Best in Drag Show

Best In Drag Show is an annual fundraising event in Los Angeles, California, originally benefiting the California-based non-profit, Aid For AIDS, a program of Alliance for Housing and Healing. Initiated six years after Aid For AIDS was founded in 1983, the bawdy fundraiser now supports Alliance for Housing and Healing, the non-profit that resulted from the merger of Aid For AIDS and The Serra Project in 2009.[1]

Best In Drag Show
StatusActive
GenreFundraising event
FrequencyAnnually
VenueOrpheum Theatre
Location(s)Los Angeles
CountryUSA
Years active1989-
Inaugurated1989 (1989)
FounderAlexis Pittman
ActivityDrag show
PeopleKathy Griffin, Melanie Griffith, Vanessa Williams

History

The AIDS fundraiser, an elaborate drag show "beauty" pageant that features amateur performers as beauty contestants, evolved from a small event in a private apartment in 1989 to successively larger theaters to hold the growing audiences. In the 1990s, the Wilshire Ebell Theatre was used, followed by the historic Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles, which seats 1,800. A small group of friends in West Hollywood created the original show, Battle for the Tiara, a farcical beauty pageant aimed at raising funds for AIDS assistance through Aid For AIDS that was featured in an award-winning[2] documentary in 1998, Battle For the Tiara.[3] The original Aid For AIDS fundraiser ran for 11 years. Following the death of its founder, Alexis Pittman, the original group took two years off. During the interim years, a version of the fundraiser named Quest for the Crown was produced by non-profit Aid For AIDS, the beneficiary. The original group returned to helm the show for executive producer Aid For AIDS in 2003 with the currently-named production, Best In Drag Show. By 2009, more than $1.5 million had been raised with the new version of the show to help support the work of Aid For AIDS in Southern California. Both Best In Drag Show and Quest for the Crown are registered trademarks of Aid For AIDS.[4]

Supporters

Numerous and notable celebrities have supported the show over the years, volunteering as pageant judges and donating money. Many return year after year. Best In Drag Show celebrity supporters (and from the prior two versions of the fundraiser) have included Jason Alexander, Loni Anderson, Garcelle Beauvais, Rachel Bilson, Sarah Chalke, Melinda Clarke, Kim Coles, Jennifer Coolidge, Marcia Cross, Jon Cryer, Eric Dane, Jeffrey Drew, Anna Faris, Peter Gallagher, Rebecca Gayheart, Sara Gilbert, Kathy Griffin, Linda Hamilton, Perez Hilton, Dot Jones (Dot-Marie), Chris Kattan, Kathy Kinney, Lori Loughlin, Jane Lynch, Camryn Manheim, Jayma Mays, Maria Menounos, Niecy Nash, Mary-Louise Parker, Chris Pratt, John C. Reilly, Debbie Reynolds, Caroline Rhea, Kelly Rowan, Katey Sagal, Molly Shannon, Charlie Sheen, Martin Sheen, Tori Spelling, Nicole Sullivan, Holland Taylor (Aid For AIDS Honorary Board Member), Jennifer Tilly, Judy Tenuta, James Van Der Beek, Dita Von Teese, and Jo Anne Worley.[4][5][6] Aid For AIDS major supporters Charlie Sheen and Kathy Griffin (Griffin began opening the fundraiser as hostess in 2003) were honored with AFA Silver Anniversary Angel Awards at the nonprofit's 25th anniversary in 2009.[7] Award-winning casting director Patrick Rush,[8] who served as the fundraiser's Master of Ceremonies for 18 years, is an ongoing producer of Best In Drag Show and was a member of the volunteer team producing Battle For the Tiara since its first year.[9] Aid For AIDS recognized his long-standing support in 2009 by establishing a scholarship, the Patrick R. Service Award, in his honor.[7][10] Rush, an Aid For AIDS nominee, was honored by The City of West Hollywood[11] with the Paul Andrew Starke Warrior Award in 2005, presented on World AIDS Day to outstanding members of the community working in HIV/AIDS services. Other Best In Drag Show supporters nominated by Aid For AIDS who received this award are Tom Pardoe (in 2007), producer, director and choreographer 2003-2010, and Jeffrey Drew (in 2008), long-time show collaborator and star performer. Drew became director and choreographer in 2011.[4]

Awards

The Best In Drag Show volunteers were honored in 2010 by Christopher Street West (CSW) with the CSW Special Community Award. CSW annually produces the Los Angeles LGBT Pride Festival and Parade (LA Pride).[12]

References
  1. Mendoza, Laura Alicia. "Non-Profits Merge: The Serra Project." Los Angeles Business Journal. March 30, 2009. "". Retrieved November 24, 2009.
  2. Battle for the Tiara is an award-winning documentary film, which chronicled the history of the Los Angeles fundraising event that has raised millions. Directors Charley Lang, Eric Schiff. IMDb website. ""Accessed January 28, 2010.
  3. Kelley, Shannon. "Visions of L.A. in the Age of AIDS - Battle for the Tiara." KCET Online." Archived November 6, 2009, at the Wayback Machine". Retrieved April 27, 2010.
  4. Aid For AIDS website www.aidforaids.net/index1.html""Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 4, 2010. Retrieved October 29, 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)"
  5. WeHo News staff. Best In Drag Show 2009. WeHoNews online. October 22, 2009.""Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 29, 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-05.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)". Retrieved November 30, 2009.
  6. AFA Celebrity Fundraising Support""Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 9, 2011. Retrieved November 16, 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)"
  7. AFA 25th Silver Anniversary Reception and Award Presentation - November 5, 2009""Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 28, 2010. Retrieved 2010-10-17.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)"
  8. IMDb online. Patrick J. Rush""
  9. here! TV network online - Straight Girl in a Queer World #41 Patrick Rush hosts AID for AIDS' "Best in Drag Show" Archived November 23, 2010, at the Wayback Machine"
  10. The Patrick R. Service Award""
  11. Aid For AIDS is partnered with The City of West Hollywood for the West Hollywood Memorial Walk and was headquartered in West Hollywood for more than 25 years. The non-profit continues to maintain a client service office there. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 4, 2010. Retrieved October 29, 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. "LA Pride honorees". Lapride.org. October 5, 2009. Archived from the original on July 15, 2010. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
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