Set in the 1980s, Pose is a dance musical that explores the juxtaposition of several segments of life and society in New York: the ball culture world, the rise of the luxury Trump-era universe, and the downtown social and literary scene.Mj Rodriguez plays "Blanca," who forms a "house," a self-selected family that provides support to LGBTQ youth rejected by their birth families. Ryan Jamaal Swain plays "Damon," a dancer who joins Blanca's house. Together they compete in the Balls-where house members challenge each other in various categories and are judged on their outfits, attitude, or dance skills-against Blanca's former house mother, "Elektra," played by Dominique Jackson. Billy Porter plays "Pray Tell," Godfather to the children who compete in the balls. Indya Moore plays "Angel," a streetwalker who develops feelings for a new client, "Stan," played by Evan Peters. Kate Mara plays his loving wife, "Patty." James Van Der Beek plays Stan's boss, "Matt."