OUTLook is hosting their annual drag show for the 14th year in a row. Diversity is a major topic that is brought up a lot throughout college campuses, and according to OUTLook here on campus, what better way to show off diversity than to bring an actual drag show to NMU?
Drag shows are not something people see every day, so it is an interesting and fun event to participate in, especially if students have never experienced it.
Tabitha Stevens is a drag show performer who has been doing drag for over 24 years now. Tabitha is her stage name, which she acquired from the TV show Bewitched.
“Although I get my stage name from the TV show, I have several idols that I draw inspiration from,” Stevens said. “It takes a small village to put Tabitha together.”
Stevens plans on making an appearance this year as she did last year. After 24 years of performing, she has many favorite memories.
Stevens said one of the best things about being able to perform as Tabitha is all the people she has met and gotten to be friends with through the years.
“Students should look forward to just having a good time, and should attend, in my opinion, at least one drag show before they graduate,” Danielle Steffes, a member of OUTLook said. “It’s a fun thing to do and it opens your eyes for some people as to what is out there.”
In past years, the performers, who are also known as the queens, have been mainly transgender women. This year will be a little different, because not only are there queens, but the show is adding a king, who is a transgender man, to perform as well.
According to Steffes, this is the first time a king will appear here at Northern’s drag show, so if students have gone in the past, they may still want to consider coming to check him out as well.
The drag show is organized by the OUTLook organization here on campus. OUTLook is a safe gay, straight, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual group that tries to be proactive, have fun, and educate people.
According to Steffes, the message OUTLook is trying to relay is that these performers are just like everyone else. She said there are transgender individuals just like them out there, although many are oblivious to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people. Having the drag show provides knowledge and help people become more aware of how many different types of people really surround us.
Steffes also states that the purpose of the drag show is to entertain people, to raise awareness of how different people are, and to open peoples’ eyes to what else is out there and how diverse our country really is. Last year’s performers did everything from strutting their stuff in a dance routine to lip syncing their favorite song.
“Students can expect the same level of fun and entertainment we had last year, because we have several of the regular performers coming back,” Meredith Gasco, member of OUTLook said.
Gasco said there were between 900 to 1,000 people who attended the drag show last year. According to Gasco, the drag show also includes audience participation. People are allowed to cheer, dance, and hand the performers money as they show off their talent.
“It was just all around an awesome experience. I was very entertained and would recommend everyone to attend,” said Mary Dye, a sophomore who attended the drag show last year.
The drag show will be held on Friday, Nov. 5 in the Vandament Arena at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. It will be $5 for the general public and free to NMU students with I.D.
For more information on the event, please visit the OUTLook organization website or e-mail Danielle Steffes at [email protected].
