Plymouth State’s drag kings and queens exploded the stage this past Thurs., Apr. 18, 2013, royally decked out in towering heels, sparkling sequins, and “fishy-real” hair and makeup. Intimately tucked and strapped, the performers and the entire show were well-received by a boisterous crowd.
The Annual Drag Show, hosted by PSU Pride, witnessed one of its greatest and loudest crowds ever at the outdoor stage in front of the Hartman Union Building. The show was produced as part of the organization’s “Pride Week,” a week meant to celebrate and recognize the LGBT community across campus.
The show began with a surprise, non-competitive performance by the night’s MCs Hesta Pinata (senior Brenda Shively) and Sexi Lexi (senior Lexi Casale). The two, extremely well choreographed and fierce as always, pranced, danced, and sassed across the stage, re-enacting the finale scene of the contemporary classic movie, Pitch Perfect.
After their seductively hilarious act, the two composed themselves for a heartfelt moment dedicated to Boston. During the show, members of the class of 2014 traveled amongst the crowd selling blue “Boston Strong” bracelets and accepting donations for One Fund.
From here, the performers did their magic, showing the crowd how they had diligently prepared every hip thrust, booty pop, shimmy, and sashay. When the fierce was finished, the judges were released to discuss, tally up their scores, and make their final decisions.
As the judges deliberated, the President of Pride, junior, Tyler Seidenberg, approached the stage, but was swiftly escorted away by other members of the organization’s E-Board, dressed as the Men in Black. Another surprise performance commenced as the dapper dressed members of E-Board danced synchronously to the Men in Black theme song.
Celebrating their third and final run as MCs, legacies Hesta Pinata and Sexi Lexi signed off just before crowning saying, “Where are our prizes? For three years, we give you everything, and what do we get in return? Blisters.” After the show, Sexi Lexi revealed how much she will miss being a part of the show, explaining that out of everything, “I will miss the anonymity of not being able to see anybody offstage and being able to do anything onstage, that little security blanket, being able to do anything without anyone saying anything. Oh, and dressing up.”
Alas, Hesta Pinata and Sexi Lexi overcame their well-deserved narcissism and proved their professionalism in announcing the winners of the evening. Prizes were awarded to the top three acts, per the judges’ deliberations.
Third place went to KG Love (junior Kayla Grimes) whose inspiring rendition of Macklemore’s “Same Love” empowered and practically brought the crowd to tears. Second place was awarded to Sammay (senior Samuel Tolley) whose performance of “Run the World” complete with drastically limber dance moves and Beyonce-inspired butt pads, left the crowd screaming and begging for more . In a final drum roll, first place was given to the bearded boys in scag drag, Skanky Cranky Heart (junior John O’Grady) and Sluterella (junior Dylan Winter), the drag sisters of Shania Twain.
Overall, the show was another massive success. Seidenberg confidently determined, “The Drag Show and all of Pride Week was a huge success. We nearly ran out of shirts on Big Gay Tie-Dye Day and students across campus took day long vows of silence to stand up against bullying, harassment and discrimination. Again, we are always moved by the support we receive from so many people from all departments on campus. I, and the rest of PSU Pride want to thank everyone who helped make this year’s Pride Week such a success yet again.”