This July, Zac Levine will open nightclub Supernova with a theatrical twist. He ran the "Stayin' Alive" disco parties for several years, which will now find a permanent home at the new club. Supernova is also the new home for BeautyBoiz, a live-arts company that elevates QTPOC and LGBTQIA+ artists. More broadly, every night that the club is open, the plan is for live entertainment in a captivating scene.

Immersive interior
Supernova intends to be a hub for escapism and promote "uninhibited freedom," according to Levine. "When patrons come in, I want them to be transported to a different reality," he said.

While guests can enter the ground floor from the street, Supernova's mezzanine is accessed via a colorful staircase then a colorful hallway, followed by an infinity-mirror hallway (with lights and sounds that guests can change). Finally, one enters the mezzanine through the door of a 1972 soda machine.

Once inside, the immersive art continues, with a VW bus bar, spiral dancefloor, walls of mirrors, and art installations. Even Supernova's bathroom stalls, each all-gender inclusive, were painted by a woman or person of color to create an art experience.

Levine added that there will also be bubbles, confetti, snow, fog, and lasers, among other special features.

Performers and talent

Levine excitedly listed the talent in store, and the plans for more to come. He named drag queens Queen Moscow, Angela Visalia, Sativa Queen, Queen Irene, Rocket Talksalot, Jane Don't, Kalvin Killer Bunny, Issa Man, Charlie Foxtail, Monday Morning, and others, saying "Shoot, we just have so many, and it continues to grow."

The venue will also host lip-syncs, as well as jugglers, live musicians, DJs, and more.

Supernova works closely with BeautyBoiz, who will share the space. As an arts production group, they will develop their own talents and facilitate their own hiring while at Supernova.

Staff and goals

Levine centers inclusivity and theatricality in his approach to running Supernova.

Levine emphasizes that at Supernova, "everyone is welcome as long as there's no bigotry or intolerance, because that's the only thing we do not tolerate." He also says Supernova is not "just a gay club, it's not a straight club, it's a yes club, [and] it's for everybody."

The club aims to reverse the power structure in which straight, cisgender, white men tend to be prioritized, by staffing itself with a diverse group of people. Most of the staff are women or femme- presenting, LGBTQIA+, and/or BIPOC, and it is designed to welcome people of all identities. Levine envisions a space with "cornerstones of intersectional community building and inclusion." With these goals, he wants to help uplift performers.

Levine says he considers every staff member to be "a theatrical cast member, and we encourage every patron to be a theatrical cast member themselves. The idea is that we're all working together to create this show, and this show is freedom and self-expression."

Opening weekend events

When Supernova opens, the venue will likely host Friday and Saturday nights for its first two months before expanding into more frequent and daily use.

On Friday, July 2, the club will host an event called "Thank God It's Friday," with DJs playing funky house, gospel house, Chicago Detroit house, and vocal house music; it will also feature circus performers as part of the immersive entertainment.

On Saturday, July 3, "Stayin' Alive" returns, bringing disco from the past and present back to SoDo. It will feature Universal People, made up of performers from Seattle's funk band Marmalade, together with magicians, drag queens, circus performers, and other live performances.

On Sunday, July 4, BeautyBoiz will lead their own event, "BeautyBoiz REVIVAL," which will include drag and vogue performances with "very queer-focused energy."

Supernova can be found at 110 S. Horton in the SoDo district, and online at www.supernovaseattle.com.