Ep #04: The evolution of drag with Edna Jean Robinson aka Richard Curtin

Does drag include girls who don’t have a penis? My answer is absolutely. The future wants her included and not only the future, the community at large wants her included. And the future wants the king included and the boys included and everyone who is participating in what we are doing in the drag community. — Richard Curtin

One of the biggest things that changed is to secure bookings you had to compete in pageants. — Richard Curtin

ABOUT THE EPISODE

Drag hasn’t always been what we see on TV today.

Today my guest is someone who has seen it all — and, as longtime show director, has been actually experienced drag’s evolution first hand. It’s good stuff. It’s challenging stuff. It stuff that will make your drag brain explode (it sure did mine!)

In this episode, i talk with Edna Jean Robinson about the evolution of drag, drag as a character development (and how she developed hers) AND as an extension of the self, and how the future of drag is all-inclusive to ALL gender, forms, and expressions.

This is part one of a larger conversation i have with her and Part 1 of our What is Drag? series. Enjoy drag lovers!

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

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TOPICS DISCUSSED (with all new timestamps!)

Drag being about a character a la its theater origins 11:07
Drag persona and character development/ character breakdown (THIS IS GOLD!) 13:41
Drag persona as an extension of the self vs. character develop 15:34
Wiliam’s Trans comments 20:09
Kathy Griffin political art 21:00
How drag has evolved 23:00 + 25:45
Drag mirroring burlesque 29:08
Pageant systems being created and added from a community need 31:15
“The greatest evolution of drag is that there are so many people doing it” 32:56
The future of drag is ALL-INCLUSIVE 34:13
What drag is about NOW 35:25