By V Solar-Miller
At the 26th annual Puget Sound Drag Show, the Gender & Sexuality Alliance (GSA) brought in queens from Tacoma and Seattle — and even some students — to perform and express themselves on the stage in Upper Marshall. On Saturday, Feb. 15, cheers from Puget Sound students, faculty, staff, family and Tacoma locals could be heard echoing through the halls of Wheelock. The show was titled “Dragged Through Time,” and all the proceeds from the event went to the LGBTQ+ Leadership Scholarship.
The Puget Sound student performers delivered choreographed numbers to songs from relevant artists Chappell Roan and Ayesha Erotica, pop icons Beyoncé and Lady Gaga, and mid-2000s legends My Chemical Romance and Avril Lavigne. The crowd was eager to provide the performers with loud screams, applause and plenty of dollar bill tips.
The emcee of the night, Drag Queen extraordinaire Macy Marcs, took the time to connect with the audience in between acts. Marcs spoke to the attendees about drag show etiquette and history, and her insight into the culture of drag was an invaluable part of the evening. In Marcs‘s opening speech, she taught the audience a crucial element of drag shows: the more energy a crowd gives to the performer, the more they’ll get.
Anita Spritzer and Marcs have been working together for more than 10 years, and have developed a sisterly relationship. While Marcs may have stolen the show with her dazzling smile and phenomenally sensual and polished performances, Spritzer won the audience’s hearts with a brilliant comedic approach to her act. Donned with a beehive that would make Dolly Parton proud, Spritzer ran around the crowd, interacting with audience members and delivering bold prop comedy bits overflowing with talent and passion. The audience was completely enthralled by her larger-than-life humor and high energy acts.
It’s not easy organizing a sold-out event, but August Grey (‘27) and Archie Kerr (‘27) made it look effortless. Kerr attributed much of the logistical organization to Student Programs Director Serni Solidarios and Director of Student Involvement & Programs Skylar Marston-Bihl, but the vision of the show was brought to life by Grey and Kerr. Grey, president of the GSA, founded the club during their freshman year after being disappointed by the lack of an organized LGBTQ+ presence on campus. Both Grey and Kerr understand the importance of bringing community together to celebrate queerness, especially under the stress of the current political and social climate.
In a speech to the crowd, Grey mentioned feeling the weight of the overwhelming anti-queer rhetoric that is spreading, but they reminded the crowd that “your joy is resistance.” The GSA was successful in bringing joy to not only the audience, but to the Puget Sound performers as well.
Charley Peebler (‘27) performs under the stage name Camella Smoke. A play on camel cigarettes, Peebler embraced the moniker after coming up with it at the drag show last year. Peebler donned a glossy jumpsuit and cowboy chaps and showed off their years of dance experience with style and flair. Later in the show, they were joined by Oscar Altman (‘27), known on stage as Hadonna Cox. Both Peebler and Altman looked like they came straight out of a 2010s Hot Topic, and danced to a remix put together by Altman. Along with Smokes and Cox, two other Puget Sound performers graced the stage with their presence. Returning for the second year in a row, Intercultural Engagement Coordinator Chris Davis, or Chi-Chi on stage, had a lot of fans in the audience and performed two striking dances brimming with confidence and finesse. Reed Wada, or Kagoshima Rose on stage, performed a beautiful fan dance in a lovely white yukata adorned with red-orange goldfish. Whether a first-time or returning dancer, this show allowed performers to explore and express themselves, and share it with a crowd eager to embrace them.
The show was a huge success, with dozens of overflow tickets being sold and a line filling the hallway when the doors opened. After the show, found laughing and talking with friends, one audience member remarked that the show made them feel “proud to be queer.” Kerr noted the presence of several senior University administrators, including President Crawford, but was most excited to see a large first-year turn-out. He was glad to have been able to give them a “roaring introduction to Pride at Puget Sound.” In that same vein, Grey wanted to welcome students to the GSA and remind them that they don’t have to wait for a once-a-year event to get involved, adding, “This family and safe space is open to all.” In a time where the future of queer rights is unclear, community support is a lifeline to struggling individuals. Anyone can be a voice of change and, like Grey said, your joy, art and kindness are all acts of resistance.