Finals week is a week that most students dread, but EvCC decided to make it more exciting by holding its annual drag show event. The event started at 7 pm, but the actual performance did not start until 8 pm, and it ended at 10 pm. The event was open to all EvCC students and community members with a free admission. Music and snacks were provided at the beginning of the show, as well as pins and stickers available for purchase. The event was held in the Henry M Jackson Conference Center and was hosted by Safe Zone Committee, the Triangle Safe Zone Committee, and the Pride Center in the Diversity and Equity Department.
The beginning of the event featured a free photo booth, available to anyone who attended the event. There were a total of four pictures taken along with props for the photo, and there was not a limit on the number of copies you could receive. You may have to wait a few minutes for your photos to print, depending on how long the line is.
The event also had an array of snacks available; pizza (cheese and pepperoni), chips, soda and water. All the snacks and drinks provided were free and available to anyone who attended the event. There was also a booth that had pins and stickers with drag queens on them as well as cute symbols. Two pins could be bought for three dollars and cash was the only form of payment accepted.
If you have never been to a drag show then be advised that even though the event is free, it is still a good idea to have cash on hand. During the show the performers will come around to collect tips from the audience. Tipping the drag queens and kings, not only shows your support to the performers, but it allows you to get special attention and interaction. Also be advised that this show is one of the most attended events at EvCC and it is best to get to the event as early as possible to get good seats.
The drag queens in the show included Drew Paradisco, Jessica Paradisco, Blake McCabe, Fraya Love, Macy Marcs and Starla D’Ville. The event also included a drag king by the name of Ceasar Heart.
The performance consisted of the drag queens and kings lip syncing to popular songs. Some of the songs included; diamonds are a girl’s best friend by Marilyn Monroe, halo by Beyonce, who knew by pink, the best by Tina Turner and more. The music was loud and was played throughout the entire event, if you are sensitive to loud noises then bring ear plugs to the event for the best experience.
The performers interacted extremely well with the audience, the people who tipped the drag queens and kings were getting sung to, danced with and even hugged by performers. The performers also all had multiple different costume changes that left the crowd cheering and applauding for more. “Drag queens are the only performers that can have multiple costume changes and still be fully clothed,” said Drew Paradisco.
The end of the event featured a time for the audience to ask the performers questions. One student asked, “If you want to be a drag queen or king do you have to be of the opposite gender?” In unison the performers said, “Drag does not have a gender! Anyone can do it.”
After questions, there was also a time to take pictures with your favorite performer. If you know that you want a picture then sit towards the front of the event. Then you have a good chance of getting a picture without having to wait a long time. Once the event and questions were over the time was about 10:30, so be aware that the event will most likely not end exactly at 10 pm. There was also time after the event to hang with friends and listen to music.
One student, Sitlali Rodrigues said that, “The event was amazing, we had a lot of fun.” Another student, Mariana Gonzalez said that, “I can’t wait for next year’s show! The performers were so awesome.”
If you did not make it to the drag show performance and are interested in seeing a drag show then you can see some of the performers at a bar lounge called Belltown Babe in Seattle. Le Faux Show, Queer Bar and Dragster Seattle are top rated drag shows in Seattle. Most of these shows have an age limit of 21 so be sure to look ahead of time at the requirements if you are under the age. Seattle also holds a number of pride feasts that are available for anyone to go to.
