Drag Kings Seek to Entertain, Educate in Performance
by Kari Wethington

Spring is not the only ripe season for drag in Oberlin. Monday night in Wilder Main students and professionals alike will participate in “Packing Heat: A Drag King Performance.” The name may draw a parallel with Drag Ball, but the organizers say Packing Heat will go a step farther by focusing on politics as well as entertainment.
“This is not Drag Ball, that’s for sure,” sophomore Christie Sprowles said. Sprowles organized the event along with senior Alison Cotterill and junior Erin Fleck and spent the last few weeks securing financial support from various campus groups. “It was not actually all that difficult to come up with sufficient funds,” Sprowles said. “I think that the campus realized how important an event like this is.”
Though Oberlin is famous for its annual celebration of debauchery, Drag Ball, the event usually focuses on drag queens, and not kings. “Drag kings are largely underrepresented and those who are represented are rarely taken seriously,” Sprowles said. “This event was put together in order to create a space where drag kings can feel comfortable exploring and expressing their gender queer-ness.”
Monday night’s performance will include eight or nine student drag king pieces and eight by Pat Riarch, Ray Cruiter and Dréd, professional drag kings that are visiting campus especially for the event. Pat Riarch and Ray Cruiter work with Feed the Fire Productions (of which poet Alix Olson, who visited Oberlin in the spring, is also a part) in New York City, performed at Drag Ball last year and are famous for their priest and altar boy piece, which they may perform Monday night. Dréd, also from New York, is also a well-known drag performer and has been an extra on television shows including “Sex and the City,” “Ricky Lake” and “Maury Povich.”
When Pat Riarch and Ray Cruiter performed earlier this year at Drag Ball, Fleck joined them on stage in a minor role. “I played a pregnant woman in one of their pieces — it was a very minor role,” Fleck said. “But, it was important because I got on stage and I realized that this drag thing was something I could do, too. It made it a lot less intimidating because Pat and Ray were so calm and excited about it.”
Sprowles, Cotterill and Fleck also performed two weeks ago in Columbus, Ohio, for the International Drag King Extravaganza; they will perform that piece again on Monday night, as well as newer pieces. Eight other students will peform, as well, and their pieces will bring in “a good mix of politics and fun, tons of poking fun at different masculinities,” Cotterill said.

“There are lots of people who have a lot to say,” Sprowles said. “Drag is so cool ’cause it means something different to everyone and it leaves so much room for everyone to express that meaning. I am really excited to see the different acts. We should be getting a lot of different messages.”

In addition to the drag pieces, Pat Riarch, Ray Cruiter and Dréd will lead an open discussion panel where issues related to drag and queer identity can be addressed. “I hope the panel will open up a dialogue on larger issues of gender and racial identity beyond just performance,” Cotterill said.
Because of the rarity of these types of events on campus, the organizers are confident that it will be successful. “There will be plenty of people there to ask questions,” Fleck said. “I hope that we get to talk about the intersections of the trans and drag communities.”

Though the performance aspect of Packing Heat is similar to Drag Ball, there are key differences, the organizers point out. “There are some big differences: Drag Ball is primarily a party; Packing Heat is a performance,” Cotterill said.
“There’s no alcohol or focus on alcohol. Packing Heat includes a panel to discuss politics as well. Drag Ball focuses on drag queens. We’re focusing on kings. And Drag Ball, I think, caters to a straight audience whereas we hope to slant it better towards the queer and PoC communities.”

“Packing Heat is more about a show, a performance, and less about it being a party,” Fleck said. “The audience will be seated and the performers will get proper respect, because drag can be used for more than just a party.”
Packing Heat begins on Monday at 4:30 p.m. with the panel discussion, followed by the drag performances at 8 p.m. The performance is $3 and takes place in Wilder Main; the panel is free and takes place in Wilder 101.