By: Abbey Raynes
Back for another year, Western sponsored its 30th Annual Drag Show on April 16. Ranging from all levels of experience and age, 14 drag queens and kings showcased their talent and strutted the stage.
Hosted by the Queer Resource Center on campus, the drag show was heavily anticipated, as this year’s event was back in person since the start of the pandemic. Hundreds of people gathered in the Performing Arts Center with excitement for an in-person production, ready to watch their favorite kings and queens.
From “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves to “The Cult of Dionysus” by The Orion Experience or bedazzled fishnets and tear away dresses, the uniqueness of each performer wowed the audience. Whether it had been their first time appearing in front of a large crowd or their hundredth, the applause and love for everyone was a sight to behold.
As enthusiasm was at a high in the auditorium, first time drag aficionado, The Baroness, said their favorite part about drag was the liveliness it brought on.
“I really liked being on stage and the energy that being in front of an audience gives me,” The Baroness said.
Along with that, they said they never did drag up until this point because they didn’t think they were allowed to. They always thought it looked cool, so once they realized they could participate, it was something they wanted to try.
“I found out that drag is kind of for everyone,” The Baroness said. “It doesn’t matter what your gender is or how you present and so far it’s been a really fun experience.”
Not only was this The Baroness’s first performance, it was also many people’s first drag show, including my own. With a raise of hands, people shot their arms up as emcee, Tia Rikki, asked who’s first time it was watching the show.
From my own time at the show, I was captivated by the spectrum of the kings and queens because they were all so diverse. The multiplicity of everyone made the show even much more enjoyable to watch because each person was special in their own way.
Whether it be ripping heads off babies or death dropping on the floor, the art and theater of drag was one of the most fun experiences I’ve witnessed.
Additionally, while the box office revenue went toward local LGBTQ+ charities: Lifelong and the Sean Humphrey House, the show also provided an outlet and resource for the queer community to come together and connect with each other.
Western alum and drag connoisseur, Dizzy Phoria, said they wanted to get more involved in their queer community and space after coming out as a Trans non-binary person. They said they became a ‘drag explosion’, while wanting to do more and more once they began.
“It’s such a nice avenue to explore gender and playfulness,” Dizzy Phoria said.
With drag being an option for individuals to explore their own identity, it was very apparent how inclusive and open-minded the drag community was as they fully embraced newcomers and all, with overwhelming support.
The beauty of drag comes in all different shapes and sizes. The ability to celebrate it in various ways through self-expression and fluidity is something that transcends boundaries.
