USU’s Dragg Show returns

*Audio clip is the voice of USU students Maycee Barrett and Jared Adams.

This year’s Dragg Show will return to Utah State University on Nov. 16. USU Residence Life and the Inclusion Center are sponsoring the event, and it will be in the Taggart Student Center ballroom. The event is free and open to the public. 

Caroline Johnson, Maycee Barrett and Jared Adams are USU students who attended the event last year and are looking forward to going again. 

“I was literally in awe the entire time,” Johnson said. “Not only did I think it was so cool that this school put on that event, but I was so impressed by how many people went and participated.” 

Johnson wasn’t alone in her positive reaction.   

“I just loved seeing how confident all the performers were, and I loved seeing how much fun the audience had,” Barrett said. “It was really empowering, and it was a really cool experience.” 

The Dragg Show brings performers from throughout the state with varying levels of experience.  

“I thought it was so cool that there were experienced queens from around Utah, but also first timers,” Johnson said. “It was such an accepting atmosphere, and I was screaming the whole time.” 

The Dragg Show includes an educational component with a question-and-answer session following the event. The audience can ask the performers about their experience preparing and performing in the show or about being part of the LGBTQIA+ community. 

Jared Espiritu, a Dragg Show participant from last year, commented on the event. 

“My favorite part of the show is always the Q&A portion of the show near the end,” Espiritu said. “It allows for meaningful conversation to take place about topics that many audience members were unfamiliar with.”  

This panel is informative for the audience, especially since it is many of their first experiences with drag, and they might not know about the history.  

“I think college campuses hosting these events need to make sure they understand the purpose behind the event — is it to provide entertainment, to educate the community on drag itself, or to just start to delve into topics not commonly found in campus conversations,” Espiritu said.   

Both Johnson and Barrett had never attended a drag show before the 2021 Dragg Show. 

“I went in with no expectations,” Johnson said. “It was the first drag show I had ever attended, so I didn’t even know what to expect.”  

“I didn’t know anything about it,” Barrett said. “It was really cool to go and see the community and how much support it got.” 

Adams said they are looking forward to the event, the positive energy it creates and the lasting impact it can have on the community.  

“It’s nice to not have to be political,” Adams said. “It doesn’t need to be one side or the other. It can just be students coming together in support of each other. It’s the best feeling.” 

Shirts and stickers will be available for sale during the show, and the money will be donated to the Inclusion Center to support USU students. 

-Carter.Ottley@usu.edu

Featured photo by Aspen Marshall