We could all use a little fun. Center Repertory Company’s The Legend of Georgia McBride leans into the inherent joy of drag, showcasing its magic center stage as drag continues to face bans and contentious legislation across the country.
Written by Tony and Olivier Award winner Matthew López (The Inheritance, Amazon Studios’ Red, White & Royal Blue), this hilarious and heartwarming play explores Elvis impersonator Casey’s unexpected transformation from “The King” into an all-out Queen. As he’s thrust into the world of drag, he not only finds a chosen family he never saw coming, but he also discovers that putting on the bold and beautiful makeup and transforming into Georgia allows him to embrace a part of himself he didn’t realize existed.
Queer actor/director Elizabeth Carter has long appreciated the joyous spirit of drag, bringing her son to Drag Storytime and Easters in the Castro with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. She answered the call to direct this play after feeling frustration toward legislation targeting the LGBTQIA+ community. “At the time I was asked to direct, there were all these drag bans in Florida alongside the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, which has had such an impact on queer and trans children and their families,” Carter told the San Francisco Bay Times. “I just thought this is the perfect time for this play.”
“The targeting of drag performers as a means of creating unwarranted fear is dangerous,” added Carter. “It is just one tactic to try to get folks to go back in the closet. That, of course, isn’t going to happen! So, why not counteract that with a celebration of finding one’s true self? I think this play helps us do just that.”
Carter worked with drag/theatre artist Chris Steele as a drag consultant to bring The Legend of Georgia McBride to life and honor the vibrant San Francisco Bay Area drag community. “It’s a really joyful play.” said Steele. “Elizabeth has truly shaped the journey of this play to be a celebration of queer innovation and resilience. I’m excited for people to see this celebration that is really grounded in the wealth of innovation and talent the Bay Area has to offer.”
Steele’s work includes helping with makeup and styling suggestions, dramaturgy about the world and scene of drag and how it informs the characters, teaching how to walk and dance in heels, and creating collaborative choreography that makes the drag numbers really feel like drag.
Steele has performed in drag for five years under the persona Polly Amber Ross and has been seen onstage at theatres throughout the Bay Area. Among their favorite drag experiences was orchestrating and performing at a Gala event for the League of Women Voters. “It was really beautiful to bring so much queer and trans Bay Area talent to the front of a political event,” they said. “Drag is political at its core as long as our existences continue to be politicized.”
Actors J.A. Valentine, Joe Ayers, Sundiata Ayinde, Alan Coyne, and Jed Parsario will bring the story to life. Performing in drag on stages and nightclubs for more than 25 years, Valentine’s role as Miss Tracy Mills, a seasoned drag queen who mentors Casey, is incredibly fitting. “The character I play, Miss Tracy Mills, draws upon so much of my life experience it’s almost uncanny.”
“Our director Elizabeth Carter has assembled an excellent cast and created an environment that allows everyone to bring their fullest selves to the material,” added Valentine. “With new artistic leadership and production management, it’s a fresh and exciting time to be part of Center REP.”
Carter knows audiences are in for a fun time at this celebratory production filled with snappy zingers and dance-worthy numbers. “I hope they see how the magic of drag brings joy and community,” she says. “And how amazing and resourceful drag queens are in the face of a society full of fear and oppression. I hope audiences will challenge themselves to examine how beautiful and complex our identities are.”
Center Repertory Company presents The Legend of Georgia McBride November 4–26 at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek (1601 Civic Drive). For tickets and information, please call the box office at 925-943-7469 or visit https://www.lesherartscenter.org/
Arts & Entertainment
Published on November 2, 2023
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