Drag Performances on Broadway

[quizking101]

Posted: 5/2/13 at 1:48pm

Hey guys, for my Gay & Lesbian Studies class, I'm doing a paper on Drag/Transvestism and Broadway. Can anyone help me with some examples:

The list I've compiled thus far is:
- George Hearn/Gary Beach/Douglas Hodge - LA CAGE
- Harvey Fierstein - HAIRPSRAY
- The cast of PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT
- Billy Porter - Kinky Boots
- Bertie Carvel - Matilda

[carolineorchange21]

Posted: 5/2/13 at 1:56pm

The Mary Sunshines in Chicago.

Also, off-Broadway Tommy Tune's The Club - the cast was women playing men.

Updated On: 5/2/13 at 01:56 PM

[madbrian]

Posted: 5/2/13 at 1:59pm

Brian Bedford in the recent revival of The Importance of Being Earnest

Lea DeLaria in the revival of Rocky Horror

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 5/2/13 at 2:02pm

Any woman who's played Peter Pan.
Julie Andrews in Victor/Victoria.

Are you distinguishing between roles that within the context of the play are NOT drag personas (such as Peter Pan or Edna Turnblad) and those that are (La Cage)?

[quizking101]

Posted: 5/2/13 at 2:21pm

Yes, I am.

Any performance that involves an actor playing the opposite gender, whether part of the show's context or not, I would like to know about.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 5/2/13 at 2:24pm

Drood in "The Mystery of . . . "

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/2/13 at 2:24pm

Ray Bolger in WHERE'S CHARLEY?

[anmiller07]

Posted: 5/2/13 at 2:25pm

Hm...perhaps Angel in RENT, though you also see him as a man as well.
Also, obviously Les Cagelles. Updated On: 5/2/13 at 02:25 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/2/13 at 2:29pm

Are you only focusing on broadway? Because if not, you'd have to include Charles Busch.

[anmiller07]

Posted: 5/2/13 at 2:30pm

Victor/Victoria?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/2/13 at 2:33pm

Michael in BILLY ELLIOT.

[LuminousBeing]

Posted: 5/2/13 at 2:37pm

Peter and the Starcatcher

[Patash]

Posted: 5/2/13 at 2:52pm

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Sugar

[gstrus2]

Posted: 5/2/13 at 3:03pm

LaCienega in Bring it On

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 5/2/13 at 3:07pm

The Nance (part where Lane plays Hortense)
The Beauty Part (one of Bert Lahr's characters was a woman)
The Drag (Mae West play from the 20's)
M Butterfly
Hairspray
The Producers
Kiss of the Spiderwoman
Cabaret
Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

Updated On: 5/2/13 at 03:07 PM

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 5/2/13 at 3:10pm

Any production of Two Gentlemen of Verona, Twelfth Night, As You Like It, Charley's Aunt (Where's Charley?).

Pacific Overtures.
M. Butterfly
I Am My Own Wife

Updated On: 5/2/13 at 03:10 PM

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 5/2/13 at 3:28pm

I think this thread is pure Freud and I won't be a part of it.

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 5/2/13 at 3:28pm

Ed_Mottershead, I disagree with THE PRODUCERS. Roger DeBris is merely a man who enjoys dressing in gowns. I do not think he is a Drag Queen, because he does not pretend to be a woman or try to convince people that he is a woman. He just wears woman clothes.

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 5/2/13 at 3:29pm

Torch Song Trilogy is an obvious omission.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/2/13 at 3:36pm

If you want to really do your homework, look up Julian Eltinge, not only did he do Drag on Broadway, he had hs own Broadway Theatre. Now that's a story.

[After Eight]

Posted: 5/2/13 at 6:07pm

A Patriot for Me
The Seven Descents of Myrtle (Kingdom of Earth)

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 5/2/13 at 6:15pm

Bert Lahr as Queen Victoria in TWO ON THE AISLE: "What Helen Hayes and Irene Dunne, I have also did!"

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/2/13 at 7:19pm

Patti LuPone has been playing women's roles for close to 70 years.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 5/2/13 at 7:22pm

Oh you.

[jnb9872]

Posted: 5/2/13 at 7:24pm

The Dentist track in LITTLE SHOP plays a female reporter during "The Meek Shall Inherit," if I recall correctly. Part of his "...and everyone else" duties.

The two Alabama Ladies in SCOTTSBORO BOYS are drag roles played by two of the Boys.

PETER & THE STARCATCHER had a drag role, too. Molly's attendant, I think it was? I'm not clear on my memory of the ensemble roles in that show, I forget. Surely someone else here knows.

Gary Coleman in AVENUE Q.

A number of parts, principally Sir Galahad's mother, in SPAMALOT, following Monty Python's traditional use of drag.