CARLY KNASZAK
Staff Writer
Sunny’s first ever drag show took place Wednesday, April 29. The show was called “Drag It Out, It’s The End” and was hosted by Kimmi Moore. The night was to celebrate Kimmi Moore’s last show since she is leaving Buffalo’s very famous Club Marcella.
The club was packed with students and residents of Fredonia. Music erupted throughout the place by DJ RanKan from KISS 98.5. But one of the most priceless moments of the night was seeing first-time drag show witness Kimmi Moore with her mile-long legs yell to the crowd, “Let me hear your energy!”
She walked along the bar while throwing t-shirts into the crowd and took to the dance floor with a dance routine to the song “Circus” by Britney Spears.
It was very much a change for the location of the show, as Fredonia is well-known for hosting drag shows on campus.
“There is a huge difference between campus and night spots. Campus shows tend to feel more like a concert, where[as] nightlife shows feel more like a party,” Moore said. “They both have their benefits and downfalls. On campus, everyone has eyes on you all the time, and people of all ages can be there. Nightlife shows are not always all ages, which could be difficult, and actually was difficult, but it is later at night and people stay and party with you. At a college show, when the show is over, everyone goes home.”
“It is very different from college to a club show. It’s harder to get everyone to watch because on campus, you can just pull people in to watch the show, but when you are off-campus, you need to get everyone at the place,” said Samantha Hoepfinger, a junior mathematics major.
Many of the performers of the night came to life on the dance floor. They did everything to get the crowd going and even danced with people in the audience while they performed. The audience could not have been any louder as they cheered on the performers.
People were seen before the show in white t-shirts that had autographed pictures of Kimmi Moore on the front, and soon everyone knew who these people were when Moore took the stage — they were her backup dancers.
“We only had four or five rehearsals before the show. It was a group effort,” said Stefan Uveges, a sophomore English adolescent education major and one of Moore’s back-up dancers.
“We practiced for two hours each of those days in the dance studio on campus,” said Hoepfinger, who was also a dancer.
The dancers were total professionals when they took the stage with Moore and seemed like they were all in sync with one another.
“Everyone learned the dances rather quickly,” said Kristen Heitzahaous, a freshman exercise science major and dancer.
“My dancers are incredible. They actually knew that I have had dancers in the past and asked to be a part of the experience. Most of them work together in dance groups at school. Many of them are untrained but are just as talented as trained dancers,” Moore said.
“I cannot even describe how essential they were in this process. They had my back the whole time. They pressed ticket sales, helped choreograph numbers, had three-hour long rehearsals and gave me emotional support during the process. They are the biggest ball of energy, and I am beyond blessed to have them in my life,” said Moore.
The night was full of excitement coming from everyone. The performers were able to get more involved with the crowd and got to talk to people one on one in the crowd in between breaks.
“The shows get you pumped up,” Heitzahous said.
“This will definitely happen again at Sunny’s,” Uveges added.
By the end of the night, the place was packed and people seemed to be screaming for more. People were non-stop dancing and letting loose. It was a different atmosphere than a normal night out.
“A drag show is different. It is not the norm right now, but it is becoming a norm. A drag show incorporates all kinds of art forms. A lot of the time it combines makeup, acting, dancing, singing, comedy and more. It is just a crazy time,” Moore said.