PORT ANGELES — Madame Taran Tula will preside. Hallow-queens and -kings will sweep forward, desiring the throne. Costumed spectators will appear as innocent-seeming women transform into judges.
This could only be the Super Spooktacular Drag Off, a contest and show for drag queens and kings Saturday night at Studio Bob, the event space in downtown Port Angeles. The 8 p.m. event is open to those age 16 and older, with tickets at $12 in advance and $15 at the door.
“It is going to be a packed show,” promised organizer Richard Stephens, he who’ll turn himself into a she: the aforementioned Madame Taran Tula.
As Drag Off mistress of ceremonies, Madame has accepted seven contestants. Each will perform for her, for the audience and for the judges, actress Anna Andersen and singer Amanda Bacon.
Andersen is “a distinguished Shakespearean actress with a background in dance and a years of experience working out of Los Angeles,” Madame noted.
“She is the eagle-eyed veteran to study and appraise our talented performers.”
Bacon has starred in musicals in Port Angeles and Sequim and sung the National Anthem at Safeco Field in Seattle, Madame said, adding that both judges will do musical numbers of their own in the show.
Another judge or two may well be added to the panel, as Salmonella Riviere, founder of Port Angeles’ Drag Offs, had to bow out due to a work conflict.
Also part of the Spooktacular: a half-hour performance by Sideshow, a steampunk cabaret troupe featuring dancer Merryn Welch. A costume contest will lead to prizes for the best getups in the audience.
Not to be upstaged, Madame Taran Tula herself will do two numbers.
“I wasn’t going to, but I was besieged by requests and who am I to decline the clamor and pleas of the fans,” she purred. “At least it sounded like that in my fevered imagination.”
This is the fourth formal Drag Off for Port Angeles, and as before, it’s open to anyone 16 and older. Contestants lip-sync, sing, dance, prance and answer questions posed by the judges.
“The most important thing is the courage to get up on stage and the generosity of spirit to share your talents with others,” said Madame. She elected to not take any more contestants beyond the first seven who signed up.
“We have a very full show,” Madame said. “If all goes well, we will plan to do this again in another three or four months.”
Advance tickets are on sale at Odyssey Books, 114 W. Front St., and via www.BrownPaperTickets.com. Saturday night, any remaining will be sold at the door of Studio Bob, 118½ E. Front St. For information, find the “Super Spooktacular Drag-Off” page on Facebook or phone 360-775-4991.
