By Cynthia Romero
Three drag shows featured in this year’s Pride lineup offer a little something for the diva in all of us.
“A Night at The Tombs” is a solo musical featuring transsexual actress Bianca Leigh in her struggle to understand how a Jersey boy who dreamt of becoming a Shakespearean actor eventually ends up as a dominatrix.
“This show is kind of a glimpse into heyday New York and Downtown when it was still dirty and underground. It’s primarily set in the ’80s and ’90s and touches on what her life as a transgender has been like,” said SpinCycle press agent Ron Lasko.
The show features music by Taylor Mac, “Avenue Q”’s Jeff Whitty and more. “Tombs” runs from June 25 to August 5 at Bowery Poetry Club, 308 Bowery, and starts nightly at 8. For more information, call 212-614-0505. Tickets are $18.
Another show making a splash this year is “Jackie Beat: In 3-D,” featuring acclaimed Hollywood drag queen Jackie Beat. Beat’s performance will include just the right amount of sex, violence and a sprinkling of effects makeup, adding up to an explosive performance of new material and classic hits. Beat’s show is a spin on Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5,” her musical explanation of the gay hanky code of the 1970s as set to “Tie A Yellow Ribbon,” her rendition of “Proud Mary” and her controversial ballad to pedophilia set to Bryan Adams’s “Heaven.”
“She calls herself a mix of Bette Midler and Weird Al Yankovic. She rewrites lyrics but she’s very smart about it,” Lasko said. “She’s actually one of the major drag queens right now.”
Jackie’s show is at 10 p.m. June 26 and June 27 at Gramercy Theater, 127 E. 23rd St. For more information, call 212-777-6800. Tickets are $25 to $35.
Last but certainly not least is the 1984 Gay Pride Madonnathon. The dance party will feature two full hours of Madonna’s music, unreleased material and bootleg videos. The show will also feature DJ Chip Duckett spinning ’80s music from artists such as Pet Shop Boys, George Michael, Erasure, Boy George, Cher and Prince.
“What we wanted to really do here was to delve into never-before-seen footage of Madonna, some of her ’80s and early ’90s music, and add on some rare interviews and even some Japanese commercials she’s featured in,” said Lasko. “You know generally what makes these shows so much fun are the people who come to them.”
Doors open at 9:30 p.m. until 1 a.m. on June 25 at Pyramid Club, at 101 Avenue A at Seventh St. For more information, call 212-228-4888. Cover is $8.
For more information on any of these events, log onto www.SpinCycleNYC.com.
