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Golden "girls" bring pride to San Francisco
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Gay pride month couldn't be complete without drag queens taking on the famous roles of TV's "Golden Girls."After having already won over audiences with their Christmas episodes, "The Golden Girls" returned to San Francisco with its gay-themed episodes.
"We had a great opening weekend," says producer and star Heklina, "and gay pride weekend also looks good. But some of the best seats available are for this Thursday's 7pm and 9pm performances as well as Saturday at 5pm and Sunday at 3pm and 5pm."
The queer element of the TV show seemed removed after the first episode after losing the shows one gay character, Coco the houseboy after the pilot aired. But while it did not tackle many gay issues on a regular basis in its eight years run, the "Golden Girls" had great appeal to gay audiences primarily because its four golden actresses were pretty much archetypes for drag queens.
So perhaps Bea Arthur and the other girls are no longer around, San Francisco has it's own golden "girls" in drag performers Heklina, Cookie Dough, Matthew Martin and PolloDel Mar and they will likely be playing to packed audiences through June 26 at Mama Calizo's Voice Factory at 1519 Mission Street. In addition to its Thursday-Saturday schedule with shows at 7pm and 9pm, there is also a 5pm matinee on Saturdays and additional shows at 3pm and 5pm on Sundays. Seems there are more opportunities to see it here than on the Lifetime network.
Further, two very special benefit shows are planned Weds., June 17, with proceeds going to area nonprofits. That night's 7 p.m. show benefits Rocket Dog Rescue. Proceeds from the 9 p.m. production go to San Francisco's Western Roundup.
According to Heklina, the idea of the drag girls came several years ago at a friend's house and it bloomed from there. And you'd think in a room full of larger than life characters and wigs, there would be a catfight as to how got to play what role. But Heklina says that it actually came naturally who was best suited to take on what part.
Heklina says that each performance will feature two camped up versions of the shows gay-themed episodes including one in which Rose's brother comes out of the closet and another in which the girls are mistaken for lesbians on a local TV news story.
“From the very start, even before they left the theatre after seeing one show, most audiences were asking about the next installment,” Cookie Dough shares. “So now we want them to see us as a Pride Season staple."
Heklina, a popular drag performer who was the driving force behind the popular Trannyshack night club, is happy to be a golden girl and activities like this have kept her busy since she decide to end Trannyshack last year. "I just became so exhausted doing the show every week," Heklina says, and without having to adhere to its weekly schedule, Heklina is free to do other special events including "The Golden Girls" as well as her upcoming Big Top vs. Trannyshack party.
For more information about "The Golden Girls," check out www.trannyshack.com.
Tickets are available at the door for $20 or by reservation at goldengirlssf@earthlink.net.
The queer element of the TV show seemed removed after the first episode after losing the shows one gay character, Coco the houseboy after the pilot aired. But while it did not tackle many gay issues on a regular basis in its eight years run, the "Golden Girls" had great appeal to gay audiences primarily because its four golden actresses were pretty much archetypes for drag queens.
So perhaps Bea Arthur and the other girls are no longer around, San Francisco has it's own golden "girls" in drag performers Heklina, Cookie Dough, Matthew Martin and PolloDel Mar and they will likely be playing to packed audiences through June 26 at Mama Calizo's Voice Factory at 1519 Mission Street. In addition to its Thursday-Saturday schedule with shows at 7pm and 9pm, there is also a 5pm matinee on Saturdays and additional shows at 3pm and 5pm on Sundays. Seems there are more opportunities to see it here than on the Lifetime network.
Further, two very special benefit shows are planned Weds., June 17, with proceeds going to area nonprofits. That night's 7 p.m. show benefits Rocket Dog Rescue. Proceeds from the 9 p.m. production go to San Francisco's Western Roundup.
According to Heklina, the idea of the drag girls came several years ago at a friend's house and it bloomed from there. And you'd think in a room full of larger than life characters and wigs, there would be a catfight as to how got to play what role. But Heklina says that it actually came naturally who was best suited to take on what part.
Heklina says that each performance will feature two camped up versions of the shows gay-themed episodes including one in which Rose's brother comes out of the closet and another in which the girls are mistaken for lesbians on a local TV news story.
“From the very start, even before they left the theatre after seeing one show, most audiences were asking about the next installment,” Cookie Dough shares. “So now we want them to see us as a Pride Season staple."
Heklina, a popular drag performer who was the driving force behind the popular Trannyshack night club, is happy to be a golden girl and activities like this have kept her busy since she decide to end Trannyshack last year. "I just became so exhausted doing the show every week," Heklina says, and without having to adhere to its weekly schedule, Heklina is free to do other special events including "The Golden Girls" as well as her upcoming Big Top vs. Trannyshack party.
For more information about "The Golden Girls," check out www.trannyshack.com.
Tickets are available at the door for $20 or by reservation at goldengirlssf@earthlink.net.
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