Did you ever think that in one show you could see the works of Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber and the Backstreet Boys? And even better yet, for free? Campus groups Prism and AKS are making your wildest dreams a reality with the First Annual Gender Bender Drag Show on April 27 at Brother Willie’s Pub.
Tuesday night’s drag show is being held to raise awareness about what it means to be transgender.
“There will be male, female, straight and homosexual impersonators,” senior Zack Liebl said. “We really want to showcase all aspects of the GLBT community by breaking the gender barriers and breaking the stereotypes.”
Liebl was inspired by his brother, who attended Mankato State University and helped initiate Mankato’s drag show. This is CSB/SJU’s first ever drag show.
“We want students that are unsure about what they think about transgender to come check it out,” sophomore Jon Luke Robertson said. “We will also be holding a group discussion before to get people thinking.”
Prism and AKS are co-hosting Tuesday’s event.
“We wanted to bring more of a campus-wide effort to the (drag) show and AKS allows more female students to get involved,” Robertson said. “They have added a great dynamic.”
In a sense, the drag show works against the “Johnnie stereotypes” that ring true for many people on campus.
“We are simply exemplifying another aspect of diversity on our campus, and I feel that our campuses are very open and want to explore and learn about this diversity,” Liebl said.
Many people wonder, what exactly is a drag show?
“There is a stage, an audience and music, and the performer lip-syncs, dances and, of course, dresses like the actual performer,” said Liebl.
Come enjoy the performances of CSB/SJU students as drag queens basking in limelight. Don’t forget your one dollar bills.