A record year! The Best in Drag Show 2014 raised $450,000 for Aid for AIDS, a program of Alliance for Housing and Healing. THANK YOU to our donors, sponsors, ticket buyers, volunteers, and performers. Because of YOU, we will be able to provide housing and food – the basic necessities – to our neighbors who are devastated by HIV/AIDS.
“We are kicking butt!” Miss New York was heard saying backstage as the enthusiastic audience made many generous donations to show their appreciation of the performers and the mission of the charity. Indeed, Miss New York- Po Mi Saki (Nicholas Mancini)-, was kicking butt and everything else as part of her amazing talent routine that showcased highly acrobatic martial arts.
Miss Washington, Willamina Wonka (Marcus Barela), wowed by spinning on a rope far above the stage. Reminiscent of a chocolate covered cirque du soleil, Miss Washington’s barely there swimsuit was also a crowd pleaser.
Miss Hawaii, Suh Nami (Sean Kim), seamlessly combined her Hawaiian heritage with her Latin roots to show off flawless dance moves in an exciting pasodoble. She also taught us how to survive natural and manmade disasters – think extra-hold hairspray.
Miss New Mexico, D’Vida Loca (David A. Flores), was out of this world with an alien inspired magic act that left us all wondering how she did it. But, the booty shaking distracted us from guessing her secrets.
Miss Maine, Dotty Rae Johnson (Todd Wing), brought her ‘feminine’ side all the way from the backwoods. She wielded axes like a pro. But, just to be safe, the backstage area was cleared before she started her talent routine.
Miss Alaska, Tastee Freez (Seth Hancock), was the audience favorite. Her lip synching to Let It Go from Frozen was a roaring hit with a standing ovation. More than 850,000 people have seen the video online. To experience the Tastee phenomenon, click here.
Celebrity judges were generous with their scores and their dollars. Many of the stars made personal donations of $5,000 and $10,000. Our pink carpet was graced with the event’s headliner Kathy Griffin who opened the show with her unique brand of stand-up. The sold-out Orpheum Theatre could barely contain its excitement as Kathy started the night with an homage to Bruce Jenner. Kathy was joined on the judging panel by amazing A-listers Jennifer Coolidge, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Melanie Griffith, Josh Henderson, Dot Jones, Kathy Kinney, Mary-Louise Parker, and Holland Taylor.
Event co-founder Patrick Rush returned to his sequined podium to host and try to keep a lid on the madness. Patrick’s charm and wit carried the audience through the laughs and tears of the show. Many of the notes that accompanied the donations thanked Patrick for his personal dedication to the Aid for AIDS mission.
Jeffrey Drew directed, choreographed, and helmed the Best in Drag Show 2014. After making the transition from onstage talent to director a few years ago, Jeffrey has continued to raise the stakes. The opening number was better, the jokes were funnier, and the girls were almost prettier thanks to Jeffrey’s hard work.
All photos courtesy of JPI Studios.
The show was Broadway caliber and brilliant thanks to the sets by Jimmy Cuomo, the lights by Joey Alfano, and many of the costumes by Clay Sadler. The party started in the elaborate Orpheum lobby decorated by Ryan Zynger.
Sponsors and donors made the evening a tremendous success. Special thanks to our leading contributors including Dr. Mark Honzel, Klean Treatment Centers, Craig Fisse and Michael Patrick King, Steve Needleman, Barbara Jacobs, Michael Kraut and Dan McCarty. To see a list of sponsors and donors, click here.
In the end, Vava Fanculo ended her reign by crowning Miss New York Po Mi Saki the new Miss Best in Show. But, everyone was a winner that night – especially the clients of Aid for AIDS.
