📍96 Holton St, Boston
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An art form as old as theatre itself, drag has become a mainstream institution of pop culture. When imagining drag—the pageantry, the camp, and the glamour—most typically envision the drag queen with her glittering gown and towering hair, parading as the quintessential commentary on the absurdity of gendered performance. The focus on feminine aesthetics in drag has long cemented the idea that only women are performing and dressing for the gaze of others.

[Enter the Drag King.] Existing as long as their feminine counterparts, the male impersonator has always delighted some audiences and confused others. What is there to “perform” about masculinity? How do you make performing like a man exciting and extravagant? Why do men perform the characterizations and roles that have been socially assigned to them? In a society that often considers masculinity the default and femininity a show to be commented on, drag kings use their work to express that all gender presentation is a strange and humorous performance; deserving of attention, parody, examination, and tribute.

Showmanship is powered by the Artisans Asylum Fiber Arts Shop and A2’s deep community focused altruism. Throb Zombie and Rusty Hammer are known for their killer looks, alluring stage presence, and their work to expand the drag community in Boston and beyond. Their craft in constructing the characters of Rusty Hammer and Throb Zombie cements the expression of Drag as belonging in the fine arts pantheon. Costuming, makeup, performances, and community create an exuberant tableau; bringing the viewer into the world of the Drag Artist.