A lifetime in drag
After thinking about this a lot in the shower today I decided to document outstanding moments of drag incidences in my life. This ranges from dress up as the pink Power Ranger to making my first downtown drag performance, including artistic influences.
Michael Lyons’ Lifetime in Drag Milestones
Childhood
I remember going into my mother’s closet and trying on her heels which, at the time, were too big for me.
I was also always the pink Power Ranger. I had the full, foam, pink Power Ranger costume which I wore quite often.
Halloween, 2001
I make my first unofficial/unrecognized drag appearance as a nun for Halloween.
Halloween, 2002
I make my second unofficial/unrecognized drag appearance as a nun for the second consecutive Halloween. Seeing a pattern?
December, 2002
I watch The Rocky Horror Picture Show for the first time in my life. I am confused, aghast and a little disturbed. Little do I know how much of an impact seeing Frank-N-Furter sing “Sweet Transvestite” will have on me.
January 17th, 2005
My first time seeing the stage show of RENT. Jessie and I were reading the program during intermission:
Jessie: What? Angel’s played by a guy?!
Me: Oh my God! He’s played her before!
The character of Angel Dumott Schunard was my first taste of a drag queen on stage. Despite the initial confusion she will always hold a special place in my heart because of this. Today 4 U.
Creative Writing Class, 2006
Over the term of Creative Writing I write my very first play ever, Child of the Moon (yes I ripped off Hedwig), about a young gay male coming out as a cross-dresser. I didn’t even realize how significant this is in my artistic life until this year.
May 15th, 2006
Despite having been listening to the music of the film (and having pretty much watched most of the music-video footage to boot) for months I finally buy a copy and shortly after watched Hedwig and the Angry Inch, which has made an immense impact on me as an artist.
This completes my Holy Trinity of Stage Cross-Dressers:
Frank - Hedwig - Angel
Frosh Week, August, 2006
I buy my first drag dress and wear it to a Frosh Week costume party.
Queer Night, September, 2006
I make an appearance at Queer Night (uniform themed) as Angela Angelfeathers, the manly flight attendant.
September 8th, 2007
I turn nineteen, opening my life to the clubs and bars of Toronto, specifically of Toronto’s gay neighborhood: Church Street.
On the night of my nineteenth birthday I attend my first drag show at Crews & Tangos, starring Heaven Lee Hytes and Farra N. Hyte. I dance with Heaven Lee the intro to Candyman (however not in drag).
October, 2007
I develop my first, not really official drag name of Fabulous Fabula after watching some of Final Fantasy: Unlimited with Kayla.
October 24th, 2007
I make my first downtown drag appearance at Buddies in Bad Times’ once a month Queer Cab. I perform Avenue Q’s “Special” to a wonderful reception.
So there. Now you can all say you know a drag queen personally. Go me!
I will, of course, be adding onto this list as my career in drag progresses, but you'll all hear about that anyways because I'll write about it in my livejournal.
If you're in the Toronto area you should all come see me perform in next month's Queer Cab. Sky Gilbert (one of my favorite queer/drag queen playwrites) is going to be hosting it. It's going to be fucking fabulous. I'll post details about it when it gets closer.