On Friday, March 28, 2025, the McCarter Theatre Center hosted the renowned Lady Celestina as hostess for Pride Night at the West Lobby of the Matthews Theatre in Princeton,  New Jersey. 

Signature cocktails were on sale, drag reigned, with startling performances that could not be stopped, while patrons gladly handed dollars, fives, even twenty dollar bills to Lady Celestina as she danced, sang, and charmed those who were local, and as far away as Kansas, who came to celebrate that evening. 

A wide array of hors d’oeuvres provided by Tipple and Rose thrilled the two hundred or more LGBTQ+ patrons. 

Many, if not most, of those assembled would also see the new stage production of Legacy of Light, immediately following.

Friendships both old and new were everywhere. One charmingly handsome couple remembered both my friend Dave and I from Pre-Covid escapades where we met at previous McCarter Pride Nights, as well as at the legendary GLOBAL pot lucks in far away, exotic Trenton, Langhorne, and places too fabulous to mention. A Formula One fan wearing a signature jacket filled us in on the history and secret, charmed world of Formula One racing, not only in Las Vegas, but abroad and around the World. He is often recognized when wearing his fan gear because of a Netflix TV series. Who knew? Some of us only recalled the Indy 500 or Le Mans races of yore, completely innocent of the sport’s lively and vibrant present.

The ninety minute event was an unforgettable warm-up to the evening’s play, immediately following the event. More about the play Legacy of Light in a review of the play.

The McCarter season continues with many more music, theatre, and dance presentations. 

For information and to purchase tickets, visit www.mccarter.org .