SAIC holds annual drag/burlesque show

After a three-part series of “werkshops” on drag and burlesque performance in the last two weeks, the School of the Art Institute celebrated a new direction (the recognition of drag and burlesque as art forms officially) with the close of the school year and the unofficial start of spring. The manifestation of the “werkshops” (the school’s spelling) culminated in the second annual drag and burlesque show at the SAIC Ballroom on April 29.

Hosted by drag/burlesque icon Mister Junior and MVJ Productions head Joseph Varisco, the evening not only embraced old-school burlesque with strong hints of “naughtiness” (Tosh Sherman’s saucy, wordless striptease with a capitol “tease”), avant otherworldly art performance (Redrum in her elaborate, shocking, thought-provoking take on Real Life’s “Send Me An Angel”), but also straight-up physical comedy (Anna the Prince and Bubbles the Abhijeet with a high energy slapstick take on Mindless Self Indulgence’s “A La Mode”), celebratory gender-bending (Mister Junior’s snappy, bitchy re-read of Britney Spears’ “Werq Bitch”), traditional drag (Material Girl’s rethinking of Madonna’s “Material Girl”), furious estrogen-fueled drag (a high-energy rip through Beyonce’s “Blow” courtesy of The Wife of Wrath) and a smirking satirical grab at the drag-king throne (Pristina Christine’s show-stopping finale of Justin Bieber’s “As Long As You Love Me”).

Students of all varieties filled the auditorium to capacity to not only applaud the veterans but to support many students who were venturing into public drag performance for the first time. The night was all about inclusion, acceptance and celebration and high hopes. The School of the Art Institute’s (SAIC’s) Office of Multicultural Affairs and MVJ Productions hope to make this second show and series of “werkshops” an annual event.

Also please see related article at the link: windycitytimes.com/lgbt/Drag-burlesque-workshop-series-held-at-SAIC/47131.html.

Related