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May 8, 2023 Arts & Biz

Drag business flourishes in state’s arts and entertainment scene

PHOTO | Joey Morgan Popular television show “RuPaul's Drag Race” has fueled the popularity of drag performances in the state.
By Frank Rizzo

Drag performances have been around the state for decades, but in the past few years the scene has flourished into a thriving business for performers, promoters and venues.

For years the shows were small, low-tech events attracting only a modest crowd of drag aficionados.

But three new changes brought the queens a wider audience and dramatically increased commercial interest: a new generation of performers, the popularity of the "RuPaul's Drag Race" television series and the pandemic.

For the past eight years, Sky Casper has been the leading promoter of drag events throughout the state, offering drag brunches ("Pink Eggs and Glam"), "extravaganzas," competitions and other performances for public, private and corporate events and venues.

The events producer, entertainment director and artist manager reports that about 10 years ago, a new wave of drag artists emerged in the state as more professional performance opportunities began to gradually increase at Pride events, in nightclubs and in private parties.

The increase in activity was propelled by the widening popularity of the multiple Emmy-winning "RuPaul's Drag Race." It began as a bare-bones Logo television series in 2009 but then grew to what is now an international entertainment empire with spin-offs in nearly a dozen countries and live entertainment with global tours, big Las Vegas shows and DragCon events attracting tens of thousands.

“'Drag Race' brought drag into the mainstream," said Casper, who lives in West Hartford. "A lot of straight people didn't know what drag was until then. It made it a lot easier for someone like me to walk into a venue and say, 'Drag is cool and profitable and we should partner in an event.' More and more venues started to be open to the idea of drag performances."

In RuPaul's Drag Race’s 15th season — now on MTV, four Connecticut drag performers starred in the show — Hartford's Robin Fierce, West Hartford's Amethyst, Ansonia's Loosey LaDuca and Jax, who grew up in Darien — putting a national spotlight on the state's drag entertainment scene.

Casper estimates there are now about 100 drag performers working professionally at some level throughout the state. The increase in opportunities at events and venues here allows performers in the state to create a career, he said.

While the pandemic was devastating to the arts and entertainment industry, in some ways, he said, it proved to be beneficial to drag in the state.

Casper says it gave performers the time "to develop and elevate their drag more, making it even more of an art" — and to attract social media followers.

When the pandemic began to subside, venues such as theaters, restaurants, banquet facilities and other event spaces were desperate to lure back customers. Drag offered something new to present that was hot, hip and — reflecting the sensibilities of the Black Lives Matter movement and LGBTQ+ visibility — inclusive.

"It's become cool to have a drag show at your venue even if it doesn't cater to all demographics," said Casper, who began his series of high-energy drag brunches in 2015 called "Pink Eggs and Glam." He pointed out that the events feature live singing, not lip-synching. "These days you can't help but see drag brunches and events everywhere."

Casper has presented brunches, interactive cabaret shows, Pride entertainment and special events in New Haven, Hartford, New London, Southington, Fairfield, Bethel, East Windsor, Berlin, West Hartford and other cities and towns across the state. He also presents shows for many schools, universities and colleges here as well as high-profile venues such as Mohegan Sun. He also created a video display of drag artists projected on the outside of The Bushnell in Hartford, located across from the state Capitol. Casper also manages Pangina Heals, one of the most popular drag performers in Asia, and a memorable queen on last year's "RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs the World."

One of his recent partnerships is with the three The Place 2 Be restaurants in the state and the one in Springfield, Mass. where his monthly events often sell out.

"The brunches are an amazing and unique experience for our customer base," said Nina Guiri, owner of four The Place 2 Be restaurants in the state and in Springfield, which features monthly drag events which began in 2021. The shows attract up to 100 people across a wide range of ages. "It's been a huge success."

Another new partnership for Casper is with Southbury's Heritage Hotel. The first show he produced there sold out in 48 hours. A second show was quickly added — and also sold out. Together they attracted more than 300 people.

But responses to the growing popularity of drag has not been all positive. In March, Tennessee became the first state to sharply restrict drag performances, banning the shows on public property and in places where they could be watched by minors. More than a dozen Republican-led state legislatures are considering bills amid increasing right-wing attacks on the rights of drag, transgender and LGBTQ Americans across the country.

"When the Heritage announced the show on social media, there were some hateful comments," said Casper.

When the negative comments started to appear, he said they were countered by a wave of people speaking out in favor of the performers and venue and urging others to come out and show their support as well.

They were not alone in their support. Last month Connecticut legislators representing the state’s LGBTQ+ caucus along with Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz appeared on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” in a video message supporting the four Connecticut contestants. Gov. Ned Lamont retweeted the video, saying, “We’ve got your back!”

Though Casper is proud of his entrepreneurial ventures in the state and beyond, Casper said, "I would be nothing without my queens. They work so hard and they always deliver to create a quality experience from start to finish."

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