On November 11, 2018, the Butler Reception Room was to host the first SXU Drag Show in collaboration with SXU Spectrum Alliance.
The room was packed and even as the show began, additional seating had to be brought in through the back to accommodate for the swarm of an audience. The show was hosted by Spectrum Alliance President, Jose Tinajero, and co-hosted by drag performer, Delikate Doll.
The show featured drag performers who have made a name for themselves in the Chicago drag circuit. Drag performer Bambi Banks opened the show and set the tone for the rest of the performances that night.
Following suit, Drag Performer Aunty Chan did her routine. Aunty Chan rose to internet stardom for parody lip synchronizations, best known for “I’m so into voguing right now!”, a song remix from a snippet of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 3, and “I’m reclaiming my time.”, a remix of U.S. House of Representative, Maxine Waters’, most influential judicial discourse.
Abhijeet, another Drag Performer, took control of the runway.
Abhijeet is a transgender performer and pulls her aesthetic from cartoons from her youth, including Sailor Moon, Scooby Doo, Kim Possible, and even Lilo and Stitch.
Kat Sass finished up the first round of drag performers, giving the crowd multiple costume reveals that filled the room with more cheers than the last each time.
It was then time for the Student Performer portion. Anissa Figaro kicked it off with a cover of Kesha Seberts’ “Praying”.
After, Adaizha Taylor jumped into her performance by executing choreography that she had prepared for the show. Carina Jimenez, an attendee, shared, “I know that girl. She’s in my class. You know what even cooler about her? She just got spinal surgery not too long [ago], and she’s already moving that well!”
Another performer was Therese Bueno. Performing an acoustic cover of a popular Beatles song “I’ve Just Seen a Face”, the cornerstone of her performance was her original song titled “Shine Bright”. Bueno had to say, “I actually wrote that song two weeks ago, and I had been trying to record it own my own. Then I saw that you guys were gonna have this show and I thought ‘This is perfect!’”
After the Drag Performers hit the stage for a second time each, it was revealed to the audience that a photo opportunity would be held just outside Butler.
Attendees frantically ran out of the room to claim their spot and capture their night into pictures.
When asked what it was like performing at a school, especially one with a religious affiliation, Delikate Doll chimed in, “I was a really good time getting to be a fantasy in that environment. I’ve never done an event like this. It was a great moment to savor.
The religious standpoint didn’t really bother me, honestly. I’ve been to the school and I know that the people I connected with love drag and need a great night to just have fun.”
When inquired about her experience hosting, and her interest in hosting events like this in the future, Doll replied, “I try to be as adaptable as possible in the moment! I used to host a lot and I’ve always been able to hold my own when it comes to conversations.
“I would love to host more events, and just be involved in student run shows, however possible.”
When asked what she’d say to the queer youth, Doll declared, “As long as there are Queens, Kings, and queers in between and outside of the binary, there will always be a home and there will always be a fight for you to be whoever you wanna be.”
Eric Perez
News Reporter