Mustaches and muscle shirts will abound this weekend as the city’s top drag-king performer is crowned.
Mr. Philadelphia Drag King Competition 2012 will kick off at 8 p.m. April 14 at William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St. The annual event, staged by Liberty City Kings Drag and Burlesque, will raise funds for this summer’s Dyke March.
The winner of the coveted title this year will also serve as Mr. Gay Pride Philly.
The seven aspiring kings vying for the titles will be judged on their runway walk, fantasy/formal wear, drag performance and a question-and-answer session, which Heather Coutts, competition producer and LiCK artistic director, said is guaranteed to deliver laughs.
“That’s always really funny because some of the judges will ask over-the-top questions and it’s interesting to hear how the kings answer and to watch them try to stay in character,” Coutts said.
Their efforts will be judged by reigning Mr. Philadelphia Drag King Rasta Boi Punany, Gay and Lesbian Latino AIDS Education Initiative executive director Elicia Gonzales, photographer and filmmaker Kelly Burkhardt, drag queen Goddess Isis and Philly Pride senior advisor Chuck Volz.
Philly Pride Presents first suggested the dual title after last year’s competition, so this will mark the first time contestants also will compete for Pride king.
Coutts said the partnership is a unique tool to increase women’s representation and involvement in community activities like Pride.
“This was a way to get the community even more engaged, and bringing more queer women into Pride,” Coutts said. “The winner will get to carry both titles, will get a cash prize and will perform at Pride events in June and OutFest in the fall — so in addition to being named the winner, they’ll have some community responsibility and will be giving back with their involvement.”
The batch of contestants comes from a variety of drag backgrounds, she said.
“We have a really diverse group this year,” Coutts said. “Some of them have performed in the past, so we’ll have some returning favorites, and others are very new to drag and we’ve never seen them before.”
The expected sold-out crowd will also likely represent all segments of the LGBT and ally community.
“Last year I saw everyone — gay, straight, boys, girls, trans,” said Franny Price, executive director of Philly Pride Presents. “The show’s done by a group that is predominantly women, but the word’s really getting out to all types of people about how great and entertaining of a show it is. It’s so different than the traditional drag-queen pageants and it’s just a really enjoyable and fun night.”
Last year, 450 people turned out for the show — putting the event well past capacity — so organizers this year are capping ticket sales at 300.
The audience members will be in for some high-energy performances, said Coutts, who noted that even organizers will be surprised by what the contestants bring to the stage.
“Even we don’t know what we’re going to see because we get the contestants’ songs and don’t do a preview of their performances,” she said. “So we have no clue what we’ll see, which is exciting. It’s always really fun, high-quality entertainment with a lot of humor and sex appeal.”
In addition to the competition, audience members will be treated to performances by Rasta Boi Punany, Goddess Isis, Lascivious Jane, Richie Rich and the Liberty City Kings.
The official after-party will be held Arouse at Finnigan’s Wake, 537 N. Third St.
Tickets to the Mr. Philadelphia Drag King Competition, which are $10, are available at www.pdk2012.eventbrite.com or at the door.
The winner’s Pride counterpart, Ms. Gay Pride Philly, will be crowned in a competition April 20 at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.