West Hollywood City And Classical Theatre Lab Present Free Livestream Reading Of The Drag By Mae West

Press release from the City of West Hollywood:

September 15, 2020

Presented with the support of the City of West Hollywood’s Arts Division, Classical Theatre Lab, a nonprofit organization devoted to exploring theatre, literature, and performance, brings a costumed online reading of The Drag by Mae West to life on Saturday, September 26, 2020 at 6 p.m. and Sunday, September 27 at 2 p.m. The performances are offered to the public free of charge with donations accepted. Tickets may be reserved at www.classicaltheatrelab.org. Once you reserve your ticket, you'll receive the live stream information from Classical Theatre Lab.

The Drag, subtitled A Homosexual Comedy in Three Acts and written by Mae West under the pseudonym Jane Mast before she became a blockbuster Hollywood star, is about the cost of living with a secret life. The play’s hero is a closeted gay socialite, Rolly Kingsbury, who comes “from one of the finest families” and is trapped in a loveless marriage. Kingsbury’s father is a homophobic judge and his father-in-law is a therapist who specializes in gay conversion. The Drag enthralled, but also scandalized, audiences in theatres just outside of New York City where it opened in 1927. The play’s portrayal of homosexuality and drag queens led to authorities shutting down performances after just two weeks. The play never made it to Broadway, as Mae had hoped.

This Classical Theatre Lab reading will feature guest artists Kelly Mantle, Roger Q. Mason, and T. Ashanti Mozelle. A singer, songwriter, and comedian, as well as actor, Mantle guest-starred on RuPaul’s Drag Race among their numerous TV credits. An accomplished writer/performer, Mason penned and starred in Lavender Men at both the Skylight Theatre in Los Angeles and Circle in the Square in New York. Mozelle can be seen in Trade, the 2019 feature film based on true story of a Los Angeles transgender prostitute.

For more information, please contact Joy Tribble, the City of West Hollywood’s Arts Technician, at (323) 848-6360 or at jtribble@weho.org. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, please call TTY (323) 848-6496.

For reporters and members of the media seeking additional information about the City of West Hollywood, please contact the City of West Hollywood’s Public Information Officer, Sheri A. Lunn, at (323) 848-6391 or slunn@weho.org. For up-to-date news and events, follow the City of West Hollywood on social media @WeHoCity and sign up for news updates at www.weho.org/email.

This press release was produced by the City of West Hollywood. The views expressed here are the author’s own.