Annual drag show attracts animated crowd

Music, applause and dirty jokes were at the forefront of a USD drag show.

Hosted by Spectrum: Gender and Sexuality Alliance, the show started shortly after 7 p.m. Thursday evening in the Al Neuharth Media Center.

Spectrum President Daniel Keller said this year’s theme was “Throwback Thursday.”

“It’s supposed to be vintage from early 2000s all the way back,” he said.

A unique aspect of USD’s drag show is that all the talent is local, Kellers said. Many of the performers came from Sioux Falls, Sioux City, Lincoln, Neb., and Minneapolis.

The show’s host, Martina Shakers, is a USD graduate herself.

Routines were also preformed by one Vermillion community member and one USD student, both of whom received enthusiastic standing ovations.

First-year Simone Owens, Spectrum’s treasurer, was one student collecting ticket money at the door and was also selling condom necklaces.

Wearing a crown made of condoms, Owens said she was excited to see the “fun routines” she’d heard so much about.

All of the money raised at Thursday’s event goes toward making next year’s show “bigger and better,” Keller said.

“Really our planning has been underway since last year,” he said.

Shakers invited everyone to join the performers at Mexico Viejo following the show, but was quick to add that she wouldn’t be paying – one of her tamer jokes of the night.