11th annual extravaganza celebrates the art of gender bending.
Boys R Us, Tucson’s gender-bending performance art group, is scheduled to present the 11th annual International Drag King Community Extravaganza with this year’s title of “No Borders.”
The five-day festival centered on the art of drag performance is slated to run Oct 21 through 25 in Tucson and plans to include educational workshops for those new to the trade, an art and film festival and noted author Kate Bornstein as the event’s keynote speaker.
Kicking off No Borders, Boys R Us have planned their opening-night performance at Tucson’s Surly Wench Pub. From there, daily events are scheduled including a variety show and a burlesque night. While at first glance this drag fest may seem to be adult only, many family activities are included in its itinerary. Youth workshops, pajama parties, barbeques and museum field trips promise to make your five days in Tucson a kid-friendly experience.
Boys R Us executive director Dante Celeiro told Equality Arizona Radio that Boys R Us came out of a need for more “kings” in the Arizona drag scene. The troupe first aimed at an educational effort to reach out to would-be performers and “get them to come in, teach them about facial hair, binding, packing,” says Celeiro. Whether it is your first time seeing a drag show or you are a veteran, Celeiro insists a Boys R Us production is always a once in a lifetime experience. “You will never see the same show twice,” he says. (idkexi.com)