On November 10, 2018, Saint Xavier University held its very first Drag Show, hosted by the Spectrum Alliance. This night was absolutely monumental for everyone involved; not only was it a kaleidoscope of unforgettable moments, but history was made that evening.
As someone who’s been to a handful of drag shows prior, I knew that there was so much to look forward to. Drag is an artform and a culture which has been around for centuries. It has been defined by drag queens who dress up in exaggerated feminine wear and act in feminine gender roles. The exaggeration is meant for comedic, satirical, dramatic entertainment. Drag can be used to parody the gender rules and bend how we typically think of gender.
Drag, typically involving male performers, has been strongly associated with gay culture. That being said, drag can be used as a form of self expression. Performances include lip syncing, dancing, celebrity impersonations, live singing, etc.
Regardless of gender and sexual orientations, anyone can perform in drag. The experience can be empowering and uplifting for drag queen performers. They feel as though they show their true colors when they hit the stage.
SXU’s first Drag Show, lead by the Spectrum Alliance’s President Jose Tinajero, was a ground shaking experience that set the bar high for future events. Everyone was warmly invited to the show, both LGBT+ and allies alike. After the show, there was a scheduled opportunity to meet and greet the queens!
The event was held in the Butler Reception room at the Warde Academic Center. There were less chairs to start than there were by the end of the night! If all of the people that wanted to attend showed, there probably wouldn’t be enough chairs or space to seat everyone. When I walked in, I was greeted by friendly staff and scurried toward one of the few seats left. The event was appropriately named “Opening Night”.
Even during the performances, individuals, both students and outsiders alike, came flooding into the Butler Reception room. It was exciting to see people of all backgrounds coming to SXU on a Saturday evening to show their unconditional support. Some student’s wore flags to represent their pride and one of the audience members was dressed in drag! Even as a catholic institution, everyone I ran into beforehand was enthusiastic about the show.
The audience faced the center of the room which was set up with a sturdy walkway, accented by sparkly lights. Our first drag show ever was professional, clean, and well-organized.
We were to expect performances from both Chicago-based drag queens and student performers. Our lovely drag queens of the show were Kat Sass, Aunty Chan, Delikate Doll, Abhijeet, and Bambi Banks. All of the queens were absolutely spectacular, each with their own unique, dazzling, and jaw-dropping talents.
Co-host Delikate Doll kept us entertained between performances with her conversational and inviting dialogue. She reminded us that no one is safe from shade, and that Rihanna wishes she could be her.
The drag queens were unique from one another; their personalities were all radiant and stylish in their own ways. Whether they were dressing down or causing us to have a hearty cackle, it was hard to pick favorites.
First of the student performers was Anissa Figaro, who did a soulful cover of Kesha’s comeback hit “Praying”. Adaizha Taylor was up next with an original dance number, which honestly took a lot of courage. Dancing on a walkway is not a walk in the park. Therese Bueno was the final student act and left the audience shook! Following her cover of “I’ve just seen a face” by the Beatles, she performed her very own song “Shine Bright”. Bueno’s skill is worth all the applause; her ability to sing the right notes and play acoustic guitar simultaneously could land her a record deal.
The performances of these girls were commended, as they were brave enough to perform and be a part of SXU’s drag show premiere. As someone who has performed in talent shows, I’m well aware that the stress can be overwhelming, but these girls surpassed their nerves and gave it their all.
Delikate wooed us with her sensual lingerie performance, where she invited one of the audience members to help remove her latex dress. The audienced lost their minds and cheered for the sultry queen. We should’ve opened a window because the heat was rising up in Butler.
Kat Sass was a major highlight of the show; her outfit reveals were sensational, as though she fell like a star from the sky. Personally, my favorite performance from her was her dramatic, yet dreamy lip sync to a cover of the classic “Wicked Games”. Since I knew the lyrics, I sang along with her. For a moment we made eye contact and it felt as though the stars aligned. Kat’s gorgeous amber sequence cape hid a yellow and black ombre dress. The extravagant dress featured a train that traced the floor behind her.
Delikate warned us, “if you have any common sense, you should leave the room now.” While Delikate’s shade was obviously out of love, we did not anticipate that Aunty Chan would rock the room with her Mario Bros. outfit, complimented by her own question box. The reference for the classic video game was well appreciated. The audience bursted in shrieks and cackles. Who knew Mario could be so stylish? The quirky queen is the epitome of entertainment.
A few of the most fashionable looks on stage belonged to none other than Bambi Banks. She wore a floor-length black gown with a circular black headpiece, which was absolutely fashion-week worthy. If I could take an outfit from the show with me, this would be the one; It’s exactly my taste! Green isn’t a typical color for an outfit, but with her shimmering body suit, golden jewelry, and ivory knee-high boots Bambi Banks turned it out! Who said green couldn’t turn heads?
A queen on stilts? Abhijeet did that. Although Butler’s ceiling isn’t skyhigh, the queen strutted through the room seamlessly. She managed to fondle the bottom of one of the glimmering chandeliers like it was nobody’s business. Several of us were quaking our seats, hoping Abhijeet wouldn’t take a dive. However, she wore those stilt’s until the end of the night as if they were just her everyday shoes.
Just as a meet and greet was announced, everyone gasped and quickly shuffled away toward the designated area to line-up for a picture with the performers. Even with a stage diva demeanor, the queens were humble, warm, and inviting to all the students.
When it was our turn, we all scooched in to fit in the camera’s frame. I managed to slide next to Kat Sass, who was filled with glee and exclaimed “welcome babies!”
As the first drag show ever held at Saint Xavier University, it has been an honor to be a part of it and witness this greatness with other students like myself. The passion, energy, and flare was felt by everyone that night. The Spectrum Alliance did a phenomenal job in putting the event together. The next time we have a drag show, I’ll be sure to bring some singles!
Alma Tovar
Features Editor