If you’ve never been to Mardi Gras but wanted to, this is the show for you.
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Drags to Bitches is the funniest night you’ll have this side of the Oxford Street fiesta that is a celebration of all things LGBTQIA.
Imagine if you will a dressing room, post show, filled with discarded feather boas, mountains of glitter and more make-up than most women would use in a lifetime.
That’s the result after the 11-person cast of Drags to Bitches has performed for two hours with 30 costume changes.
This show is inspiring, funny, classy and cheeky all at the same time. It promises to be the most extravagant piece of entertainment you will see all year.
“The first half is a tribute to divas Cher, Celine, Dolly, Tina Turnerand Shania,” says founder of the show Jace Pearson aka LayDee KinMee the yodelling drag queen from Australia’s Got Talent 2012.
She caused a sensation with her unexpected vocal gymnastics. She didn’t make it beyond the semi-finals, but was asked to re-appear as a special guest in the live decider episode as part of the opening spectacular.
“There were so many reality [talent] shows out there and a lot of my friends auditioned for them. I thought Australia’s Got Talent looked more for niche performers.”
It certainly exposed – pun intended – her to more possibilities. “I knew I wanted to put a show together and I was having lunch with a girlfriend and she came up with the name Drags to Bitches and it grew from there.”
Pearson started to gather a suitable cast from performers she had seen on stage, invested in wigs, costumes, and tonnes of glitter and the first shows hit the bright lights in 2014.
“The majority of the show is sung live. We have three live singers, a comedian, three dancing drags and four male dancers,” Pearson says.
Cast members are: LayDee KinMee, Ru Bella, Maureen A’Moans, Marilyn Mootrub, Opehlia Shaft, Crystal Ball, Paris Cite, and Tim Wright, Justin Hitchcock, Alexander Pollard, Graham Llewellyn.
The second half is a tribute to classic drag anthems and elaborate costumes. I am What I Am, This is My Life, MacArthur Park, YMCA, Hot Stuff and I Will Survive and songs from La Cage Aux Folles, Romeo and Juliet, Dream Girls, and of course, Priscilla - Queen of the Desert.
“We have about six hours of material for a two hour show. We do change up the songs depending on the venue. It’s written for everyone.”
Pearson says the audience is very mixed, usually in the 40-50 age range, lots of women, LGBTQIA, and the straight men that get “little crushes on the drag queens”.
Doors open at 7.30pm for the 8pm show on Saturday, June 23, at Laurieton United Services Club. Tickets are $35 pre-sale and $40 at door.
Despite the show’s name, Pearson says the cast is “down to earth and not bitchy”.
