Getting Close Queer Broadway Author: How Queer Storytelling Can Change You
Feb 24, 2026
Andrew Keenan-Bolger, actor, director, and author of Limelight, revisits 1996 New York to explore queer history. He discusses chosen family, magical realism and honoring queer ancestors. They also tackle book bans, writing flawed queer characters, and how young people find connection beyond their zip code.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
A Silly Backstage Video Changed His Career
- A chance backstage video led Andrew to co-create a web series with Kate Weatherhead, which launched a new career path.
- That collaboration attracted Penguin Random House and produced three books and wider creator work.
Researching 1996 New York Sparked The Novel
- Andrew Keenan-Bolger started Limelight from interviews about 1996 New York nightlife, not a plot, letting the era drive the story.
- He researched club culture, AIDS-era shifts, and spoke with insiders (e.g., Michael Musto) to recreate sensory detail of Times Square and the Limelight.
YA Fiction As A Tool To Recover Queer History
- Queer history is often erased, especially due to AIDS, so YA fiction can restore lost narratives for younger readers.
- Andrew framed Limelight as post‑AIDS, focusing on the era after crisis to illuminate continuity and resilience.
