Weekend Roundup

Side-show realness, the debut of The Mister Wives, gay prom at Tabu and more gay things to do in Philly this weekend.

It’s the last weekend in Philly before Pride Month begins, which kind of makes this Pride Month Eve, right? If you’re looking for gay things to do, here’s what you have in store: lots of drag, including a performance by New York City tall drink of water Marti Gould Cummings at Tabu on Friday, and the debut of our newest comedy drag troupe The Mister Wives on Saturday. If you want to dance, head to Voltage Lounge for a rager by some of the hosts of Cut N Paste, or, you know, go to Woody’s or Icandy. On the unique side, there’s A Very Tabu Prom, which not only gives you an excuse to run for prom queen again, but benefits Philly FIGHT‘s Y-Hep program. Find out about all that and more in our roundup below:

Friday, May 29

  • Gemini Rose performs in the first Philadelphia Burlesque Festival, running all weekend throughout Philly. | Photo by Click Save.

    Gemini Rose performs in the first Philadelphia Burlesque Festival, running all weekend throughout Philly. | Photo by Click Save.

    New York queens Marti Gould Cummings and Bob the Drag Queen perform at Escape From New York City on Friday evening at Tabu. Starts at 9 pm.

  • Gemini Rose, HoneyTree Evil Eye, Lascivious Jane and other Gayborhood staples perform in the first-ever Philadelphia Burlesque Festival. Full schedule here.
  • Tavern on Camac hosts Eric Jaffe‘s live-singing cabaret show, with Pissi Myles, Shannon Turner and other chanteuses.
  • Iris Spectre and Aloe Vera host the first of a two-night “Devil Drag” show at BrainSpunk Theater.
  • Queer-friendly, dark-wave dance party Spellbound hits Voltage Lounge with a live performance by S∆m∆rk∆nd.
  • Sandy Beach hosts La Cage Aux Beach at Venture Inn with the legendary Aeryanah Von Moi.

Saturday, May 30

  • Ashley Coleman and Chris Blondell host A Very Tabu Prom on Saturday.

    Ashley Coleman and Chris Blondell host A Very Tabu Prom on Saturday.

    On Saturday afternoon, the Philadelphia Liberty Tennis Association is hosting a tennis trivia game for the French Open at Tabu. Starts at noon and goes till 3 pm.

  • You’ve heard talk about “The Mister Wives” on Facebook for a few weeks, now the cast of comedy queens is ready to take the stage in their first choreographed show: “Go to the Movies.” The evening is described as live performances integrated with multimedia video and imagery that play homage to a bunch of film faves—everything from Precious and Star Wars to A League of Their Own. Performers include Bev, Mimi Imfurst, Cleo Phatra and more.
  • The Weird Beard Revue returns to L’Etage in Queen Village with a side-show theme. Mistor Fahrenheit will host and introduce the lineup of performers that includes local faves Eric Jaffe, Tasker Morris and Sven Inches.
  • A Very Tabu Prom returns to Tabu Lounge and Sports Bar for its second go-round full of puffy sleeves, taffeta gowns and tiaras galore. The black-tie evening, hosted by Ashley Coleman and Chris Blondell of Ash Events promises music by jazz musician Dena Underwood, a crowning of Gayborhood prom royalty and all the prom photographs your Instagram account can handle. It’s all for a good cause, too: Proceeds benefit Philadelphia FIGHT’S youth-serving Y-HEP program.

Sunday, May 31

  • Poet Kelly McQuain is one of five writers involved in a reading this Sunday at Giovanni's Room.

    Poet Kelly McQuain is one of five writers participating in a reading this Sunday at Philly AIDS Thrift at Giovanni’s Room.

    Sunday’s drag brunch at Tabu is hosted by Aloe Vera and Roxi Starr. The theme: Sisterhood of the Traveling Gaff. Guest performers include Satine Harlow and Cherry St. Cartier. Starts at 11 am.

  • Around the corner, legendary Judy and Liza impersonator Gio Michaels is hosting a Broadway Drag Brunch at Venture Inn. She’s got Les Harrison and Joey Josephs on the entertainment roster. Starts at noon.
  • Philly AIDS Thrift at Giovanni’s Room welcomes five authors who will read from their latest works in poetry and fiction Sunday afternoon at the bookstore. Authors include Philly poet Kelly McQuainMatthew HittingerPaul LisickyDean Kostos and Jim Provenzano, whose latest novel, Message of Love, is set in Philadelphia in the 1980s. The readings start at 5 pm.