Hours in hair and makeup, elaborate outfits and carefully choreographed dance numbers are all components of Otterbein’s biannual drag show.
Put on by members of Cap and Dagger, the proceeds of this event will go to Actors Equity Fights Aids.
“I hope that many people come to the show, like the football players, and that more people would know about it. It is a big, fun and crazy festive night,” said freshman theater major Zach Paugh, one of the ladies.
The show OMIGOD You’re Guys?! starts at 9 p.m. April 14 in the Pit Theatre of the Campus Center.
The T&C spoke with three of the leading ladies.
Blake Floyd,
aka Laura Belle Bendy
Floyd started appearing in the Otterbein drag shows during spring of last year. He said that he primarily started for charity and also to be silly and dumb.
Floyd picked the name Laura Belle Bendy because his first number was the song “Giddy On Up” by Broadway and country star Laura Belle Bundy. Bundy has appeared in the Broadway musical “Legally Blonde,” in which she starred as Elle Woods, and also in “Hairspray” as mean girl Amber Von Tussle.
Originally from Texas, Floyd is known for doing a country number in every show. “You can take the drag queen from Texas, but cannot take the Texas out of the drag queen,” Floyd said.
In preparation for the show, Floyd buys everything — dresses, heels, wigs, makeup and even jewelry. Along with borrowing some items, he said that he spends anywhere from $100-500 out of his own pocket.
A month of rehearsal is required from all participating drag queens. Floyd said it takes teamwork to get the show together.
According to Floyd, new drag queens are picked every year by the senior graduates to fill their positions. “Laura Belle has been looking and has her eyes on a few,” he said.
Zach Paugh,
aka Miss Iris Zhu
This is Paugh’s first year performing in the drag show, and he said he became interested because it offers a creative outlook and gives him a chance to dance.
Originally, Paugh’s stage name was CC Ping Pong because of a running joke in the costume shop.
He decided to change his name to Miss Iris Zhu because it combines his Asian culture along with sex appeal.
Paugh said he has been preparing for the show for a couple months. He spent over $250 for the show, purchasing stage makeup along with dresses, wigs and heels.
Before the show, Paugh takes four hours for makeup and hair then two hours for dress rehearsal before the show.
Anthony Murphy,
aka Shelita Buffet
This is Murphy’s second time performing in the show. He said that he saw his best friend Kyle McIntire in it last year and thought it was a great idea, along with being a really fun time.
McIntire, who is Murphy’s “drag mother,” came up with his name, which is a play on the words “she’ll eat a buffet.” Murphy said that McIntire also lends him his clothes and makeup.
For the show, Murphy uses three pairs of high heels, four-five wigs and makeup. He found himself spending $100-150.
Also starring in the drag show this year are Austin Cooper, Hayden Clifton and Evan Zimmerman, and this year’s hosts are Hannah Barrens and Polly Levi.
