Last Saturday night, Campus Activities Board (CAB) at Grand Valley State University hosted its annual double feature Drag Show and “Rocky Horror Picture Show” screening in the Kirkhof Center’s Grand River Room.
The student organization Brains and Beauty started the event by doing drag makeup on students before the show. Afterwards, the two-hour drag show began. The lineup of performers included seven local drag artists: DeeDee Chaunte, Sasha Banks, Dymond Denae, Mia Cole, Gabriella Stratton Galore, Cocky Divine and Amira S. Glass. The event concluded with a screening of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” a 1975 musical that has gained cult-classic status.
To further promote inclusivity, CAB partnered with Alcohol & Other Drugs Services, which provided mocktails for the event, and the Milton E. Ford LGBT Resource Center. Throughout the event, student attendees erupted with cheers for the queens as the performers danced and lip-synced through the night. The drag show featured a runway-walk competition with volunteers from the audience. Last but not least, attendees settled in for “Rocky Horror,” a movie that’s become iconic in drag and queer subcultures.
This was the second time CAB hosted the event, and it has already seen tremendous growth. CAB hosted a drag performance and movie screening for the first time last year, and plans to keep the tradition going. Regina LaValle, a CAB activities team director, was very happy with the event turnout. LaValle said she hopes even more students attend the event next year.
“We wanted to be inclusive,” LaValle said. “I think a lot of people like (the event). We actually had to add more chairs this year because we got a lot more people, which is nice.”
DeeDee Chaunte, one of the drag queens and host of the event, stated the performances were “absolutely amazing.” She was very pleased with the addition of the catwalk, which was not available last year. Chaunte emphasized the importance of events like this: drag shows provide visibility and an inclusive space for all students.
“There’s queer people everywhere, and sometimes we find ourselves not knowing there’s representation around us until representation shows up,” Chaunte said.
She is also thankful GVSU continues to host this type of event, despite controversy over drag performances nationwide.
“I am so appreciative to the University for continuing to have these kinds of programs because a lot of people have cut these things out,” Chaunte said. “It means a lot that local universities in the area have not done so.”
All of the drag artists have performed at multiple Pride festivals, venues and nightclubs, and have won titles for their work. Despite this recognition in larger venues, all artists agreed college students are the best audience to perform for.
“The energy today, this (college campus) is the only place you can get this type of energy,” said drag queen Dymond Denae. “It doesn’t happen on other shows, not like that.”
The double-feature event was part of Fall Fest, a celebration comprised of multiple events throughout October. Other activities that will be hosted are S’more and Friendship Bracelet Making Oct. 14 and the Haunted Library Oct. 24-25.
