Seat Filler: What's Gay Off-Broadway

Bootycandy
Out actor Phillip James Brannon anchors out writer-director Robert O'Hara's audacious and uproarious satire about the sexual awakening of Sutter, a gay black man who grows up reading Jackie Collins and dressing like Michael Jackson. Stereotype-tackling sketches sour as they get grim -- emotionally scarred by white guys, Sutter rapes one with a black dildo -- but O'Hara milks huge laughs from characters like a lesbian named Genitalia and a preacher praising God in a gown.
Playwrights Horizons, through October 19.

Dry Land
A bond between troubled high-school swimmers deepens when abrasive Amy (Sarah Mezzanotte) asks doting Ester (Tina Ivlev) for help with a DIY abortion. Although Amy accuses Ester of being "totally gay" for her, the feeling may be mutual. Coolly staged by Adrienne Campbell-Holt in a locker room reeking of self-loathing and teen-speak, Ruby Rae Spiegel's unflinching drama delivers a solid punch to the gut -- not unlike one of Ester's bruising efforts to end the pregnancy.
Here Arts Center, through September 27.

Mighty Real: A Fabulous Sylvester Musical
Do you wanna funk? Writer and star Anthony Wayne shines brighter than a mirror ball -- ooh, honey, those outfits! -- as Sylvester, the androgynous gay disco legend who lived without apology until his AIDS-related death in 1988. Codirected by Wayne and partner Kendrell Bowman, the confessional monologue dwells on teary triumph over tragedy, but the songs are pure joy. By the time he turns out "(You Make Me Feel) Mighty Real," you'll be feeling it on your feet.
Theatre at St. Clement's, through October 5.

The Money Shot
Misogyny and homophobia are served in Neil LaBute's broad but viciously funny Hollywood satire about a dinner party where two desperate and insufferable movie stars, Steve (Mothers and Sons hunk Fred Weller) and Karen (Twilight's Elizabeth Reaser), argue over a sex scene with Karen's brainy girlfriend (Callie Thorne), who has an eye on Steve's vapid wife (Gia Crovatin). The fine actors chew scenery between shrimp puffs because the plot's so thin, but that's showbiz, folks.
Lucille Lortel Theatre, through October 19.

Rock Bottom
Patti LuPone and Amy Schumer are two of her biggest fans, which pretty much sums up Bridget Everett, a Chardonnay-flavored tidal wave of powerhouse vocals and pussy jokes. Created with Matt Ray, Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz, and Tony-winning partners Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, her audience-arousing cabaret act, which features gay comic Cole Escola as her aborted fetus, is a feminist paean to public indecency. If you're lucky, she might even sit on your face.
Joe's Pub, through October 16.

Read last month's theater picks here.