Drag Extravaganza! 2025Special EventIn-Person
Friday, Jun 13, 2025
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
The Bitter End
147 Bleecker St
New York, NY 10012
5:30 p.m. - Bar Opens
6:00 p.m. - Showtime
Our partner, The Bitter End, is hosting this event.
June is Pride Month, and The Academy for Teachers is thrilled to invite our Fellows to the second annual Drag Extravaganza. This year, we continue to celebrate the vibrant artistry of drag, a dynamic performance tradition that blends theater, fashion, music, and activism. From lip-syncs to live vocals, satire to storytelling, drag offers a kaleidoscope of expression that challenges norms and uplifts queer joy. Join us for an evening that honors the legacy of drag while spotlighting its ever-evolving presence in contemporary culture.
Bring your friends, enjoy a drink, and get you some ooh la la!
Teachers can purchase up to four tickets and they include entry and drinks. Early Booking Exclusively for Academy Fellows* through May 29.
-Reserved Seating $20—a $70 value each.
-General Admission $10—a $60 value each.
(We hope, but don’t insist, that your guests be teachers.) Space is limited!
*You are a Fellow of The Academy for Teachers if you have been accepted to, and attended, an in-person master class.
For the nerds among us:
Drag's rich history in the United States dates back to the 19th century, with one of the earliest documented drag balls held in 1869 by the Hamilton Lodge in Harlem. These events provided safe spaces for Black and LGBTQ+ communities to express themselves through performance and fashion. The Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s further amplified drag culture, particularly within Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ communities, where drag balls became inclusive spaces for competition in categories like fashion, dance, and realness.
In recent years, drag has entered mainstream culture, notably through the television show RuPaul's Drag Race. While the show has brought drag to a broader audience, it's essential to recognize and honor the diverse and intersectional roots of drag culture that continue to influence and inspire performers today.
Lagoona Bloo is a musician, actor and drag artist based in New York City. Since 2021, the self-titled “Mermaid Popstar” has released her debut EP AQUA and debut studio album Underwater Bubble Pop, showcasing her three-octave range with blissed-out synth anthems that redefine the intersection between pop music and drag. She has been featured on television shows such as America’s Got Talent, The Voice, and Nailed It! In 2024 she originated the role of Tuna Turner in the Off-Broadway hit Drag: the Musical.
Castrata is the Drag Chanteuse of NYC. She is taking what it means to be a drag vocalist to the next level with her unique voice and glamour to match. She is multi-nominated for several NYC GLAM nightlife awards, and has been described as a “drag artist for the age in which we live.” (BroadwayWorld)
Myster E Mel Kiki is a non binary Latinx drag king born in NYC raised in Jersey, but you can find him slaying any and all stages. The current reigning Mr. Bushwig, giving you all the feels with the lip syncs and occasional live vocals. Proud member of the Haus of Kiki.