Pageant!

[NathanLaneStalker]

Does anyone but me know what the musical is? I was in it! I LOVE this show!

[catstagestud]

I know of it though I don't know the score or anything very well; a dinner theatre at my hometown did it a few years back and was a huge hit.

Cheers,

Christopher

[broadwaybaby692]

They are doing it here in town, Dallas, at the gay theatre - Uptown Players. It is SO poorly directed and acted it's unbearable.

[NathanLaneStalker]

I know the show was (and is originaly) done in full drag but ours wasn`t. Only like......4 men were in drag. the rest were "Escorts". Still a GREAT show!

[AbbaRabbit]

!!! i LOVE it! i just saw it recent;y and posted on the boston board for anyone in ct to go see it :)

[Corine2]

Dick Scanlan was in it.

[NathanLaneStalker]

WOW! I`m kinda surprised that so many people know what this is! When I mention it to anyone on IMDB.com they`re like "What?" Does anyone have a DVD of a performance of any?

[otis33]

It was filmed for Japanese television, but I don't know if it's available on DVD.

[Bdwy24]

Ive seen this show many times. Well, just a couple, lol. But, it is a fun show and usually sells VERY well. It's not supposed to be "Drag". Just men dressed as women. You're not supposed to impersonate a women in the show. (no shaving, etc.)

[SueleenGay]

They are doing it here in town, Dallas, at the gay theatre - Uptown Players. It is SO poorly directed and acted it's unbearable.

But I am sure when you start your own theatre it will be flawless...

[leeinlondon]

Pageant was quite a hit in London a few years back in 2000 The production started life at the Kings Head Theatre in Islington, sold out and then transferred to the West End where sadly it didn't last as long as it should, about two months.

I saw it on the transfer to the West End and it is a very funny show.

[philcrosby]

Our local gay and lesbian theatre (Richmond, VA) did it about 5-6 years ago and it was a major hit. Audiences loved it, especially voting for the winner. But it's all in the casting.

[Hanna from Hamburg]

I also saw it on West End and we COULDN'T stop laughing. Especially when the 6 contestants are cut to the 5 finalists and they just drop the curtain on Miss West Coast and she was out of the pageant - PRICELESS.

I wish I would have seen it originally off Broadway. It's a very clever show. The "spokesmodel" sections where they do commercials are SO funny and the lyrics for many of the songs are a SCREAM. If you get a chance to see it (even a bad production), please do.

It's a show I'd love to do sometime.

[willact4food]

Since when has Uptown Players been a gay theatre? They just did Aida...
I really hope you weren't using the word gay in a derogatory manner, like "that's so gay!".

[tgrabon]

There was a Chicago production in 2001 at the Black Orchid Theatre. The producers brought over Miles Western. He won a supporting actor in a musical Olivier Award for the London production of Pageant. The rest of the cast was Chicago actors. I saw the show and I thought it was hysterical. The producers spent a good deal of money on costumes and sets. They even had a runway into the audience for the contestants to parade on. I'm not sure why it didn't run longer than it did.

[WonderBoy]

I effing love this show! If done well it cannot be beat! My friend sings 'Banking On Jesus' at the piano bar on occasion which of course brings down the house. I personally want to play Kitty Bob "Chicken in the bread pan pickin' out dough" Aimes! I designed make-up for a production of it that had to extend it's run because it sold out for every show.

[Hanna from Hamburg]

With the "men in drag" concept, you would think it wouldn't play well in the Bible belt. IMO, I think it would. Because the Bible belters (I'm from there) are REALLY into beauty pageants.

[philcrosby]

Southerners love beauty pageants and gay southerners love drag queens AND beauty pageants. So it's a natural!

[NathanLaneStalker]

We did it in MS! With Miss West Coast in drag! The rest of the men in drag (What was like 3) were chorus members! We did 4 performances and sold out for all except the mattine.

[WonderBoy]

I don't care what anyone says that show should not be cast with women in the roles.

[otis33]

I agree! I've done the show twice playing Miss West Coast. I also think the guys should shave. I know when Bill Russell, the original book writer, directs it - he goes for the no shaving and very campy approach. I, personally, think it works better when the guys really take these characters and try to make them as real as possible. LOVE the show.

We used the original Gregg Barnes costumes from the London production, which then went to Chicago, and then to us in San Diego. Beautiful costumes.

[NathanLaneStalker]

It was still good even though women played the main parts! (Except Miss West Coast!)

[AuditioningWaitress]

I saw the show in NYC, but was younger and don't remember it too much. I remember loving the men in their gowns.

There was a thread about the show and the CD awhile back.
https://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?boardname=bway&thread=864050#1335306

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Let the kicking and scratching begin . . . .

http://cgi.ebay.com/Pageant-Australian-Cast-Recording-CD-Strack-OST-1997_W0QQitemZ4886743229QQcategoryZ58613QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


Edit - I'd bid myself, but with 5 days to go, I don't want to spend the $$$ it's probably going to get to!

[DBillyP]

I thought Uptown Players' production was quite fun, actually, with a tremendous cast. The more than 100 people with whom I saw it certainly seemed to enjoy it!

willact, while Uptown's mission statement does not use the word "gay," more often than not, they present works with gay characters and themes. Their first show was WHEN PIGS FLY, and, in the coming season, they are producing THE NORMAL HEART, VALHALLA and THRILL ME: THE LEOPOLD AND LOEB STORY.