Courtesy of Gab Varano
Rainbow colored lights illuminated the stage at the John Cranford Adams Playhouse, where hundreds of Hofstra University students gathered for a night full of glitter and fun. The Pride Network (TPN), the Queer & Trans People of Color Coalition and the Gender Identity Alliance hosted their annual drag show on Thursday, Sept. 26, featuring over a dozen acts. The show was hosted by drag queen Miss Malice, a member of Brooklyn’s “Switch N Play” drag collective.
The first performer to take the stage was Vigor Mortis, a drag king, known for his “supernatural guises and bad taste in ’90s music.” Vigor Mortis performed a comedic number called “That Fascinating Thing,” which filled the audience with laughter, followed by “Chippendales” later on, alongside fellow drag king K.James. The next performer to take the stage was Connecticut’s “skanky space snake” queen, Ram Shackle. Ram Shackle performed three numbers during the show, including “Kill V. Maim,” “Cookie Monster” and “Babadook.” Ram Shackle won over the hearts of audience members with her eccentric looks and homemade cookies.
The next performance to take over the stage was from Hofstra’s own IMANI dance ensemble which united hip-hop, Afro-Caribbean and jazz to put on a show stopping number. After IMANI came New Jersey-based queen Olivia Lux. Lux performed three numbers themed around “The Wizard of Oz,” “The Little Mermaid” and “Proud Mary.” K.James was the next performer to take the stage, singing Mariah Carey’s “Emotions.” Hofstra’s Strictly Steppin’ took over the stage with their upbeat and powerful step number that had the audience cheering and dancing along.
With the crowd on their feet, there was no better time to introduce the next queen. Peppermint, star of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 9 and Broadway’s “Head Over Heels,” came out on stage. While performing original numbers, Peppermint showcased versatile looks, including a rainbow fringe dress that could be seen from the last row in the venue. Following Peppermint’s performance was host Miss Malice, who executed a number called “Attack of the Fifty Foot Woman.”
In addition to performances from previous queens, Sukanya La Bruja took the stage with “Rehab.” Toward the end of the night, senior psychology major and LGBTQ+ studies minor Aphrodite took the stage with her Britney Spears mix and ended strong by bringing out a cherry pie. Student dance club TranscenDANCE brought students of all grade levels and dance skills together for a high energy performance to some of today’s hit pop songs, including “Tempo” by Lizzo and “Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels” by Todrick Hall.
The show ended with a final three numbers from Peppermint, including her original song, “Dolla in My Titty,” during which she walked around the venue, collecting dollars from hundreds of drag enthusiasts. At the end of the show, Josh Castronuovo, president of TPN, announced that a total of $3,283 was raised for the Intercultural Engagement and Inclusion Gift Fund and Dean of Students Emergency Fund.
After the show, audience members had the chance to participate in a meet and greet with the kings and queens, where they could take photographs and purchase merchandise items.
