Pride Alliance begins preparations for fifth annual drag show with emcee auditions

Preparations for the Pride Alliance Drag Show are well underway. Auditions were held Jan. 28 to look for a master of ceremonies to facilitate the show, which is scheduled for March 11.

“We’re looking for someone who can entertain the crowd if something goes wrong, and be funny,” said Nate Hinkle, a sophomore mass communication major and secretary of the planning committee.

The Pride Alliance hopes to make the show better than previous ones by starting preparations early.

“We want to make it a higher caliber of show,” Hinkle said.

Those auditioning had to entertain a panel for five minutes under the scenario of “technical difficulties.” After the process was complete, Steve Holbert was chosen for the role.

“If I’m emcee, I will go full out drag,” Holbert said.

Holbert chose a drag name of “Luscious Wit,” and will be performing alongside other drag kings and queens, including senior and co-chair of the planning committee A.J. Joiner, who has won the competition in the past, and has performed at competitions in Macon and Atlanta.

“It’s gonna be interesting,” Joiner said.

Those interested in performing can sign up with the Pride Alliance until Feb. 18. After that, the training and rehearsals will begin. Junior and co-chair Amber Weeks is in charge of training the participants to perform in drag. She has performed at previous shows under the name “Kian,” and will be using her experience to teach others.

“I’ll be teaching them how to walk, the body language, how to lip sync and not look like an idiot,” Weeks said.

While some years have featured a lopsided number of male and female performers, this year Weeks expects things to be different.

“We should have a pretty even mix (of kings and queens) this year,” Weeks said.

Proceeds from the show are donated to a charity or nonprofit organization. A decision has not been made on where this year’s proceeds will be donated, but it is expected that the money will go toward helping a cause in the local area.

“We’re looking to keep it in the Milledgeville community this year,” Weeks said.

For the remainder of the semester, Pride Alliance has a lot planned. It will be hosting events in conjunction with the music and theater departments’ production of “Rent”, including having a Pride Night after one performance and a rave after another. It also plans to work to raise awareness with members of A.N.G.E.L.S. (AIDS Now Grasps Every Living Soul) during AIDS Week, and hopes to send some of its members to a Gay-Straight Alliance summit in Kennesaw.

Posted by Claire Kersey on Feb 5 2010. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry