Drag Season - Doing the Little Show That Could

Thanks for coming back to see how it all ends!!

I don't know if you have put together that BEST IN DRAG SHOW happens on the weekend of my birthday every year.  So, when I am doing the BIDS, my birthday celebrations are very limited.  I like to travel somewhere far away for my big 5 birthdays, but that hasn't been an issue, yet.  This time, I was more than fine limiting my celebration to a local setting, but thanks to muh DAB, Dudley, I got the blow out the candles on my cotton candy (Thanks Lulu!) in Palm Springs!

You see, this past birthday was the big 50 for Dudley, which we celebrated quite brightly with a Solid Gold themed birthday party.

Not letting a big 5 birthday fade out too soon, Dudley decided to keep the celebration going by arranging for friends to spend fun times in Palm Springs for a weekend.  He was gracious enough to invite me and and let me celebrate my actual birthday with him and the guys.

Here we are at Lulu...

...where I actually blew out the candles on my cotton candy.

After a special birthday and a couple of hours of sleep, I hopped in my car and headed back to LA for our final rehearsal before the show.

Finally, October 5 rolled around and I was ready to go!

Glen Alen was there to get my face on.

You can see for yourself, I did a decent job of coloring my own wig, but it could have been redder, methinks.

After we were all dressed up & stuff, Kay Sedia and I went out to enjoy some preshow stuff.

Step & repeats are fun!

Step & Repeats are fun!

Preshow "Hellos" with 2 of my favorite people, Frank DeCaro & Jim Colucci!

There wasn't much time for schmoozing before we had to get backstage and start the show!
The moment the curtain went up, my happy level shot up!  It was such a treat to see the dancers executing what I saw them rehearsing for the past couple of weeks.

It also the marked start of the fun and exciting evening I had been looking forward to ever since I got that surprise call asking me to be in the show.  It wasn't very long until it was time to do the color commentary with Kay.  Sharing the stage with Kay is always a lot of fun and things usually turn out well.

So far so good...

Look at the beautiful dress Carol the quinceanera-dress-maker-lady made!!

Aye! Ju don't know our lives!

So, the color commentary we provide covers the contestants in their swimsuits and it is ALL SHADE, but funny.  Maybe all of the jokes didn't land, but Kay and & I usually have fun with audience reactions and a list of other people to blame for the clunker (like the current administration!). Overall, the bit went well and we moved on with the show.  

In between events & such I stalked the contestants and got pics with them backstage.

Miss Florida - Palli-tiv Claire

Miss New York - Mi'a Morr

Miss Wisconsin - Bailey Barnum

Miss Missouri - Daisy Jane

Miss New Jersey - Bree Mandela

I also got

Salina Estitties

and Director, Jeffrey Drew

Before long, it was time to perform our interview duties. (I wore a dress I already had made by Carol the quinceanera-dress-maker-lady.)  I think I did a pretty good job reading from cards!

Miss New Jersey will not be stumped!

Soon it was time to crown the winner and I must say, because this is a fundraiser, it's nice to see all the money literally raining onto the stage.

The audience throws money on stage when they get excited or really guffaw at something and that's why it's important to put on a really entertaining show.  I feel honored that I have been trusted to be a part of that.  

The crown went to Miss Wisconsin, Bailey Barnum whose circus theme was over the big top.

After the crowning, the total raised in during the evening was revealed.  

A quarter of a million dollars is pretty good!  I wish it could be more, considering the current administration's apparent goal of obliterating funds for organizations such as Alliance for Housing and Healing and APLA.  Finally, as we posed for the final group shot of contestants, hosts and judges I prepared for one of my favorite past times.

That past time is stalking the stars!!

I enjoy capturing magic moments with celebs, especially those who donate their time to charitable organizations... give them their due, you know?

Katherine LaNasa

Grant Show

Cheri Oteri

Camryn Manheim

Dan Bucatinsky

As we wrapped up, I was exhausted, relieved and very happy.  It was a good night and it felt like a job well done. I wondered if I could ever do the competition part again.  Sure, it's a blast and a great way to give back, but it's also months of preparation and many little sacrifices of time and space and sanity.  Why would I ever think that?  Would they even ever want me back in that capacity?  I don't know, I'll just be glad to be a part of it in any small way, again.  

So until we see what's happening in October 2026, I bid BIDS goodnight. 

Wait. Is that the phone..?

Thank you WeHo Times for these wonderful image I lifted from you!!

Drag Season - I could do the Little Show That Could

 Hello, loyal reader!  Remember that time I went to see the documentary about The BEST IN DRAG SHOW and I lamented about how I felt like Lucy Ricardo trying to force her way into the Ricky's show?  It was in that post that I realized that it was best for me to let go, because I understood more about the show and its origin and the just how involved the people involved are.  Well, it seems that once you let something go, if it likes you, it will come back!  Out of the blue, I was asked if I would like to return to the show to do color commentary with Kay Sedia!  I must admit that I'm a little ashamed that I didn't even pretend to think about it, I just yelled, "YES"!

So, now that I was in the show, I had to prepare.  That included getting a new wig and a new dress, something the kids at BIDS had never seen.  I want to stay fresh in their memories!  Things started off a little wonky when I ordered a wig from Outfitters Wigs in Hollywood and ended up with a blonde, instead of red wig.  That was (could have been) a costly mistake on my part, but I was able to fix it at a minimal cost.  You see, I ordered in person by pointing to a brown wig saying, "I want that, 

but this color." and showed her this picture.

This isn't actually the pic I showed her.  You have to click HERE that image

She said something like, "Oh, that's Honey Bladdy Blah..."  and I said, "Okay" and left it at that.  I was mortified when I arrived after receiving my "It's ready!" call and finding myself face to Styrofoam face with this gorgeous BLONDE wig.  

Then I realized that I should actually have been more specific about the color and made sure we agreed before leaving the store that fateful night. I didn't even mention the wig color before leaving the store, because I was so embarrassed.  After needlessly fretting for a time, I popped over to Ulta and bought some root cover spray and sprayed it all a color close to nearly almost what I wanted.  BUT, before that, I had to pull something together for the official BIDS photoshoot, that takes place a few months before the show in October.  I went with my original Miss Texas dress and wig and had my make-up done by trusty Glen Alen, who is very generous with his time & talent for BIDS.

I was pleased to have fun reuniting with the BIDS kids and goofing with Kay between shots.

Patrick Rush (Co-Host) captures the moment

The lovely Salina Estitties

Me & Kay Sedia

Oh, look! A contestant got caught in the background!

That's Miss Wisconsin, BAILEY BARNUM

Lotta Slots (Jeffrey Drew) enjoys a little outdoor break.

Photographer, John Paschal, took our pics and the rest is PR history.

Here is the final product used to promote the show... with a little editing by me

The next step was the rehearsals.  Those were fun to watch because of the fab dancers...

It was nice to sit back, load up on coffee & donuts and observe the goings on to get material for the show.

The dancers had a good time, too, as they followed director, Jeffrey Drew's (Lotta Slots) pointed direction.

All that was left, was for me to contact my favorite quinceanera-dress-maker-lady, Carol and have her whip up a lovely Reba Areba style dress! With all that done, we were ready for the show.  ...Which I'll tell you all about TOMORROW.
Stay tuned!

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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