Arts & Entertainment
Lucian Piane apologizes for Twitter meltdown, blames ‘marijuana psychosis’


(Photo via Wikimedia Commons.)
Lucian Piane has apologized for his anti-SemiticĀ and racist Twitter rants calling them a symptom of “marijuana psychosis.”
Piane, 36, posted a series of offensive tweets in October and November including, “If Jews stopped the Holocaust victim shit we would all get along” and “If black people stopped being so ashamed of themselves we could call them n*****s and they would laugh. Backwards shit.”
The music producer and songwriter also attacked his longtime collaborator RuPaul calling him the āwisest n****rā he knows.”
In an Instagram post,Ā PianeĀ apologized for the tweets claiming that UCLA doctors diagnosed him with “marijuana psychosis” during that period. Piane says that he ingested 800mg of cannabis edibles to treat “full body pain” and “terrible fatigue.”
According to Piane, his illness caused him to withdraw as a judge on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and prevented him from working for almost a year.
“I am sorry to have hurt anyone along the way,” Piane writes.
Theater
A hilarious āTwelfth Nightā at Folger full of āelegant kinkā
Nonbinary actor Alyssa Keegan stars as Duke Orsino

āTwelfth Nightā
Through June 22
Folger Theatre
201 East Capitol St., S.E.
$20-$84
Folger.edu
Nonbinary actor Alyssa Keegan (they/them)loves tapping into the multitudes within.
Currently Keegan plays the melancholic Duke Orsino in Folger Theatreās production of Shakespeareās romantic comedy āTwelfth Night.ā Director Mei Ann Teo describes the production as “sexy, hilarious, and devastating” and full of “elegant kink.”
Washington-based, Keegan enjoys a busy and celebrated career. Her vast biography includes Come From Away at Fordās Theatre; Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Helen Hayes Award, Best Actress) and Paula Vogelās How I Learned to Drive, both at Round House Theatre; Diana Sonās Stop Kiss directedby Holly Twyford for No Rules Theatre Company; and Contractions at Studio Theatre, to name just a few.
In addition to acting, Keegan works as a polyamory and ethical non-monogamy life and relationship coach, an area of interest that grew out of personal exploration. For them, coaching seems to work hand in hand with acting.
WASHINGTON BLADE: Youāre playing the lovesick Orsino in Twelfth Night. How did that come about?
ALYSSA KEEGAN: The director was looking to cast a group of actors with diverse identities; throughout auditions, there were no constraints regarding anyoneās assigned sex at birth. It was really a free for all.
BLADE: Whatās your approach to the fetching, cod-piece clad nobleman?
KEEGAN: Offstage I identify as completely nonbinary; I love riding in this neutral middle space. But I also love cosplay. The ability to do that in the play gives me permission to dive completely into maleness.
So, when I made that decision to play Orsino as a bio male, suddenly the part really cracked open for me. I began looking for clues about his thoughts and opinions about things like his past relationships and his decision not to date older women.
Underneath his mask of bravura and sexuality, and his firmness of feelings, heās quite lonely and has never really felt loved. It makes sense to me why his love for Olivia is so misguided and why he might fall in love with the Cesario/Viola character.
BLADE: As an actor, do you ever risk taking on the feelings of your characters?
KEEGAN: Prior to my mental health education, yes, and that could be toxic for me. Iāve since learned that the nervous system canāt tell the difference between real emotional distress and a that of a fully embodied character.
So, I created and share the Empowered Performer Project. [a holistic approach to performance that emphasizes the mental and emotional well-being of performing artists]. It utilizes somatic tools that help enormously when stepping into a character.
BLADE: Has changing the way you work affected your performances?
KEEGAN: I think Iām much better now. I used to have nearly debilitating stage fright. Iād spend all day dreading going onstage. I thought that was just part of the job. Now, Iāve learned to talk to my body. Prior to a performance, I can now spend my offstage time calmly gardening, working with my mental health clients, or playing with my kid. Iām just present in my life in a different way.
BLADE: Is Orsino your first time playing a male role?
KEEGAN: No. In fact, the very first time I played a male role was at the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, Va. I played Hipolito in Thomas Middletonās The Revengerās Tragedy.
As Hipolito, I felt utterly male in the moment, so much so that I had audience members see me later after the show and they were surprised that I was female. They thought I was a young guy in the role. Thereās something very powerful in that.
BLADE: Do you have a favorite part? Male or female?
KEEGAN: Thatās tough but I think itās Maggie the Cat. I played the hyper-female Maggie in Tennessee Williamsā Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at Round House. In the first act she didnāt stop talking for 51 minutes opposite Gregory Wooddell as Brick who barely had to speak. That lift was probably the heaviest Iāve ever been asked to do in acting.
BLADE: What about Folgerās Twelfth Night might be especially appealing to queer audiences?
KEEGAN: First and foremost is presentation. 99% of the cast identify as queer in some way.
The approach to Shakespeareās text is one of the most bold and playful that I have ever seen. Itās unabashedly queer. The actors are here to celebrate and be loud and colorful and to advocate. Itās a powerful production, especially to do so close to the Capitol building, and thatās not lost on any of us.

The Washington Blade hosted the inaugural WorldPride Boat Parade at The Wharf DC on Friday, June 6. NBC4’s Tommy McFly served as the emcee.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)























The 2025 Capital Pride Honors awards ceremony and gala reception was held at the National Building Museum on Thursday, June 5. Honorees included Cathy Renna, Jerry St. Louis, Ernest Hopkins, Lamar Braithwaite, Rev. Dr. Donna Claycomb Sokol, Kriston Pumphrey, Gia Martinez, Kraig Williams and SMYAL. Presenters and speakers included U.S. Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Amber Ruffin, Raven-SymonƩ and Paul Wharton.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)


































