With intricate costumes and elaborate makeup, the 10th annual UIndy Drag Show was no “joke” on April 1. UIndy PRIDE and theatre honor society Alpha Psi Omega organized this year’s event in Ransburg Auditorium at the University of Indianapolis.
Stevoncé kicked off the show by singing an Adele medley that featured songs such as “Hello,” “Rumour Has It” and “Chasing Pavements.” After the welcome announcement, UIndy PRIDE Co-President Austin Elliott and APO Secretary Lizz Krull presented the judges. The performances began after the emcees for the night, Stevoncé and Zaza, gave a brief introduction.
Songs such as “Pour it up,” “99 Problems,” “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” “Get Me Bodied,” “No,” “Formation” and “River Deep, Mountain High” were performed by Ado Annie, Blair St. Clair, Charlize Montagne, Melody Monet, The Slayoncés, Andrea Merlyn, BeyonSlay and the Fly Honees, Zaza and many more.
UIndy alum Cate “Queen of the Dance” Noder returned to the stage with a dance performance and a standup comedy skit.
Audience members were encouraged to tip the performers. All donations and tips benefited the Indiana Youth Group, an LGBTQIA youth center and safe haven for youth in the Greater Indianapolis Region.
Sophomore psychology major Andi Bailey attended the drag show and said it is something she looks forward to all year.
“It’s that one time that we can all come together, allies and the LGBT[QIA] community, and just celebrate and be one community,” Bailey said.
At the end of the show, Elliott and Krull announced the winners of the show and handed out a couple of captioned awards. Best Dressed went to Melody Monet, Congeniality went to Cate Noder, Runner-Up went to the Slayoncés, and First Place went to BeyonSlay and the Fly Honees.
“Everybody deserves to win,” Bailey said. “Just because the judges may not have picked them, does not mean that they’re not amazing.”
Senior theatre design and production major Jake Clark said that being a part of the show as Zaza was overall a really fun process, especially because it was the tenth anniversary.
“It [the drag show] was something that was really empowering,” Clark said. “So it was a pretty cool opportunity to be able to host it and perform in it.”
Clark was inspired to create his character from a broadway musical and from a project in his costume design class.
“We thought it would be a really cool idea to create the character of Lady Zaza,” Clark said. “That way, I had a backstory of who I was performing as.”
Bailey said she loves this event and encourages students to go.
“It’s just fun to celebrate and dance along,” Bailey said. “Everybody there is there to be together, to not only have a good time, but to also support an amazing foundation that gives the LGBTQ[IA] community a safe haven.”
Clark thinks that this is a good event to break out of one’s comfort zone and encourages students to definitely attend in the future.
“Take a leap out; go out and do it. And if you don’t like it, there’s no one forcing you to stay,” Clark said. “But I think that overall it’s a fun time. You get to laugh; you get to dance; you get to sing along; you get to support your fellow classmates. I think it’s a really good opportunity for people to kind of try something outside of their
comfort zone.”
