It’s the ultimate New York City drag show… on video tape.

The Third Annual Drag Show Video Verite
Thursday, June 18, 2009 – 6pm
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center
Bruno Walter Auditorium
111 Amsterdam Avenue (between 64th and 65th Streets)
New York, NY

Admission: FREE!
Dress: Optional

“Ranging across New York’s unique drag heritage…much to stimulate and provoke.” – The Guardian

“Brings back those halcyon , hairsprayed days and nights.” – Time Out New York

Drag Show Video Verite screens rare film and video footage that captures the faces and places, past and present, of New York City’s vibrant drag scene. Now in its third year, Drag Show Video Verite premieres a new edition of all new footage each June during Gay Pride at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center, Bruno Walter Auditorium. The 2009 edition premieres June 18, 2009 at 6 pm. Admission is free. Dress optional. Seating is first come, first served.  Arrive early for seating.

Drag Show Video Verite’s video mash up offers a who’s who of NYC drag over the past 50 years. A full list of the male and female impersonators featured in the 2009 edition is provided below.

Of special note in this year’s line up are recently discovered and never before screened out takes from the landmark pre-Stonewall drag documentary The Queen (1968) with commentary by the film’s star Flawless Sabrina and the world premiere of Tie Biz with Murray Hill, directed by Mary C. Matthews and produced by Murray Hill. Also of note is rare footage of Divine (backstage and onstage in The Neon Woman at Hurrah’s) and Jewel Box Revue lead performer Mr. Lynn Carter. This material is part of The Emerald City, a 1970s NYC public access cable television program that covered the gay community.

As has become a tradition at each edition’s premiere, concert pianist and drag diva Jacqueline Jonee will open the screening with a performance on the Bruno Walter Auditorium’s grand piano accompanying a slide show of NYC drag photographs. This year’s featured photographer is Ves Pitts. Previous featured photographers have included Ande Whyland and Derrick Little.

Drag Show Video Verite 2009 features rare and never before seen footage of:

Adrian, All The Kings Men, Joey Arias, Bebe Sahara Benet, Lady Bunny, Mr. Lynn Carter, Circus Amok, International Chrysis, Lavinia-Co-op, Jackie Curtis, Candy Darling, Flotilla DeBarge, Agnes de Garron, Storme DeLaviere, Divine, Dred, Ethyl Eichelberger, Epiphany, Flloyd, Zondra Foxx, Oswaldo Gomez, Murray Hill, Harlow, Britney Houston, Mimi Imfurst, The Imperial Court, Ivan the Terrible, Marsha P. Johnson, Needles Jones, Jelly Joplin, Robert LaFosse as Isadora Duncan, Charles Ludlam, Lypsinka, Dina Martina, Brini Maxwell, Rumi Missabu, Raven O, Rollerena, Peppermint, Everett Quinton, Radical Faeries, Rollerena, RuPaul, Flawless Sabrina, Linda Simpson, Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Eve Starr, Sweetie, Sydicious, Sylvia Sydney, Tabboo!, Tigger, Tish, Ann Tique, Lahoma VanZandt, Miss Vera’s Finishing School For Boys Who Want To Be Girls, Sherry Vine, Gusty Winds, Rose Wood, Holly Woodlawn and many, many more.

Seating is first come, first served. Arrive early for seating.