Swarms of students crowded the stage and lined the balconies as emcee Miss Understood, in workout pants, a ball cap and lacy black camisole fired up UB's 8th annual professional drag show with six knock-out performers from Buffalo's Club Marcella.
Though the power cut out near the start of the show for nearly 15 minutes, the audience remained in anticipation, not wanting to miss the once-a-year transformation of student hangout to cross-dressing night club.
When the sound system was finally up and running, Miss Understood asked her crowd, "Should we start at the halfway point, or start at the beginning?"
"Beginning!" they shouted back.
The Marcella diva known simply as "V" proceeded to dominate the stage in thigh-high black leather boots, a leather jacket unbuttoned in all the right places, and plaid schoolgirl skirt that wouldn't pass Sister Mary Clarence's length inspection. Somewhere between landing splits and taking bills by mouth from the crowd, that skirt disappeared.
When Fanta-See Island took the stage, she made up for keeping her clothes on by showing off her gigantic wig.
"I don't cook, I don't wash dishes and I don't do windows - 'cause I'm a diva," Fanta-See lip-synched with conviction.
Sabrina, "the teeniest tiniest wonder in the world," according to Miss Understood, reinvented the sock hop as she hula-hooped across the stage in her neon pink poodle skirt.
Miss UB runner-up Miss Prissy donned her black knee-high pantyhose with little red bows when she danced to Christina Aguilera's "Fighter."
Cheering hit a high point when three queens - V, UB student Forsaken and Latin sensation F'ya Shade - rocked the stage in a trio performance in matching outfits that revealed one buttock apiece.
The crowd exploded with glee as "the Beyonce of Buffalo," Aysha Black, shook her tuckus to "Crazy in Love" at unclockable speeds on the edge of the runway.
Aysha Black said though she enjoyed the adoration, getting up before noon was a little rough.
"I'm not a morning person," said Aysha Black. "We usually do dress shows late at night so I don't have to get out of bed."
V, on the other hand, said she couldn't get enough and is proud to play a part in UB's annual show.
"I love it," she said. "I love it every year. For students that have never seen a drag show, at least they can come out and watch it."
Ada Nwosu, a senior communications major, decided she should take advantage of professional drag on campus before she graduates.
"It's my last year," she said. "I just wanted to see the whole drag show thing."
Junior occupational therapy major Tameka Arroy said she attended the performance not only for entertainment, but also to show her appreciation.
"I respect them for being able to come out here and do this, and I saw it last year so I didn't want to miss it this year," Arroy said.
Besides the ultra pomp and circumstance, the event brought in several groups promoting equal housing opportunities, safe sex and gay-friendly religion.
Rachel Parrino, vice president of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Alliance and junior psychology major, explained the reason for integrating various information and support groups into the party.
"You have the fun drag show but there's also the services available on a more serious side," Parrino said.
Tom Zimpfer, pastoral care committee chairman representing the Episcopalian Church of the Ascension, said his parish in Buffalo is one of the most accepting, regardless of sexual preference.
"A lot of people, especially in the lesbian/gay community, are questioning their faith," Zimpfer said. "If you're searching, here we are."
"We've all felt like outcasts, but the big guy upstairs is always there," said John Lauer, buildings and grounds committee chairman for the church.
Renee Law manned a table for the Men of Color Health Awareness project, or MOCHA, a group that provides HIV education, testing and support primarily for homosexual men.
"The show was great for me, especially since I'm new into MOCHA and I have to start getting into this type of entertainment," said Law. "It's really enlightening."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
