Drag Performance: Between & Beyond Gender is an in-person 10-12 week class which culminates in a performance showcase featuring original performance pieces by emerging experimental drag artists who subvert both gender and genre.

This class focuses on developing drag characters that expand what it means to be a drag queen, king, thing, in between or beyond what has been seen. Through group games, writing prompts, discussion, and solo and collaborative movement exercises, participants give themselves permission to express the full range of who they are—and can be—while releasing narratives about how they “should” move, express, or dress based on inherited gender norms.

They experiment with the tools of pantomime, clowning, lip sync, caricature, structured improv and intuitive movement to build towards in-process drag performance acts. While this class is focused primarily on performance skills, they touch upon what goes into making a drag act including: makeup, costumes, creating a musical track, movement choreography and technical production choices.

STORY

When Theydy began in the Brooklyn drag scene in 2016, they struggled to find community, especially as a nonbinary performer. They craved a noncompetitive space to learn, grow, and develop their craft amongst supportive peers outside of nightlife. 5 years later, this class, which was first launched virtually in early 2021 and is part of BAX’s Practice Lab, was born. Since then, the class has run 2-3 cycles per year both virtually and in-person.

GUEST FACILITATORS 

Each class cycle is facilitated by Theydy Bedbug and features special guests facilitators who vary in identity and expertise. Past special guests have included iconic drag performers Untitled Queen, Junior Mintt, The Maine Attraction, Miz Jade, The Cake Boys, Zenobia, and LOTUS BOY. They have taught workshops focused on a range of topics such as: choreography, producing, drag king makeup, act creation, persona development, burlesque and more. Learn more about these incredible guest artists below!

Director – Theydy Bedbug

Theydy Bedbug (they/them) is a nonbinary educator and drag performance artist who grew up in Singapore and Indonesia. They studied Drama and Gender studies at Vassar College and have been teaching, technical directing, and creating art at BAX since 2015. As their performance persona, they have performed and produced in venues such as Pioneer Works, Gibney Dance, Dixon Place, Triskelion Arts, Coney Island USA, The Stonewall Inn, UCB, Chelsea Music Hall, The Tank, BAM, VICE Headquarters, Columbia University, National Sawdust, and The Knockdown Center. Their teaching makes space for problem-solving societal dilemmas, imagining new possibilities, and expressing differences with joyful authenticity. They believe that access to spaces of genderful play in performance and creation is a step toward collective liberation.

Luckiii (they/them)

Zenobia (she/her)

C’etait BonTemps (they/them)

Nyx Nocturne (they/them)

Known as “The babe that goes bump in the night,” Nyx Nocturne (they/them) is a multidisciplinary artist who delights in blurring the line between turn on and terror. In addition to having cast their shadow on pages and stages such as the New York Public Library, GQ, Sasha Velour’s Nightgowns, and BAM, they are also a member of the award-winning drag collective, Switch n’ Play. Nyx lurks in the deepest corners of your dreams, your nightmares, and your desirability politics. IG: @nyxnocturne

Queerly Femmetastic (she/her/ma’am) / Father Queef (he/him)

Father Queef (he/him) is the embarrassing millennial uncle you love to shake your head at. A mix of cat zaddy, sappy R&B singer, and sensitive guy, it’s recommended that you hide your sisters and moms when he arrives at the function. The winner of the 2024 Mx. Nobody pageant in New York City, you can usually find him by the grill at the cookout, cutting up on the dance floor, and then complaining about his knees after.

IG: @queerlyfemmetastic @father_queef

Mocha (she/her)

As an artist, Mocha embodies creativity and resilience, earning accolades such as Brooklyn Nightlife Drag Queen of the Year in 2013 among others. A community advocate, she uses her platform to celebrate queer identity, foster inclusivity, and inspire others through her artistry, which were put to use during one of her career highlights, teaching an 8 hour seminar on the artform of drag and drag performance to a diverse group of students at Parsons New School. Mocha will often fondly refer to drag as their “favorite sport” and hopes to continue to share their love for the stage and performing arts as long as possible. IG: @vanillaheavy

Maine Anders, aka The Maine Attraction (she/her)

Coined the “Triple Threat of Burlesque” Maine Anders, aka The Maine Attraction (she/her), captivates audiences every time she hits the stage. This international sensation has performed everywhere from MGM Grand’s Studio 54 (Las Vegas), Le Bus Palladium (Paris), Buddha Bar (Beirut), Dragon-I (Hong Kong) to The National Theatre Iceland (Reykjavik). She has toured with DJ Tiesto, performed on the Latin Grammys with Wisin y Yandel and has joined several legends including James Brown, Lionel Richie, and Pharrell Williams, burlesque divas Dita Von Tease and Amanda Lepore, making The Maine Attraction a legend in her own right. Her ability to transform herself into a myriad of characters gives her the opportunity to play roles that are left of center, and the elements of sex, comedy and drama effortlessly, as seen in her self-conceptualized one woman show, The Last Day of Black History Month: A Conversation With A Naked Southern Black Lesbian. She was one of the featured dancers for the 2015 Grammy Award fuse Winner Cheek to Cheek PBS Special with Lada Gaga and Tony Bennett. She played principal characters in multiple off-Broadway productions such as the burlesque murder mystery, Lady L’ Amour’s Final Bow and Broadway on the Bowery. Her latest achievement is her debut as a producer in what has now become a touring burlesque review, Life in Sepia. She’s a star in musical theater, television and film and will continue to grace any stage where she can let her creativity ride. Learn more about The Maine Attraction through her Instagram @themaineattractionny!

Miz Jade (she/her/they/them)

Miz Jade (she/her/they/them) is a Black, trans, queer drag performer, event host, and professional dancer. Known for her teaching, activism, and quick wit, she’s bound to gag you and turn the party. Miz Jade has been described as fierce, sensual, sophisticated, and full of surprises.  Miz Jade works with Drag Story Hour NYC, which fosters children’s imagination while providing glamorous, positive, and unabashedly queer role models. She is extremely proud of her involvement with DSH NYC, as she is passionate about the program’s message of acceptance and inclusivity. She is also the face of a national campaign called ‘The Real Ms Information’. A collaborative effort with GMHC and FCB Health to motivate and educate LGBTQ+ people on the importance of being covid vaccinated. Miz Jade has been nominated for ‘Best Dance Performer’ at the Glam Awards. She was also nominated for ‘Queen Of The Year’ and ‘Best Performer’ at the Brooklyn Nightlife Awards.  Learn more about Miz Jade through her Instagram @mizjade_davon!

Timothy Westbrook (he/him)

Timothy Westbrook (he/him) is a fashion designer working in social and environmental advocacy. In addition to his Vogue features, Timothy has worked with Trixie Mattel, Jaida Essence Hall, and the Dragon Sisters. Timothy makes all of his clothing out of repurposed materials. Abandoned umbrellas become coats. Disposable contact lens cases become moto jackets. Antiquated audio cassette tape gets woven into chic evening gowns, like the one he made for Boston Mayor Michelle Wu for her appearance at the Earthshot Prize gala. Learn more about Timothy Westbrook through his Instagram @timothywestbrook_!

LOTUS BOY 

Learn more about LOTUS BOY through his Instagram @kinglotusboy.

UNTITLED QUEEN (she/her)

Untitled Queen (she/her) is a Filipinx and Boriquén artist, drag queen, writer, decolonizer, and community organizer based on the stolen land of the LenapeHoking, (so-called Brooklyn, NY). Through the interplay of drag, sculpture, drawing, and installation, she tells deeply emotional stories on a continuum in a constant flux of construction and deconstruction. In 2020, She presented Untitled (World), the first global LGBTQIA+ digital drag show, with 47 drag artists each representing 1 country, and benefitting 3 HIV/AIDS organizations in honor of World AIDS Day. She has been a fellow at the EFA Project Space Gallery Shift Residency and Urban Glass Residency in NY. Learn more about Untitled Queen through her Instagram @untitledqueen!

The Cake Boys

The Cake Boys are a network and platform for live, digital, and hybrid events to showcase Drag Kings and alternative queer & trans performers. The Cake Boys serve a unique and growing community within the NYC Drag scene and beyond, elevating underrepresented talent and introducing new audiences to varieties of drag not yet seen on television. The Cake Boys performer network includes over 100 artists and growing, with open set opportunities for new performers every month. At the helm of our productions both on stage and behind the scenes are Muscles Monty, Richard, Senerio, and Sweaty Eddie. Learn more about The Cake Boys on their Instagram @the_cakeboys!

Junior Mintt

Learn more about Junior Mintt through her Instagram @juniormintt.