This show is a drag!

On Friday, February 29, some of Parkland's prettiest boys (and girls) will grace the stage of Parkland's theatre in a show that promises to be the most fun to be had while being politically (and probably biblically) incorrect at the same time. That's right, folks, it's drag show time!"But, what the heck is a drag show?" you may ask. It's a performance put on by a series of drag queens and/or kings, who often lip-synch and dance to popular songs. A drag queen is usually a man who dresses (or "drags") in female clothes; by the same token, a drag king is a woman in male clothes. A drag performer is not necessarily gay or transgender, but may be a straight person who simply dresses up for the fun of it.

Performers often wear elaborate costumes, sometimes imitating famous singers or celebrities. A drag performer may or may not try to "pass" as the opposite gender; sometimes you would never know that "she" is actually a man, or sometimes he might go all-out to deliberately look outrageous, over-the-top, and most certainly a man in drag.

Drag shows can feature one or more performers, singly or in groups, who may sing, dance, lip-synch to a song while dancing a choreographed routine, or perform skits or monologues. Tips are often accepted by performers who mingle with the crowd while continuing their performance-encouraging audience participation.

This will be the sixth Drag Show to be held at Parkland. In previous shows, there have been around a half-dozen Drag Queens (males as females) and two to four Drag Kings (females as males). Plans for this year's show have been in the works since last October, and there have been rehearsals several times a week since the beginning of January and continuing until the day of the show.

While Parkland's drag show is an uncommon treat, it is not the only performance of its kind in the area. Both the University of Illinois and Eastern Illinois University have their own drag shows, around Halloween and in the spring semester respectively. Closer to home, the C-Street bar in downtown Champaign holds regular drag shows on Sunday nights with professional competitive participants.

Some of the performers that will be appearing at Parkland's drag show have also appeared in other productions in Champaign-Urbana and around Illinois. Leilani Stars, Parkland alums Aurora Lamont-Carrington and Theo Stars-Carrington, and current Parkland student Justin Zane have performed at both C-Street and the University of Illinois shows, and have participated in events as far away as Chicago.

Your hostess for this event will be the magnificent Leggz Akimbo, "an infamous Parkland talent relating to professor Thom Schnarre," according to her biography. "She has a tragic history of a mis-spent youth as a showgirl and then a Vegas dancer before a tragic dance injury to her left pinkie caused her to end her dance ambitions and subsist on a diet of mostly carbs."

Members of Parkland's Queer and Ally group and students in the theatre department are also working to make this year's drag show a fabulous success. In addition to the performers themselves, there are about a dozen people working on sound, lighting, and a variety of backstage jobs.

Other behind-the-scenes assistance has been provided by Randi Hard-the Parkland theatre's artistic director-and Bernie Wolff, the facility technical director. Technical director David Dillman has shared his expertise with the equipment around the theatre as well.

The drag show is also a performance with a cause. A portion of the proceeds from the show will be contributed to the Queer and Ally student organization, for various activities such as attending the Midwest LGBT Conference, which will be held this year at the University of Illinois. In addition, part of the funds raised at the show will be donated to the Greater Community Aids Project (GCAP), a charity that gives support to those in the Champaign County district suffering from HIV and AIDS.

This is a one-night-only event, so make sure to be at the Parkland theatre on Friday, February 29. The doors open at 7:30 and the show will begin at 8. Tickets for this amazing show are only $5 at the door, so bring your friends and your dollar bills to tip the performers as they bring the show out into the audience.