Category Archives: Drag
THE GAYS New York Premiere
Christmas with the Crawfords in New York
HOW FABULOUS IS THIS?!
Christmas with the Crawfords
LYPSINKA Returns! for 8 weeks!
1 STAR! 3 SHOWS! 8 WEEKS!
John Epperson’s
Iconic Creation Returns to the New York Stage
For the First Time in Nine Years
To Celebrate Three Decades of the ‘Goddess of Showbiz’
With Three Glamorous Productions Running in Rotating Repertory
Lypsinka! The Boxed Set, The Passion of the Crawford
And John Epperson: Show Trash
Previews Begin November 5th, 2014
At The Connelly Theater (220 East Fourth Street, NYC)
Strictly-Limited Engagement – Through January 3, 2015 Only
After a 9-year absence, a triple dose of the legendary Lypsinka, John Epperson’s iconic creation, will be doled out this Fall when the ‘Goddess of Showbiz’ deigns to grace New York City with her sweeping presence in LYPSINKA! THE TRILOGY. To celebrate a staggering three decades of glamorous theatrics, three different shows — revivals of the acclaimed LYPSINKA! THE BOXED SET and THE PASSION OF THE CRAWFORD, as well as the New York premiere of JOHN EPPERSON: SHOW TRASH – will run in rotating repertory for a strictly-limited 8-week engagement from November 5th, 2014 – January 3rd, 2015. The trilogy will take place at the ravishing jewel-box Connelly Theater, located at 220 East 4th Street in Manhattan’s way-too-swept-up East Village . . . a stone’s throw from the Pyramid Club and Tompkins Square Park, where Lypsinka was born. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, September 19th at 10am and will be available at www.tweedtheater.org/
LYPSINKA! THE BOXED SET – Directed by Kevin Malony
Not seen in New York since 2001, this full-length ‘traditional Lypsinka’ concert show is the award-winning revue of Lyp’s greatest bits that has toured the world, flabbergasting audiences from Los Angeles to Sydney to Glasgow. Using a soundtrack created from films, musicals, and concert recordings, the supreme archivist of irony showcases the modern woman’s challenge of being over-blessed with femininity and celebrity.
“An artful illusion-spinner!
Lypsinka anatomizes feminine artifice — and its dangers — like no one else.
Finesse is evident in every aspect of the production . . . A fascinating, funny spectacle.”
– The New York Times
THE PASSION OF THE CRAWFORD – Directed by Kevin Malony
The Lyp’s tour de force embodiment of towering screen queen Joan Crawford – featuring a re-enactment of Crawford’s onstage interview from 1973 – is a fantasia of fame and insecurity, grandness and identity. Last presented in New York in 2005, this tribute to Hollywood and ego crisis has since been mounted from San Francisco to Sarasota.
“Raises the act of mouthing words and lyrics to an art form.”
– Oakland Tribune
JOHN EPPERSON: SHOW TRASH – Directed by Barry Kleinbort
An autobiographical multi-media pastiche, starring Epperson – unmasked and in street clothes – tinkling the ivories and spinning yarns of Mississippi, Manhattan, and Hollywood. Now making its New York City theatrical premiere, the anecdotal SHOW TRASH reveals the man behind the madness.
“In discovering Epperson’s roots, you more fully grasp Lypsinka. The fusion is complete.
Lypsinka may have the looks and Epperson the soul, but they’ve both got each other: Epsinka.”
– Washington Post
Magnus Hastings Photos WHY DRAG? at OUT Hotel
“WHY DRAG?” WONDERS ARTIST IN NEW PHOTO EXHIBITION LAUNCHING DURING NYC’S GAY PRIDE MONTH
This month, Magnus Hastings, a pioneer in drag photography, presents a remarkable installation of photographs that capture some of the world’s most celebrated drag superstars and asks them the question, “Why Drag?”. Photos represent a wide spectrum of drag ranging from mainstream icons, underground drag royalty and the new breed of reality television stars. Included notables are Bianca Del Rio, Courtney Act, Sharon Needles, Lady Bunny, DWV, Jackie Beat and an introduction by Boy George. The exhibition will take place at New York’s Out Hotel Monday May, 26th through August 31st, during New York City’s Pride month. It will then move on to other North American cities. A coffee table book featuring many of the images from the “Why Drag?” exhibition is also in the works.
“I have been shooting drag queens for the past ten years,” explains Magnus Hastings from his home in Los Angeles. “Drag is the creative love of my life. I view it as both a magical fantasy world and as an art form. In art, you can have a Picasso or a Matisse. You can also have a painting of velvet dogs playing poker. I like to think that my show is presenting a room full of Picassos.”
Hastings describes himself as a child of drag. As a youth, he would raid his mother’s closet and play with old hairpieces and accessories he found. He particularly loved her white ostrich feather fan. He would run up and down the street, naked, wearing only the fan and a pair of his sister’s silver clogs. He also regularly put on shows for his parents, usually opting for the female lead and relegating his sister to the supporting roles.
Then ten years ago, while visiting Sydney, Hastings came across an extraordinary group of drag queens. Among them was Vanity Faire, upon whom Hastings found himself transfixed by. “I thought I had left drag behind in my childhood, but it felt like I found my way home,” he says.
Vanity Faire was the first queen he shot and would become his first muse. His portrait of her dressed as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz is included in the exhibition. The piece is so special to him that its original hangs in his living room.
Magnus Hastings’ love of drag was reignited once again, only this time, instead of dressing in it, he was seizing the pageantry in beautiful photographs. He continued shooting drag personalities, quickly becoming the go-to photographer for drag portraits. The queens appreciated the fun he brought to a shoot, his skill in lighting and his willingness to do just about anything to get the perfect shot.
To capture the image of Courtney Act featured in the Why Drag? exhibition, Hastings photographed her in a filthy dumpster behind her apartment. For the Sharon Needles photo, he flew to New York armed with a straight jacket. He intended to photograph Needles in her hotel room but it was so tiny, they ended up shooting in the hotel lobby instead. “I was panicking that the security would stop me because we were causing a fire hazard. I just clicked like crazy, without checking what the hell I was getting, and then sorted it out afterwards.”
Thinking on his toes is how Hasting’s captures many of his most popular images. “Some see it as chaos but I see it as mixing it up,” he says. “Shooting superb photos is about being able to come up with an idea instantly, trying it, and hoping it works. I did a great shoot with Adore Delano running around the streets of West Hollywood simply grabbing anything that caught my attention as background.
“I find using a tripod very difficult because it makes everything static, which is fine if that’s what you want, but it’s not me. My way makes for some, umm, interesting contact sheets.”
The “Why Drag?” photo exhibition will be the first time Magnus Hastings’ work is on public display in New York. In addition to the portraits, each queen featured answers the question, “Why Drag?”.
It’s a simple enough question, but it’s interesting to see the girls that take it as an honest inquiry and those who view the question as an attack. Some mistake the question to mean, ‘What the fuck are you dressing up for?’
“My intention was to learn what lead them to their love of drag,” explains Hastings. “To uncover what drag means in their life.”
Alaska Thunderfuck arguably answers the question best, saying, “Drag is like being a nun or a priest. Once you get the divine calling, you have no choice in the matter and you belong to drag for life.”
Through the process of shooting them, Magnus Hastings has developed his own thoughts on the question. “The queens do it because it’s in their blood. Some enjoy the attention and the infamy, but it is more than that. They are artists and their canvas is their face and body.”
The “Why Drag” photo exhibition takes place at New York’s Out Hotel beginning Monday, May 26th through Tuesday, August 26. For more information, visit http://magnushastingsphotography.com.
Bianca Del Rio Insults Hebro!
WATCH Bianca del Rio Do Jew!
Purchase reduced $20 tickets to Hebro Pride event with an open wine and beer bar!
CLICK HERE!
UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bianca is teaming up with director Matt Kugelman for a comedy:
Hurricane Bianca is a feature-length comedy about a New York teacher who moves to a small town in Texas, gets fired for being gay, and returns disguised as a mean “lady” to get revenge on the people who were nasty to him! It’s Tootsie meets Revenge of the Nerds, or Mrs. Doubtfire for the Jackass generation! Topical, touching and really funny, it’s one person’s journey to find himself while pretending to be someone else.
Lady Bunny Clown Syndrome Opens This Week at New Yorks La Escuelita
“Clown Syndrome” opens on Tuesday April 29nd and runs for five consecutive Tuesdays through May 27.
The price is as cheap as her humor—$19.95 with a recession-friendly 1 drink minimum.
La Escuelita is at 301 West 39th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues.
Clowns Syndrome is co-written by Bunny and the bitter and hysterical Facebook sensation Beryl Mendelbaum. For tickets, head here.
Bunny is interviewed this week by Huffington Posts Noah Michelsen. Bunny discusses her show, politics and the whole she mail backlash.
Look, being trans is a very difficult journey and it is very hard to understand. I’m really the wrong one to ask about the terms because I didn’t like it it when the Gay Center started calling itself the Gay and Lesbian Center because that is grammatically incorrect. Gay means you like the same sex and lesbian means you like the same sex. It’s like saying “Fruits and apples” or “bitches and Bianca Del Rio.”
Then at one point they were saying the sign was like Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Two-Spirits and I’m just like — listen! Why don’t we come together? And stop trying to divide us because, like I said, those people who are going to bash you in a dark ally are probably going to bash me and a gay man or woman who is not in drag. So I don’t understand the divisiveness and I certainly don’t understand the hatred towards RuPaul.
Here’s my other thing: you’re going to get offended in life! If you decide to come out of the closet, there’s a lot of people that hate gays! If you decide to transition into a woman, there’s a lot of people who hate trans people. That comes with the territory! You’re going to get offended. GLAAD has included on its list of taboo words the term “gender bender.” David Bowie was a gender bender! There’s no derogatory term in there! I don’t think anyone’s ever bashed a drag queen or a trans person and said “You fucking gender bender!” You know? The thing with RuPaul and the “she-mail” controversy really riled me up because first of all, there are people who would bash your head in a dark ally if you’re gay, drag or trans. Are you going to focus on some silly game on a reality show?
There are well-funded organizations who seek to deny gay and trans people equal opportunities and housing. Are those your real enemies? Or is it someone doing a “shemale versus female” thing? I just really feel like it’s kind of crazy to attack RuPaul and it just seems like word police. I looked at some graphic the other day called the “Transgender Umbrella” and it included everything — drag queen, transvestite, transgender pre-op, post-op, two spirit, berdache, questioning — and I fall under that umbrella. So if I want to use the word “tranny,” which I’ve always seen as an affectionate abbreviation for someone who is a transvestite or transsexual, that is my right.
Wise words! We LOVE LADY BUNNY! Could you see Hillary and Bunny running the White House?
Read more of her great interview HERE at Huff Post
For more information on Lady Bunny, visit her official website here.
Green Haired Lady – Hedda Lettuce Art Show April 4th
HEDDA LETTUCE – the queen of green!
is having her first solo art show this week, beginning April 4th!
Titled: The Green Haired Lady (of course!) opens April 4th at 6:30pm. MCCNY Gallery 446 w 36th street. It is a series of new works combining camp and spirituality, to create a series of portraits of the magical Green Haired Lady.
Performance by Hedda Lettuce at 8pm. Free wine and cheese!
- 446 West 36th Street, between 9th & 10th Avenues
- New York, New York 10018
Miss Coco Peru PRAYS THE PREACHER Away
A Catholic high School has postponed a talk by a controversial priest
who encourages teens to “pray away the gay” — but the president of the
Bronx school defied angry gay groups by saying the lecturer will be invited back.
Father Donald Timone was scheduled to speak Tuesday night at Cardinal
Spellman High School about the Catholic group called Courage — which
encourages teens “struggling with same-sex attraction” to lead chaste
lives.
After outrage by lesbian and gay alumni, and some staffers, school
President Trevor Nicholls scrubbed the event — but this battle is not
over.
New Book looks at the history of New York Nightlife…THE FUN: THE SOCIAL PRACTICE OF NIGHTLIFE IN NYC
is a first-of-its-kind publication, documenting the new forms of
nightlife practitioners to emerge since the turn of the millennium.
Through profiles of over 30 artists, including the royalty of Manhattan
nightlife like Susanne Bartsch and Ladyfag; hybrid forms like Xtapussy
and FCKNLZ; the continuation of minimal wave and goth communities
through Pendu Disco; and the vibrant queer scenes of JUDY, Frankie
Sharp, and My Chiffon is Wet, THE FUN documents the rich
contemporary cultural activity keeping NYC as weird and innovative as
decades past.
voices in the nightlife, including artists Rob Roth and Genesis
P-Orridge, curators and critics Claire Bishop and Jake Yuzna, as well as
journalist Michael Musto providing both historical context and
contemporary understanding of nightlife as a vital artistic practice
that has been marginalized by the arts sector for hundreds of years.
from the explosion of large and small discos throughout the 1970s like
Studio 54, which paved the way for 80s megaclubs; the candy-colored club
kid movement of Michael Alig and the Limelight in the early 90s; the
parallel expansion of the boundary shattering merger of drag,
performance, and music in downtown venues such as the Pyramid Club and
Mother; the rise of Brooklyn as a new focal point in the 2000s with the
emergence of Luxx, Secret Project Robot, Silent Barn and other hybrid
arts/music/nightlife venues; and on into the many vibrant forms found
today.
978-1-57687-659-6, $39.95)
from Paris Hilton and Lydia Hearst to the Backstreet Boys, Foxy Brown
and Gwen Stefani was drawn to their taste for sparkly streetwear glam.
“The clothes were attention getting and fun,” Heatherette’s longtime
friend and muse Amanda Lepore remembers. “They had a distinct look,
which at that time — everyone wanted it. David LaChapelle was using it. All the
celebrities wanted it. It was in demand.” (from Paper Mag).
while Rich is set to launching two fashion lines this spring: Rich
& Warr, a mens line, and a womens, Chantilly Rich, with Chantilly
Lace designer, Chantelle Warr. Although busy, Rich still has his eye on
the club scene. “It’s been fun watching the new generation of kids. When
I moved to New York I was ‘the new’ to the old nightlife generation,”
Richie says. “Now it’s fun to see all the new kids coming on the block
and dressing up. I feel like the style is coming back. Who knows, maybe
Heatherette will too.”
New York-based photographer Leland Bobbé has captured portraits of drag queens in half drag!
queens in half drag for his ongoing project ‘Half-Drag . . . A Different
Kind of Beauty.’
“With this series my intention is to capture both the male and the alter
ego female side of these subjects in one image in order to explore the
cross over between males and females and to break down the physical
barriers that separate them,” Bobbé says.
These images, composed and stylized through the power of hair and
makeup, are captured in one snap, and are NOT digitally composed.
MILDRED FIERCE! Varla Jean Merman and Boston’s Acclaimed Gold Dust Orphans in NYC
MILDRED FIERCE is a
musical romp that tells the story of a single mother, alone and afraid. And
the men in her life? A shiftless ex-husband, a shady realtor, a cold-hearted playboy.
But by baking her way to the top, Mildred soon has it all! The world is her oyster,
and the city, her cracker. Save for one little thing…she’s got a daughter who
makes Adolph Hitler look like Anne Frank!
Watch all the glorious melodrama of
“Mildred Pierce” explode all over the stage as The Gold Dust Orphans
bring you their brand new musical parody sprinkled with splashy songs, tap
dancing pies, bawdy “Waitress” lingo and more surprises than you can
shake a rolling pin at!
Sent through The Gold Dust Orphans’ glitter
filled parody machine, the cast of MILDRED
FIERCE features Varla Jean Merman as “Mildred” and Orphan favorites Ryan
Landry, Penny Champayne, Olive Another, Liza Lott and Delta Miles.
MOUTHWATERING costumes are by Scott Martino,
TERRIFIC sets by Amelia Gossett, SUPERIOR direction by James P. Byrne and STUNNING
soundscapes by Roger Moore.
The production, written by Ryan Landry will
have it’s official opening on Saturday, October 12th at 10:30PM and
run until October 27. Performances of MILDRED FIERCE are on Saturdays & Sundays in October. Saturdays
at 8:30 & 10:30PM and Sundays at 3:30PM. Enjoy Pre – Show Cocktails in The William
Barnacle Tavern, next door to the Theater 80 Lobby.
WARNING:
This is an ADULT parody! DO NOT BRING YOUR CHILDREN!
Varla Jean Merman starred in the new musical Lucky Guy opposite Leslie
Jordan in NY at the Little Schubert in spring 2011 prompting The New York Times
to rave, “If Carol Burnett and Harvey Korman had stood in front of the right
pair of funhouse mirrors, they might have resembled Ms. Merman and Mr. Jordan
in stature as well as comedic talent”.
She guest starred on Ugly Betty in the final season of the show and was
also featured on Bravo’s Project Runway Season 5 as the winning model for the
show’s drag challenge. She has filled cabarets and concert halls across the
world including the Sydney Opera House, Carnegie Hall, the New York Public
Theater, London’s Soho Theatre and LA’s Renberg Theatre. She wrote and starred
in the short Improve Your History with Varla Jean: Stonewall, for the launch of
the MTV’s television network Logo and was also seen in their One Night Standup:
Dragtastic special.
Theater 80 St. Marks is located at 80
St. Marks Place (Btw 1st and 2nd Aves).
Jackie Beat Returns to New York – These Hips Are Made For Walking
Acclaimed Drag Star Returns to Times Square
JACKIE BEAT:
August 31 & September 1 at
“Amazingly witty, sarcastic, and bitchy… Ms. Beat’s wickedly morose humor has split the sides of many unsuspecting spectators, performing your favorite tunes in her own twisted way.” — Village Voice
“A triple-shot barrage of twisted songs, barbed social commentary, and all-around bad taste.” — Staten Island Advance
“Hostile, lewd, and riotously funny.” — Time Out
JACKIE BEAT, everyone’s favorite big and bawdy, bold and ballsy,
in-your-face funny “lady” returns to Times Square with her latest solo
comedy. For two nights only, the self-professed bastard child of
“Weird” Al Yankovic and Bette Midler will premiere JACKIE BEAT: THESE
HIPS ARE MADE FOR WORKING at The Laurie Beechman Theater (inside West
Bank Cafe at 407 West 42nd Street — at Ninth Avenue, accessible from
the A,C,E,N,R,V,F,1,2,3 trains at 42nd Street).
Saturday, August 31 & Sunday, September 1 with shows at 7:30pm & 10pm.
Tickets are $22 plus a $15 food/drink minimum. To purchase tickets,
call 212-352-3101 or visit www.SpinCycleNYC.com. A full bar and waiter
service is available throughout the performance.
After a widely publicized double hip replacement in April, America’s
most treasured drag star JACKIE BEAT is back and more bitter than
ever. In JACKIE BEAT: THESE HIPS ARE MADE FOR WORKING, the newly
bionic drag star shares stories about her surgery and recovery while
serving up her internationally acclaimed song parodies. With little to
do but lay around and recover, the show will feature 100% new
material. You have been warned!
New York’s Fabulous Lady Bunny – Take Me Up High
response that we’re already working on a follow-up single. So stay
tuned! And if you like dancing to this kind of music, please request
“Take Me Up High” on the radio, at the club or wherever you listen to
dance music.
Special thanks go to:
Steve Willis for directing the video and creating it’s concept.
Post production by Cody Swanson (editor), Shannon Laskey (graphics), Dustin Wadsworth and Thomas Ramsey (post effects).
The
groovy dancers in the video are Princess Lockerooo in red, C.J.
Quinones looking all sexy in the tank top and Muffinhead Daehniffum in
all white.
Milk Studios in NYC for donating their exquisite space to a zany drag queen and crew!
Bobby Shaw for everything! And all the DJs who have supported us on our intergalactic quest to make the universe dance.
Billy Erb (NYC) for his amazing album cover photo.
My
friend/phenomenal singer Phillip Ramirez for introducing me to
Wayne/Lybra Records and for always encouraging me to sing and write
music.”
Lybra Records: http://www.lybrarecords.com
New Yorks THE CENTER presents Drag By Definition
Drag by Definition
Tuesday, July 23, 7 p.m.
Tickets: $5
Click here to purchase tickets.
Think you know “ferocious?” How about “legendary?” Or are you serving “circus drag?”
We’re having a kiki with Phi-Phi O’Hara and Titania Steele, two of today’s hottest drag queens (you may have seen Phi-Phi on a little show called “RuPaul’s Drag Race”) to talk the queen’s English and give you the inside scoop on drag performance. We’re serving up “Drag by Definition.”
In partnership with Eachone.com featuring photographer Paul Brickman’s
online art exhibition, “Paul Brickman’s Drag by Definition,” we’re
hosting Phi-Phi and Titania, along with the artist and his curator, Jasmine Wahi. Come hear these legendary queens as they discuss drag culture and what it takes to be a drag superstar.
About the Exhibition
“Paul
Brickman’s Drag by Definition” is an online art exhibition exploring
contemporary drag culture featuring today’s hottest drag queens,
including Sharon Needles, Phi-Phi O’Hara, Ivy Winters and many more.
Check it out and purchase the artworks exclusively on Eachone.com, June 26th – August 6th, 2013.
Get Dragged Up!
You can participate in this exhibition by taking a picture of yourself in drag and posting it to Instagram with the hashtag #dragbydefinition. At the end of the exhibition Eachone.com will select their favorite entries. Winners will receive a free print of their choice.