Midsummer Night Queens: The Ru-Turn: Jujubee

Jujubee

So, the Seacoast Rep Theater invited Shaunna Rai back for a second round of Midsummer Night Queens.  They also invited Rainbow Frite, Lili Whiteass (who had done a winter version) and Cherry Lemonade (for her first time.)

Bunny Wonderland

Everything was on point, we were ready to go early, and everything.  So, it felt like something needed to go wrong.  Because, well, you know, that's kind of how my luck goes.  Surprisingly, nothing did go wrong.  Although, it did feel a little strange leaving to go to Portsmouth, and not stopping to pick up Miss E,on.

We left early, to stop for lunch.  And then, did some shopping while we killed time before we were supposed to pick up Cherry.  At 3:30pm, sharp, we were at Cherry's getting the car loaded, for the trek out of state.  And, everything went so smoothly...until we got to York.

Traffic went along great, and then we got to the York toll booths.  And, what with it being Sunday, everyone was headed south.  I kid you not, it took almost half an hour to make a 10 minute drive across the state line.

Lili Whiteass does Little Edie
from Grey Gardens

We got to the Rep, and I was given strict instructions.  Park in the bank parking lot, not the church parking lot.  If you park at the church, you will be towed!  (They share the same lot, but they're separated by a partial brick wall.)  Easier said than done. I drove around what seemed like forever, trying to find a spot.

Conversation for much of the trip down, revolved around shows, and drag as a career.  And, how seriously people take their drag.  And, how occasionally, you have a great queen, who could really wow people if they took themselves a little more seriously, and decided not to rely on the camp they could become a force to be reckoned with.

Cherry Lemonade

I got drinks, and really appreciated the fact that I was essentially touring with the Maine queens and got to take a little advantage of the drink tickets...not that I took a lot of advantage of it...two drinks and I'm pretty much done. After a quick tour of the stage, Jujubee showed up, in "boy drag". And I realized that this was the first time I had met Airline in person, although I have met Jujubee a number of times. A run through of the introduction, and then faces started to go on.

Shaunna Rai does Proud Mary

While I love to sit and watch Shaunna Rai put on her face, I enjoy watching everyone else get into face more...Because they're all so different.  And, so, I watched Jujubee, Cherry Lemonade and Bunny Wonderland  get into face.

Watching Shaunna put on a face, I more or less know the timeline for how long it takes for Dan to start looking like Shaunna. So, seeing the speed at which Airline became Jujubee, I was in awe...And so was Dan. It became a topic of conversation for the rest of the night.

Rainbow Frite as Frank N Furter
(Sort of)

Since Jujubee, Lili Whiteass and Rainbow Frite  are all Boston girls, of course some talk was about the drag scene in Boston. There was a little talk about the upcoming season of Drag Race and All Stars 2.

Lili Whiteass as Elsa Mars

The best and worst thing about working with someone who is/has been on a tv show,  is that you get inside information, on occasion, but then, you have to sit on that information, until the show airs. Then, when you say, "I've known since, whenever," people write you off as making it up.  So, I'll say it now, I know a couple things about a couple things, but I can't say a word about them.

I of course, in an attempt to actually talk to someone who I adore, started talking about my blog, and my less than favorable review of Pandora Boxx at the BOTS Tour, and that Pandora had seen and commented on the reciew. Jujubee then, jokingly said that I would need to go, because If I was a blogger, she couldn't be quoted talking about the show. (And I wanted to hide my head in shame. Until I realized she wasn't totally serious about it.)

and again as a tap dancing Skeleton

Bunny Wonderland

Shortly after that, it was almost showtime. I went up to claim my seat before the doors opened, leaving my camera bag and a shirt. I grabbed last minute drinks for Shaunna and Cherry and went back to the dressing room. Making sure that everyone was good, I went back to claim my place. And, immediately went into a panic. My camera bag,  with camera, was still there, but my shirt was gone. (A brand new shirt, I'd only worn once before.)

Wendy came, and took the seat next to me, with her friend, the boys (Cody and Frank), Jodi and her partner, were all there. And a few new people who I knew from other places as well.
During the introduction,  I pointed out for Wendy (who was video taping) where the girls were going to make their entrances from.

The show went off without a hitch. As usually happens, I got lost in trying to capture everything and lost some of the music.

Brian actually did smile...

Cherry Lemonade

A few things stand out, as they usually do. Rainbow Frite did Somewhere That's Green, from Little Shop of Horrors, and, somehow I remember hearing that the version that she had was not the version she meant to have, because it changed the content of the performance. Rainbow also did a Britney Spears mix of sorts...as a parody, with "I love Cock and Balls", as one of the parody songs. Which was great, until it turned a little awkward, when Rainbow grabbed Wendy's hand and made her simulate a hand job on me.

Jujubee

There was a guy (named Brian) and his girlfriend in the audience, that every single queen gravitated to. Poor Brian got lap dances and was teased mercilessly, due to the fact that he refused to smile, throughout the whole show.  (Although, there is photo proof that he did in fact smile.)

Shaunna Rai

Lili Whiteass did a mix that started out as Elsa Mars from American Horror Story: Freak Show and ended with the 1980's version of Puttin' On The Ritz. It was great, because it showed off her tap dancing ability. And, I loved it, because of the music. (Then again, I love it when I actually know the music, to begin with.)

Rainbow Frite's Somewhere That's Green

Across the theater from Brian and Tricia, was another "couple" in matching peachy orange shirts. The guy went to lean over the railing and the railing let go, almost spilling him to the floor. I was mortified, not knowing whether to get up, or just let the show go on...I did nothing, but watched him retake his seat, and NOT lean on the railing again.

Lili Whiteass

Sitting next to me, in the front row were a couple of young girls, who didn't look old enough to be there. (They were in their early teens.) At some point, I became a point of interest,  because they were told that I was Shaunna Rai's "husband".

The show flew by, and before I knew it, it was over. As usually happens at the end of a show,  I checked out back, to see if I was needed for anything. I was asked to take a couple of backstage pictures of the entire cast of the show, then, I undid Shaunna's corset, and then headed upstairs for the Meet and Greet.

Cherry Lemonade

Unlike last year, when we went to the Gaslight,  the Meet and Greet was held right at the Seacoast Rep.  There were a lot of familiar faces, looking to get their pictures taken with Jujubee. And there were quite a few new faces.

Shaunna Rai performs Donna Summer's
Last Dance

The photographer in me was having a meltdown, because I wasn't getting every picture with every queen, buy I tried my hardest to get as many as possible. At least until Jujubee made her appearance,  at which time, I decided that the reason I was there was for the pictures with Jujubee, and pretty much followed her around snapping pictures until I had made it through everyone waiting.

I always get my picture taken with the Rupaul girls, when I get the chance. But, for whatever reason, I got so into the zone of taking pictures and handing out my handwritten business cards explaining that the pictures would be on my Facebook page for the blog, that I forgot to get my picture with Juju. I'm half tempted to photoshop myself into someone else's picture...

Rainbow Frite as
Morticia Addams

After the Meet and Greet fizzled out, and everyone was pretty much gone, I went back downstairs to see what was ready to get loaded into the car. I had to pretty much sit on the suitcase to close it, but, it was ready.

 I finally, officially met Jujubee's fiance, Chris. I say officially, only because I'd seen him before at shows, but never been formally introduced.  I walked out with them, and said goodbye, then headed back in to get the rest of Shaunna's stuff, and see how Cherry was coming with hers.

Bunny Wonderland and the Bad Idea Bears
from Avenue Q.

On the way back from the car, I finally found my shirt.  Apparently, because Avenue Q was playing before the Midsummer Night Queens show, someone assumed that the shirt belonged to one of the Avenue Q cast members, and so it just got stuck out back.  I could finally stop panicking that I had lost my shirt.

Jujubee

Once the car was loaded, we went out so that Cherry and Shaunna could have a drink, before we hit the road. One drink turned to two, and then it hit me, that I had to work a long day,  the next day.  We hit the road, and stopped in Kennebunk to get some food at the Burger King. While waiting for the food, Cherry decided to try to climb into the gazebo in the middle of the food court...while Shaunna took pictures. And the clerk at the counter couldn't stop laughing.

Finally, Dan (Shaunna) and I made it home. I realized how much further north Lewiston is from Portland, after dropping off Cherry in Portland, and helping bring his stuff up to his apartment. The last leg of the trip was killer. We finally made it home at about 3:30am, just in time for me to get to sleep before work.

Back:Shaunna Rai, Lili Whiteass, Rainbow Frite, Jujubee
Front: Bunny Wonderland, Cherry Lemonade.

It was a great start to the season. I think I loved it more than last year's incarnation. And, not just because it started with "my girlfriend," as Dan has been teasing me.  And, it's nice to be able to say, "Hey,  I know them!" and not feel like I'm being pompous, because I actually do know Jujubee...just not Airline. (Dan knows them both, and was told to call or text any time that we're in Boston, to see if they're around.) Which,  I think is totally cool.

There's No Place Like Home...

The last few months have been a whirlwind.  I've missed blogging about so many events, and, I'm not sure that I could keep up, even if I tried.

May was full of the Southern Maine AIDS Walk, Dragapalooza (and I feel like there was something else...)  June was full of Pride stuff.   July was all about moving.  August has been about settling in, loss, and the beginning of a second run of the Midsummer Night Queens show in Portsmouth.  September is going to be about my brother's wedding, and a night to "Remember the Underground" (the previous incarnation of Styxx in Portland...before I was "allowed" to go out to the gay bars, so before my time...)

The AIDS Walk was three days of awesome.  Porcia Chanel and Scarrlett Couture came from New Hampshire, and spent the weekend in Ogunquit with us.  As usual, because they were essentially, new people, to me, I was kinda freaked out.  But, they made me feel like I belonged there, which is always a big thing for me.  The fundraising part of the Walk bypassed last years $100,000, which will go to benefit the Frannie Peabody Center, and all the work that they do with local people who are coping with HIV/AIDS and the struggles that come with it.  And, as it always does, the weekend itself makes me proud to know the people who I know, because they make me strive to be a better, more understanding person.

Dragapalooza was a huge show this year.  Like 39 numbers, or something like that.  As always, it was a fundraiser for Lewiston/Auburn Outright, and there were quite a few student entries, in conjunction with the professionals.  A couple of returning acts from last year. I'd brought two cameras, because I knew that I was going to need them, for pictures...and I wasn't wrong.  I drained the batteries from both cameras before the end of the show.  (Which, prompted me to go Ebay shopping, and bought myself two extra rechargeable batteries for my good camera, for less than I could buy them in an actual store.)

1920's Steve and Shaunna Rai
Photo by Steven Bridges

June started off with the Great Gatsby party, to kick off Pride.  It was a great time.  I looked like a cross between Mario and a News Boy from the 20's...Apparently, I can't pull off a mustache properly, and should probably just give it up...

Shaunna Rai and Miss E,on were asked to perform for a cruise out on Portland Harbor.  In spite of the fact that I am deathly afraid of drowning, I went, and had an amazing time.

I came thisclose to actually getting to go to Pride, but stupidly decided that I needed to work that day.  The closest that I got was that I drove by the set up sites, while everything was getting set up for the parade...and then I got to drive by the park at the end of the afternoon, when things were starting to be taken down.  I think I learned my lesson.

Dan and Ariel

July was the month that I didn't expect to make it through.  The old apartment had begun to leak, badly, in places that it shouldn't have been leaking, especially, since it was in the ceiling of the second floor of a three story building... Dan and I ended up in a time crunch, and I'll just leave it at there being a lot of yelling.  Things have since calmed down.  But, it was a very stressful time.

August sadly, marked the passing of Ariel Maranda Gibbs.  She's one of the few people who Dan/Shaunna talked about a lot, who I never actually met.  When things calm down, I would like to talk to a few people about her, so that I can get some idea of who she really was, and give her a nice "send off."

We're finally getting settled into the new place in Lewiston.  Dan has a car of his own again, for the first time in three years.  And, although it's had a couple of issues, he appears to be less stressed out than he has been in a long time.  Shaunna Rai's drag rooms are still in transition (no pun intended) as Shaunna is still half packed away.  I've claimed myself a corner of the garage for doing my own thing.  I have my drafting table set up for drawing, a 300 disc CD changer set up for music (that I need to update with some newer drag-ish music), and more space than I will be able to use...at least when the car(s) aren't parked in it.

Which brings us to the Midsummer Night Queens.  Last year was a blast...Manila Luzon, Jessica Wild and Joslyn Fox, along with Bunny Wonderland, Shaunna Rai and Miss E,on.  Tonight, August 16th, starts the Ru-Turn...another three part, weekly show.  It starts off with Jujubee (one of my favorites), and will feature Joslyn Fox (week 2) and BenDeLaCreme (week 3), along with Bunny Wonderland, Shaunna Rai, Lili Whiteass, Rainbow Frite, and Cherry Lemonade.  I will again be taking pictures of the three evenings, and am looking forward to sneaking a little bit of backstage time with the queens, to say hi, and geek out...(and hopefully creep BenDeLaCreme out less than I did when I met her after the BOTS tour.)

So, that's been the summer, in a nutshell.  I'll get back in the swing of things.  And, hopefully, be less stressed out about everything.  I managed to get a new job, where it's highly likely that I will have weekends off, and be able to do more with weekend shows...and have a life, like a real person, in a normal job...

Midsummer Night Queens: A Ru-turn

Last year was so much fun they decided to do it again. I can't wait.  As usual, I will be there with my camera for Jujubee, Joslyn Fox and BenDeLaCreme. Hope to see you there starting August 16th.

Where I Come From...

My parents, Kathy and Steve, with Mimi Imfurst

"You really should write an article about your parents."  That was Wendy, at the Seacoast Rep show, last weekend.  "I loved that picture that you got of them with Mimi."  Wendy really likes my parents.  She has met them a couple of times.

But, what does one say about their parents?  Generally, people don't have anything good to say about their parents, until after they're gone.

I grew up in a small town, near Rockland, Maine.  Up until I was about 5, my parents moved around quite a bit.  Robbinston, Waldoboro, Thomaston, before they finally settled down in Warren, Maine.  They've lived in the same house for nearly 30 years.  They've been married for 36.  And, they have the kind of love that most people only dream of, or see on tv.  I've never seen them fight.  On rare occasions, I've seen tears, but they were never inflicted by each other.

My mom, Kathy, has had a number of different jobs, throughout her life, before settling into a job as a manager of a group home.  My dad, Steve, has worked for the Maine State Fire Marshall's Office, for as long as I can remember.  He started off working as a Fire Investigator, and has since moved on to being an inspector...he inspects amusement park/fair rides, and things like that now.

Mom and Dad with Latrice Royale at Styxx.

Like most kids, I spent a good amount of time disliking my parents.  We were far from rich, growing up... Back to school clothes shopping meant going to second hand clothing shops.  When we wanted video game systems, we actually had to work for them...We spent a whole winter, shoveling driveways around the neighborhood, in order to get our Super Nintendo.  And, I hated that they wouldn't just buy it for us, because I had friends, whose parents would, and did, do that kind of thing.

What I recognize now, is that they were, at the time, trying to prepare me for life.  Contrary to what drag queens will have you believe, life is not all about Rainbows and Butterflies, and pretty faces.  Life is about working for what you want, and appreciating it more, because you worked for it.

My parents allowed me to go to Art School, in Philadelphia, 500 miles away from home.  It was what I wanted, and they supported it.  They also supported me through the mental breakdown, that brought me back home, to Maine, a year and a half later.  They didn't throw me out of the house when I finally came out to them.  They instead, continued to show me the unconditional love that they have always given. They have always had my back.

Mom and Wendy with Me and Shaunna Rai at Paradym
for Alyssa Edwards.

When I decided to make the move to Portland, for the first time, my mom wasn't really okay with it.  It was really going to be my first time on my own.  I was going where I knew hardly anyone.  And, I was going to be further away than she thought I should be...especially given that I was still grieving a dead relationship.

Little did any of us know, how much that move would change things for all of us.  Three years later, I can't even think of how many times that my parents have come to drag shows.

The first drag show my parents ever attended, was at the (now defunct) second location of Altera, in Lewiston.  My mom was excited, because she was going to meet Shaunna Rai, and Taffy Pulls...I actually think that she was most excited to meet Taffy.  She made sure to tell me that she was knocking things off her Bucket List that night.  It was her first time at a Bar.  It was her first ever drag show. (I think she had forgotten my one night stint as Spice Andrews, in Damariscotta...) And, it was her first time at a gay bar.

Mom with Taffy Pulls at Altera.

I was more uncomfortable than either of them, I think...because, I felt the need to protect the straight couple, who seemed totally out of place.  They didn't really need protection though.  I'm sure that they both had cameras blazing, as did I.  I get the photography thing from them.  They never go anywhere, without a camera.  Literally.  There is a camera in the back seat of the car at all times.  After the show, I introduced my mom to Taffy, and she got her picture with her...a high point of the night.  And, I found out how my dad felt about the show in the bar...he was great with the show, but thought that the bar patrons were rude, because they were there for a show, so should not be talking.

They've come quite a ways.  During the first Dragapalooza that they came to, Shaunna had been in their lives long enough for my mom to be "inspired" by her.  She came to Dragapalooza decked out in a Duck Dynasty t-shirt, and glittery heels.  Again, cameras blazing, during the show...and then, they came to the after show, at (the now defunct) Mama's Cabaret, also in Lewiston.  At this point, I knew that my parents would be "safe" at a show, and so I was less protective, and let my inhibitions down a little.  And, had a few drinks.  Enough so, that at one point, I noticed Shaunna's contact was out, and she had two different colored eyes, and said that she reminded me of a husky.  She then, went on the mic, not once, I don't even think twice...I think it was three or four times, and told everyone in the bar how she was going to "fuck me doggy-style", because I said she looked like a dog.

Dad with Alyssa Edwards.

Obviously, they enjoyed themselves, because they continue to come to every show that they can.  They were there for JuJubee, Latrice and Mimi, at Styxx.  They took the trip to Manchester, NH, to see Alyssa Edwards (where they met Wendy for the first time.)  And, I still get asked, so when is the next show?

During Mimi's Holiday Hangover Show, at Styxx, my mom got to see what really goes into making Shaunna Rai into Shaunna.  She knew how long the makeup took, and that there was some work to make the body.  But, she had never actually seen the process.  That night, she did.  And, she left, saying that she had a new appreciation for it.  Although she had known that there was a lot of work to it, she had no idea about the hips, and the butt, and the corsets and the bras...the list goes on and on.  She seemed to be in awe of the process.

Mom with one of her favorites, Alyssa Edwards.

While I'm on the receiving end of being given unconditional support, I am often reminded of the fact that not everyone is so lucky.  In three years, I have yet to meet Dan's parents.  And, they definitely haven't been nearly as supportive of the drag.  My parents, in the short time that they've known Shaunna Rai, have been to see her more often than Dan's own parents.  I'm extremely grateful for this, and a little bit saddened by it as well.

I started the blog, as a way to let my parents see what I was up to, much like any other blogs that I have had since I first got the internet.  It was a way of sharing people, places and events that I enjoyed.  And, in the process, I hadn't really thought about how much it has actually affected them.  Mom wore heels! She's looking for RuPaul's Drag Race to buy on DVD.  And, she was trying to talk Dad into going on the Drag at Sea Cruise next time it happens.

I realize now that I haven't been the only one dragged to the inside.  My parents have as well, although, to a slightly lesser degree.  And, I think I love them more for that.  Mom, Dad, thank you for being you.  Thank you for being so supportive of us both.

I'm On the Outside, Looking In

I have a bad habit of being anti-social, so it always surprises me when people consciously choose to spend time with me.

When the Seacoast Rep Theater announced that they were going to do a show with Jujubee from Season 2 of RuPaul's Drag Race, I decided that I wanted to go. My schedule worked for it to happen, because I chose to work an overnight shift the night before, in exchange for the weekend off.
Our friends Wendy, Cody and Frank, who we met during last summer's shows were all going as well.

So, plans were made to meet for dinner, then go see the show, and maybe go for drinks after. We went to Dos Amigos, a Mexican restaurant, and got dinner. I was shocked that Wendy decided to foot the bill for both Dan and myself. (Not that I should've been. She's super sweet.)

During dinner, we caught up a bit. And, the boys said they would meet us at the theater, because they were running behind.  Dinner for me was a large thing of chicken nachos (I ate all of them) and a margarita.

Rainbow Frite

The walk back to the theater was icy. The wind was blowing, and the temperature couldn't have been any more than 20°, if that. So, there was a lot of walking fast and not a lot of talking.

We got to the theater and picked up our tickets. And, I realized how much I missed the shows that Shaunna Rai did over the summer. It felt weird to be there without Miss E,on. It was  even weirder to not be hauling Shaunna down to the depths of the building.  It became such a habit dragging the suitcase down the steps, praying that I didn't lose my balance and fall down them.

Discussion, while we waited for the boys turned to the new season of Drag Race, and its mysterious premiere date change. I tend to be a listener, and take in bits and pieces of conversation around me, as well as the people who are actually talking to me. A little ways away, across the room, there was a group of older people. The last time I had seen them, there were two elderly ladies talking, and all of a sudden, I hear, "Do you know how to twerk?" And, so, I had to turn around and see what was going on. Sadly, turning around ruined the picture in my mind.

The boys finally showed up, and it was a, "Hi, you've you been? Wanna go for drinks later?" Before turning back to Drag Race. And, I realized that I need to do some rewatching of old seasons.  As a fan of the show, and drag in general, I should know who Yara Sofia is, and I should also have some idea of what some of my favorite queens look like out of drag.

Lili Whiteass

The crowd finally started to move toward the doors, and the wait was on.  Finally the doors opened, and I felt a bit like a cow being led to slaughter...there were so many people trying to get in at the same time.  I almost lost Dan.  And, I got stuck next to a girl who smelled like a ferret.  It was great... I was glad when I finally got ahead of her, and the smell was gone.

My old spot, with Wendy and the boys was taken by the older group.  So, we got second row, center.  Not a bad place to be, but for pictures, the front row is definitely better.

I told Dan how the whole feeling this time, was different than the shows during last summer.  For one, there was no going backstage.  It's weird having that freedom, to just disappear backstage, and say hi, or get drink orders, or whatever, and then having that freedom taken away.  It's kind of like the experience that everyone else gets when they go to a show, I guess.  I wanted to go say hi to Bunny, but, it wasn't appropriate this time.

Delta Miles and DA Michael

The show started like the Red Light Series Drag Race girl shows did, with an introduction to each of the queens.  And, I started my ritual of taking pictures.   And, then I went into a full blown panic.  During the short break between the introduction, and the start of the first number, I checked out the pictures...and they were bad.  Like you couldn't even tell what I was taking pictures of.  So, I started playing around with every setting on the camera that I could play with, to get it right.

Bunny Wonderland started off the night, with her high energy performance, getting the crowd prepared for the amazing night to come.

Rainbow Frite was up next.  I had seen Rainbow Frite in Boston, at Jacques, before, however, it was as a server, not as a performer.  I didn't realize that Rainbow Frite was a singer, and I especially didn't expect her to come into the second row to grab tips...and then climb on my lap, and ask me to say "Cock and Balls" on the mic.  As usual, the embarassment took over, and I was ready to die.  And, at the same time, I was enjoying the hell out of it.  I will admit, while it looks like I'm cringing on the outside, and wishing that I could die, on the inside, I'm so excited to be picked on that it's not even funny.  And, I spent part of the time wondering what Dan was thinking, while all this was happening.  (Apparently, he expected it to happen, and it was all cool, I guess.)

JuJubee

Lili Whiteass went next.  She came out in a pink gown, blonde hair and a beaver skin hat. And, then she started singing.  It took me a minute to recognize the song, because in my head, it had to be a "girl" song...only, it wasn't.  It was Billy Joel's  Leningrad.  I was pretty much blown away.

Next, was Delta Miles.  Well, it was supposed to be...until there were technical difficulties.  (I was surprised that it was "technical difficulties", because generally, at a drag show, they're called "testicle difficulties"... With a dead mic, Delta came out, and gave the sound crew hell, then went on for a bit with no mic.  She asked if anyone had a birthday, and it turned out that a guy named Michael  muchdid.  And, it turned out that he was a DA.  And, she pulled him up on stage, and used him in her number, as a prop.  And, he seemed to love it.  And, I just couldn't stop laughing.  She was hilarious.

Bunny Wonderland

Jujubee was up next.  She was beautiful.  I wish that I could remember all the songs that all the performers did.  Juju came out with the perfect hair, a tear-away and a stoned leotard.  I remember when Juju came to Styxx, almost being disappointed in her performance.  I'm not really sure what it was that she did differently, if anything, but I was so much more impressed with her performance this time.  (Which was good, since Jujubee has always been one of my favorite RuPaul girls.)

Rainbow Frite performing
Memory

Bunny came out again.  I can't even describe how much I enjoy Bunny's performances.  They're usually a bunch of songs mixed together, along with soundbites from movies.  And, I think for anyone else, it would come off as odd, but for Bunny, it just works...with the high energy that she throws into her performances.

Rainbow Frite came back out, and did a mix of The E-Harmony Cat Lady Song and Memory from the Broadway Show Cats.  I nearly died with the E-Harmony Cat Lady part, because, although I knew of the song, it had been a long time since I had actually heard it, and I totally wasn't expecting it.  When it switched over to Memory, I did what I always do...I broke out in song, along with it...all the while, snapping pictures.

Lili Whiteass, Anything Goes

Lili Whiteass was up again, and cemented her place in my mind as someone with a ton of talent.  Anything Goes.  Not only was she singing it herself, but, my God, she could tap dance too! How is it that I don't ever think about all the hidden talents that queens have?  All too soon, the number was over.

JuJubee

Jujubee came back out.  At one point during her number, she talked to a girl in the audience.  She asked her about who she was with, and if it was her girlfriend...and it turned out to be her mother! At the end of the song, Juju and Bunny chatted for a little bit, before bringing on Delta.

Delta Miles

Delta Miles again called out the sound crew...and a drunk girl in the audience.  And, then proceeded into a number, in which she did 'shrooms, coke and some kind of pills, along with what I could only imagine was a pot cupcake.  Watching the various drugs take effect and lose their potency was a hilarious descent, which ended with her backward somersaulting off the stage.

Rainbow Frite

Intermission came up, and Dan asked me what I thought about the show.  I explained how funny it felt being "on the outside, looking in".  It felt weird having him in the audience with me, because Dan doesn't usually go to drag shows.  Shaunna does, and she only usually does, when she's in them. Dan, started talking to a couple of people behind us about Drag Race, and shows at Fran's Place.  Then he started talking to the people in the front row.  They explained how they like to go to shows.  They go visit a gay couple in Florida, who go to bed early, while they stay up and go to gay bars, because the people are nicer there,than they are at straight bars.  They gave an example of a couple of guys who gave up seats at the bar to them, because of their age (presumably, since they didn't come right out and say it.)

Bunny Wonderland

The show came back up, and Rainbow Frite was back up.  This was probably my least favorite of her numbers.  Although, I had to laugh.  Earlier in the show, someone had commented about the front row having a blanket, to keep them warm.  Rainbow, toward the end of the number, used the blanket to her advantage.  She went right to the front row, and simulated oral sex with the old man in front of me.  (I was a little relieved that it was him, and not me.)

Bunny was back again, for her next number.  Dan leaned over to tell me to make sure to get a picture of her outfit, (because Shaunna might need something like that in her future...)

Delta Miles

Delta was back again, and sought out Michael in the audience again, for an introduction to her number.  And, she had to shut up the drunk girl in the white tank top again.  Along with training Michael to play along with what she needed him to say, to introduce her song about Jealousy.  For whatever reason, during this number, I spent a lot of time, thinking about how much she reminds me of Miss E,on.

For the first time (and last time for the night) Lili Whiteass did a lip sync.  I was a little disappointed that it was actually a lip sync, until she came over to get some tips...when I realized that she was actually singing along to the lip sync.

Bunny popped back out for a final number, and a response to a letter to the editor,  that had been posted earlier in the week, criticizing the Rep management for allowing the drag shows and B-movie nights to happen.

Lili Whiteass

Juju came out for her last number.  And, I was panicking at this point.  My camera battery was just about dead.  And, for whatever reason, I had decided to just bring the camera, and not the camera bag, which has a backup camera in it...That'll teach me.  (You'd have thought I would've learned after I forgot to bring any camera to Cherry Lemonade's American Idol viewing party...) With a couple of pictures I got, though, you'd have thought that Juju knew that I was the one taking pictures, because, at one point, she was staring dead into the camera, and it was almost like the end of the night was just for me and my camera.

The show was over.  And, so, we followed the herd back upstairs, for an after party.  Dan and I stood back, as much as possible, to stay out of the way of everyone who was getting pictures taken with the queens.  As people started to file out of the building, I went to get my last drink of the night.  Finally, when most of the crowd was gone, I asked Dan to start getting some pictures with the girls.

JuJubee posing for my camera

My pictures with Delta Miles came first.  She was fun.  We took a couple of serious ones.  Then, she decided to cover my face with her hand.  And, then, when we were done taking pictures, the sleeve of her dress got caught in my earring.

Rainbow Frite decided that Dan needed to be in the picture too, so she took a selfie of us...which kind of made me happy, because we don't really have a lot of pictures of us together.

I was kind of star-struck with Lili Whiteass, just because of how surprised I was by her performance...and because at one point, she had followed me for a second or two on Instagram.  And, I told her so...and then got home to find that I either had imagined it, or it really was for a second or two, because when I checked my followers, she wasn't there.  But, I found out that if she had followed me, even for a second or two, it was a fluke, because she doesn't usually follow people she doesn't know personally.

And, finally, I needed to get another picture with Jujubee.  Having met her before, and being able to talk to her that time, I knew I could talk to her this time.  So, I asked for my picture with her, and told her that the last time I got a picture with her, she had bitten my lip.  She was going for that again, and, well, she missed.  the picture makes it look like she was trying to eat my chin.  Which, actually, I thought was awesome.

Finally, we were the last people, aside from the performers, there.  So, it was time to head out.  The boys were staying in Portsmouth, so they were planning to go out.  At that point, I was tired.  I'd worked the overnight, and only slept about 4 hours after getting home.  So, I chose to go home, instead of going out.  Although, plans were made for definitely going out, in March, when they all come for the Battle of the Seasons show, here in Portland.

The show was amazing.  The night was amazing.  The people were amazing.  And, I realize now, why I need to make more of an effort to talk to people.  I need more people like this in my life.  I need more situations like this in my life.  Thank you to everyone who helped make this a night to remember!

If negativity breeds misery, then positive energy breeds happiness.  And, we can all use a little more happiness in our lives.  

White Hot Winter

I spent a bunch of time last summer, working with a few of the RuPaul's Drag Race girls at the Seacoast Rep Theater, in Portsmouth, NH.  Jujubee, while not one who I worked with there, is overall one of my favorite queens from the show.  I'm going to try to make it to this, because I think I'm working the overnight the night before, so I should have the day off...and potentially the weekend as well, to recover.

Hope to see you there!

You Asked For It. It's Back! Red Light Presents: 

White Hot Winter: A Ru Paul's Drag Race Revue Starring JuJubee. January 16th 8PM only at Seacoast Rep. 

Start your engines, and slap on your snow tires! The Rep gets heated up this January with some of New England best and brightest drag stars. Featuring Jujubee from Ru Paul's Drag Race Season 2, and Boston's Best Queens, Lili Whiteass, Rainbow Frite, and Delta Miles. Hosted by Portsmouth's Own Queen of The 'B's, Bunny Wonderland. 

$25 per person, General Admission.

Tickets are on sale now, and are ALREADY HALF GONE! 
Go to www.seacoastrep.org to purchase your tickets today...

2014: A Year in Drag

Each year, I realize that I'm getting older.  A thought that I am still not ready to succumb to.  This year, like every year before, has gone by faster than I would have liked for it to.  Some awesome things happened.  Some horrible things happened.  Some things that are really sad happened, and some things that I will never forget, (because I took the time to write about them, so when I get to be old and senile, I'll at least have some kind of record of what I have done).  Over all, I don't have a lot to complain about for the year.  And, yes, I know I still have 4 days, technically, before the year is over...but the news channels have been pushing this end of the year crap for a week now, already, even before Christmas...

Manila Luzon

I'll start with the sad stuff, first, and get it out of the way.  This year marked the passings of Crystal Eaton, Scott Randall, Chase Wakeling, and Mildred Poland.  These are all people who at some point have had some kind of impact on my life.  Only one did any kind of drag.  Evie Does-It/Scott, made an otherwise exciting day, less so, as his passing happened to coincide with Latrice Royale's appearance at Styxx.  Crystal, who got her own post at the beginning of the year, was my babysitter, when I was a kid.  Chase invited Dan to live with him and his husband, when Dan had to evacuate an apartment, with only days notice, and Dan was still living there, when we met.  Chase was a supporter of us as a couple, from the very beginning, and it's still a shock to me that he's gone.  And, Mildred was my ex's aunt.  She reminded me an awful lot of my grandmother, and even after the breakup, she kept in contact with me via Facebook.  Her passing was a shock, but, it wasn't unexpected, and she had already made plans that it was her time to go.  Out of respect to the family, I opted to not go, because I didn't want anything to be weird, nor did I want to make it about me.  

Jessica Wild

2014 also marked the passing of one of the first "drag queens" that I was exposed to...Robin Williams, as Mrs. Doubtfire.  When I first heard the news, I thought it was another hoax, like, Macaulay Culkin's three deaths.  When it turned out to be true, it brought up a lot of things, for the kids I work with, as well as myself.  If nothing else, Robin Williams, as Mrs. Doubtfire, taught me that there is sometimes a thin line between the place where Love is Everything, and Love just isn't enough.  And, his final teaching, was that life is short, and let the people who mean anything, and everything to you, know that, because you never know for sure, when you won't get the chance to tell them again.

Joslyn Fox

There, now that the sad stuff is out of the way, I'll focus on some of the big things that happened this year.

2014 brought about my biggest year in RuPaul girls, yet.  I will have met, by the end of tonight, seven different RuPaul girls... Jujubee, Joslyn Fox (twice), Manila Luzon, Jessica Wild, Alyssa Edwards, Latrice Royale, and Mimi Imfurst.  It also brought about the first time I've ever won any kind of contest.  It only took me 34 years to win something more than a participation ribbon... This was the year, that I accidentally won a VIP ticket to see Alyssa Edwards...accidentally, because I forgot that I had entered, and, given that it was a Facebook contest, I didn't actually expect to win...

Alyssa Edwards

While my attempt to create a graphic novel, featuring drag came to a screeching halt, due to a lack of interest (on my part), and an attack on my creativity and imagination, due to doing some actual research by interviewing some queens, I put it aside.  It hasn't been scrapped entirely.  But, it's not a main focus.  At this point, I'd do better, writing a book..."The Boyfriend's Guide to Drag Husbandry." While it wouldn't necessarily be a best seller (or maybe it would), it would give me an opportunity to write what I know, and then nobody could attack me based on a lack of creativity, or plagarizing stories, by using bits and pieces of someone else's life...

Latrice Royale

I learned just how much my parents love the drag.  I have to admit, when I first started dating Dan, the biggest fear, was how they would react to the drag.  I obviously had nothing to worry about, since my mom's goal for this year was to start getting picture

s of her with the RuPaul queens, and, she's now working on hunting down DVD's of all the seasons of Drag Race.  It's been through this whole process, that I realized just how cool my parents really are.  They probably always have been, but you never think that your parents are cool, when you're a kid.  

Mimi Imfurst 

The year has been a giant teaching experience for me. I started to take my blog seriously, as a soapbox of sorts. On top of teaching about the acceptance of drag as an art, and an understanding of trans issues, I have also tackled why drag is dying in Maine, why we need to continue to teach about AIDS, and I grew a beard for testicular cancer. 

My No-Shave November Beard

At work, I've also been able to teach more about acceptance as well.  We took the kids to Salem, Massachusetts back in October, just before Halloween.  While we were there, the (at the time) Duchess Gigi Gill was out and about taking pictures with the tourists.  The boys all saw her, and started saying really mean things about her. So, it was my job to talk about the fact that not all drag is RuPaul "grade". And that it is as much about playing a character, as it is about dressing in the opposite gender's clothes.

Cherry Lemonade

Over the course of the year, I made some friends, and lost some friends. The friendscape of my life is in a big time flux right now. People are moving away. Other people just have stopped making the effort. And, I've done the same. Yet other people have surprised me. Cherry Lemonade has become someone  I consider to be a good friend...and she's going to be famous now. Starting January 7th we'll get to see her journey on American Idol.  

I went to so many shows throughout the course of the year.  Two fundraisers in January, March Dragness,  Jujubee at Styxx, Joslyn Fox at Mainestreet,  the Frannie Peabody AIDS Walk weekend in Ogunquit, Dragapalooza,  Zumba Wekend at Point Sebago,  all the Pride events and fundraisers, the shows at Seacoast Rep with Manila Luzon, Jessica Wild and Joslyn Fox,  Alyssa Edwards at Paradym, Latrice Royale at Styxx, the Miss AIDS Awareness Pageant, and Mimi Imfurst at Styxx. And I'm sure I missed a few shows as well.

The year gave me a totally different view of RuPaul's Drag Race, as a show. While it is still one of my favorite shows on tv, I learned through listening to stories from some of the girls, just how much the show is edited. What you're seeing on air, likely is not necessarily the way things happened in reality. 

I learned that some people just don't get how to promote. If you're trying to get people to come support your venue with a show,  it's important to get the word out on the street as early as possible. A last minute, "I need a poster for tomorrow,"  is NEVER going to get you the same business that you would get if you let people know a month or more in advance. 

I'm looking forward to New Year's Eve in Lynn, Massachusetts. I'm hoping that this will be the beginning of a year when I finally step out of the role of silent photographer, and start mingling on my own. I've done it a couple times this year, but it's always awkward.  I just have to keep trying. You know, "Fake it til you make it."

And, here's to a great 2015,  to all of you, my readers. Thank you for your support!