In the evening of Sunday Oct. 29, excited students gathered in the main entrance of Jewett Arts Center in anticipation of Blackout’s “POC Drag Show and Queer Celebration.” In celebration of Halloweekend, students followed the program instructions by coming in vibrant costumes. Chattering enthusiastically, students even sang “Happy Birthday” to another student dressed in an impressive rendition of Alvin from Alvin and the Chipmunks. This wholesome moment exemplified the supportive nature of the event.
The organization of the event was a testament to Blackout, including an efficient RSVP check-in process and an eco-friendly QR code program. The setup allowed audience members to have varying levels of interaction with the performers. The online program was decorated with beautifully done, Halloween themed, artwork.
There were many wonderful acts throughout the night, and the four emcees were extremely engaging. One standout entertainer was E. Jack, who performed “Mrs. Right” by Mindless Behavior and Diggy Simmons. Many audience members cheered them on and some could be overheard calling E. Jack “the pride of Queer POC.” The well-known song and catchy choreography was a big hit with the audience, who were [describe what they were doing (yelling, cheering, jumping)]and the audience clearly had so much fun.
Another honorable mention is Zana-Whoria, who performed “Vroom Vroom” by Charli XCX. They performed in costume as the Wellesley Local Motion Bus, and their confidence was a palpable element of their performance. “What Makes You Beautiful” by One Direction was also performed by Singular Path which included cohesive, fun choreography. All of the acts were electrifying performances and the energy of the audience was buzzing as members clapped and danced along with the performers and emcees.
Luca ’25, one of the audience members at the drag show and queer celebration, was enthusiastic about the show, noting that “it was the highlight of my Halloweekend!” This was a view shared by many others in attendance, as evidenced by the audience’s enthusiastic response .
In addition to magnifying performances, Blackout was extremely creative with audience participation. They hosted a Just Dance competition, with four audience members perfecting the choreo to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” — largely regarded as a Halloween classic. They also put together a Queer Kahoot with teams made up of audience members. This proved shockingly difficult for some, as a couple of audience members misidentified Azealia Banks as Lupita Nyong’o. Another innovative element was a fashion show, where audience members dressed in fantastic costumes were brought onstage to dance with the emcees.
Overall, Blackout’s POC Drag Show and Queer Celebration was highly entertaining and a great way to unwind and enjoy a performance away from the stress of academic rigor from midterm season, as well as celebrate the Queer community at Wellesley and beyond.
