Too Busy For Love - Year of the Crown Part 2: The Show

The deadline was nearing, I only had a few days to make sure everything was ready.  I had spent a good portion of my time getting my talent together.  I did that  with the help of my fellow Chico's Angel, Ray Garcia, who graciously  helped me with choreography, and one of my favorite hunks, Duke Shoman, who agreed to be my shirtless pinata hitter.

In the final weekend, there was the big, all day, full cast rehearsals, which despite my inability to absorb choreography quickly, were an absolute blast in the capable and helpful hands of Jeffrey Drew!

Finally, it was time to get to the Orpheum Theatre and put on the show!!

First I had to load-in and get all my crap sorted out...

Then, make-up magician, Glen Alen, made me up to be pageant gorgeous!

While I was getting ready downstairs, my friends, Mike Pingel and Kevin Alpert, were handing out postcards and Reba Areba pins to audience members as they came in..

Before I knew it, it was time to hit the stage for our intro/opening number

Perhaps you can see my two danglies in the pic below... During my intro I said, "I am wearing a blue bonnet on my head because that is the state flower.  The state bird is the mocking bird, and the state tree is the Pecan Tree, known for its nuts!" At which point, two large pecans drop from under my dress.

Next, I quickly ran down stairs to get into my swimsuit attire!

For my swim suit, I entered stage in my Nacho Poncho

Made my way to center stage

Where I took a dip in a pool of guacamole

And stepped out to reveal my Jalapeno Bikini

 

John Coulter really took my original idea to the next level, he knows everyone loves a reveal!

After the swimsuit final looks, I rushed downstairs again to get into my Talent get-up!

As I was rushing, I took a moment to note that it REALLY helped to have my dressing room  mate, Miss Louisiana's talent partners in the room for inspiration

Once in my costume, I took another moment to appreciate them

It REALLY helped.  

Not that  my talent partner was any slouch!!  You remember Duke Shoman, don't you??

He graciously agreed to be my HIT MAN.  you see, for my talent I was a human Pinata

...except that my hanging cable snaps and I'm left on stage to avoid being beaten by the blindfolded shirtless hunk man

while I sing my HIT ME MEDLEY live.  And every time Duke hit me, a piece of my pinata costume came off.

Then, with the final hit, we reveal my candy dress!

Then, back down stairs, which is really challenging by the way, to get ready for Evening Gown/Interview!

For my Evening gown, I enter dressed as the Virgin de Guadalupe, carrying my lit-up sunburst of holy rays background with me (This you do not get to rehearse, so I almost fell over when one of the background's feet hit a step as I made my way down to the stage.  I teetered, but recovered- knowing full well, everyone watches intently for a spill!)

Once down center stage, (Crown falling forward from the near-spill) 

I pose

Then turn my background around to reveal a message

A subtle message about Trump's wall, 

then I step out to reveal my Yellow Rose of Texas dress

I had a little trouble with my cherub shoe, but that didn't seem to bother anyone, much.

Next was the interview portion...

My question was, "What is your greatest fear?"

I replied, that after heights, my donkey losing his way home, and looking Bruce Willis in the eye, my biggest fear is becoming ill and losing my home.  For example, many people living with HIV are homeless and have nowhere to turn for shelter or medication.  Then I mention Alliance for Housing & Healing and Aid for AIDS.  I did this in character, most contestants break character to get the seriousness of the subject across, I decided to try to find a balance and stay Reba Areba.  Finally, I added that I am also afraid of cucumbers.

The competition was over, all that was left was to crown a winner!
Honestly folks, I knew going in that I couldn't spend half a year prepping for this beauty pageant all just to win.  I went in with the goal of putting on a great show and if I didn't win, I could look at it like any other show I've done in the past and played my role well.  Then, at that moment I FUCKING WANTED TO WIN!  No, I just thought it would be super neato, right?

I was in the final three with Miss Colorado and Miss Washington...

Then I was in the top two with Miss Washington!!

I thought, could there be a bucket of pig's blood right above me?

Then, they announced the winner,

IT WAS ME!!

This is me, BEST IN DRAG SHOW 2018

But wait, there's more!!

After the initial hoopla & Pics

 We got to meet the judges,

Kathy Kinney, Arden Myrin, Patrick Rush, Lance Bass and Dot Marie Jones

It was a bit surreal.

I love me some Dot Marie Jones!  She is such a kind and gracious woman!

Lance Bass didn't call the police on me, this time!

Then, the most fabulous part was going out and seeing my wonderful friends and family!

John Coulter, whose work with Robin Chartier, really took my ideas, expanded them and made dream come true costumes for me!  CONFESSION: Going into this I knew John as a talented friend, artist and supermodel; it wasn't until I was looking up information to include in my program bio, that I found out, John actually designs costumes!  Shut Up! I know! THAT'S why he always had rockin' Halloween costumes! Check out all of his super neato work HERE

Here's Mike & Kevin, who helped cheer me on in the lobby!

The Chico's Angels kidz in some form or another...

Muh DAB, Dennis Hensley was there...

Muh DAB, Glenn Gaylord was there...

My family: Brother in law, Charlie, my Ma, sister Julie and Charlie's sister, Melissa came all the way from El Paso!

It's always nice to have family there for you, but the best moment of the night, for me, was seeing my Mom so happy!

I guess even in a dress & slap, I'll always be my mama's boy!

Certainly, there were more of my close friends who were in the audience cheering me on, but didn't make it to the secret back alley for pics and I thank them all for coming, but special thanks goes to Ted and Eduardo who, also, came all the way from El Paso a few days early and helped me in my many hours of need!

So, there you have it, my story about half a year spent prepping for a one night show, keeping me very busy.

So, while I'd love to go have some of that pumpkin spiced hooha with you, I can't!  I'm too busy helping raise over half a million dollars for Alliance for Housing & Healing and Aid for AIDS!

Disclaimer & Thanks: My blog is usually all illustrated with my own photography, but these past posts couldn't be made with out photos stolen from Mike Pingel, John Paschal  and Geoffrey P Vitrano (and maybe a few stolen from Facebook...)

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