How John Cameron Mitchell Turned His New Orleans Home Into a Queer Art Church

Actor, writer, and producer John Cameron Mitchell stands at the back door to his home in the Bywater section of New Orleans, a city he felt drawn to as more and more theater friends moved there and he began to seek a laid-back alternative to New York. But not entirely laid-back: The house, formerly owned by a mystic religious society, includes a 45-foot ballroom complete with stage, where John hosts parties and performances. "I always wanted a venue," he says, "but not the business."