing city, scene and star — namely rocker/activist Dean Johnson. Dean was always mischievously dangerous in a way that we needed. In fact, I always felt safer when he was around." 
You can find the movie schedule here. The Quad is at 34 W. 13th St. between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue. 

Check out the trailer below...

at

1 comment:

  1. AnonymousJanuary 22, 2026 at 6:29 PM

    Wow!!! Dean Johnson was amazing and incredible! The film looks like it was made with a ton of effort and love. How I wish I left home for the neighborhood in the late 70s and never looked back. What a time the 1980s were, keeping art alive in a plague. Who else but the queers could do it?

    ReplyDelete

Your remarks and lively debates are welcome, whether supportive or critical of the views herein. Your articulate, well-informed remarks that are relevant to an article are welcome.

However, commentary that is intended to "flame" or attack, that contains violence, racist comments and potential libel will not be published. Facts are helpful.

If you'd like to make personal attacks and libelous claims against people and businesses, then you may do so on your own social media accounts. Also, comments predicting when a new business will close ("I give it six weeks") will not be approved.