The Annual Kansas State Drag Show hits the stage this year in McCain Auditorium on Friday, April 29, from 7 to 8 p.m.
The Union Program Council is co-sponsoring the show with Sexuality and Gender Alliance (SAGA) and the K-State LGBT Resource Center, with Monica Moree, a K-State graduate, hosting the show. Moree started the event and continues hosting and bringing talented drag queens to perform.
Katie Hutson, president of SAGA and senior in psychology, said the show has grown tremendously since its humble beginning 18 years ago.
“It originally started with just K-State students and drag performers,” Hutson said. “It wasn’t always on campus — it was mainly a community-based event, and when it did start happening on campus, it was originally in Forum Hall.”
The show was moved to McCain Auditorium when the event outgrew Forum Hall. As it grew, the LGBT Resource Center got involved in 2010. SAGA followed shortly after, around 2016.
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The show is making its return in person for the first time in two years since the onset of COVID-19 landed the event online this past year.
This year’s theme is Studio 54 and will feature all kinds of performances from the following queens: Victoria Fox, TyWoo, Lil Kim Chi, Alexander Cameron, Sasha May Carmichael and Molly Mormen.
“It’s always really fun, very high energy,” Hutson said. “There’s a lot of dancing and lip-syncing, or some performers will sing. I know TyWoo normally sings all of her own songs, and there are a lot of dramatic costume changes, so it’s really cool.”
While the show is meant as a fun experience, it is also put on for a good cause.
“Tipping is encouraged at drag shows, so be sure to bring your ones. The K-State Drag Show is a fundraiser for the LGBTQ Resource Center and student organizations,” they said. “All those proceeds go to LGBTQ scholarships, our different student success and excellence funds as well as a healthcare fund that covers mental and physical health care for students.”
The show is for everyone at K-State and in the Manhattan community. Student tickets are free at the McCain box office starting Wednesday, April 27, if you present a student ID and $10 for general admission tickets.
Students can get up to four tickets if they bring four unique IDs in case people cannot get there to pick them up on their own. General admission tickets are available online, by phone or in person at the box office.
Attendees are welcome to dress up in the disco theme and are encouraged to buy tickets early because they are expected to sell out.
More information on K-State’s Drag Show is available on UPC’s website.
