Drag queens are taking it to the downtown streets of Gainesville on Friday.
Downtown Drag: Drag Queens Take it to the Streets! will begin at 10 p.m. at Maude’s Side Car Bar, 101 SE Second Place.
Local fashion designer Bob Coleman, 28, is one of the main people putting together the drag show. The show is the most recent installment of the Downtown Drag series, which started July 18.
"It’s only been going on for two or three months and it’s gotten a huge reaction out of the community," Coleman said. "It’s easy to put anything together at Maude’s because of the type of people that come there…so many people (are) willing to help and give really good ideas."
The free event offers a variety of drink specials as well as VIP seating.
The idea was introduced when Coleman’s friend, Jackson Sabbegh, introduced him to the idea of drag shows. Coleman found the idea could bring in business to Maude’s Side Car Bar, where he bartends on Friday nights.
"We weren’t making enough money so I thought I should do a crazy-ass show and this is what happened," Coleman said.
Coleman is also the owner and founder of Bobby Foxx Designs, a local jewelry line. He is studying studio art with a focus in metalworking and jewelry design at Santa Fe College.
While Coleman works the bar and overlooks the event, Queen De Caf will be the master of ceremonies. The show will have performances from queens Marina Maroney and Nicki Mirage, a burlesque number by Kitty LaTush, an appearance by drag king Dick Tracey and entertainment by DJ Tierney.
"You are not performing as yourself, you are performing as your persona," said Nick Cavallaro, 22, a biological engineering major at UF. For Cavallaro, drag is his "creative outlet." He began performing as his drag persona Nicki Mirage in September 2013.
Cavallaro performs monthly as Nicki Mirage at University Club for "Sexxxy Saturdays." He began performing at Maude’s because it was a fun new show in town which gave him the ability to develop it however he wants.
"I can perform more obscure music for my numbers and it will still be well received," Cavallaro said.
Twenty-two-year-old Drew Aldrich, a political science major at UF, performed for his first time in Washington, D.C., while he was there on an internship in July 2014. The experience was "surreal."
"Growing up I’ve always wanted to be a performer," Aldrich said. "Drag has really given me the opportunity to be the star."
His drag persona is Marina Maroney. According to the persona’s Facebook page, Marina Maroney is a Florida sweetheart and D.C. political queen.
When coming to the show, the audience can expect a lot of good dance numbers, a lot of laughs and a lot of audience interaction, Aldrich said.
"As performers, we perform as well as our audience responds so we love interacting with the audience," Aldrich said.
What is unique about Maude’s drag show is it takes place outside, between the bar and the Hippodrome State Theatre. By hosting the event outside of Maude’s, the underground art is exposed.
"The thing about drag is that it’s always done in closed doors…not a lot of people are ever exposed to it," Coleman said. "The cool thing about our venue is that it’s a portal between the mainstream and the subculture."
The street is the queens’ stage and their props are the audience and unsuspecting passersby that get wooed in by their performances
Unlike drag shows in clubs or indoor venues, the patrons have given Coleman, the queens and the performers complete creative freedom to make the show their own.
"Maude’s has really let the queens take control of the show," Aldrich said. "It’s kinda grown organically; us queens are able to do basically whatever we want to do."
Coleman has planned and worked in fashion shows in the past but finds planning drag shows to have less structure and "more humor."
"I think what I’ve learned through all this is if you find the right people and you put them together, they can do amazing things," Coleman said. "Just coordinate and let them get creative."
The event has been growing consistently over the last few months. An upcoming drag show is scheduled for Oct. 9.
"If anyone wants a show that’s a little different than your conventional drag show, this is the show for them," Cavallaro said. "You never totally know what to expect at Maude’s, other than to have a good time."
