Calling All Creative and Talented People to Be a Contestant in Best in Drag Show

It’s time to let your inner drag queen out! Best in Drag Show — the outrageous drag “beauty” pageant—is holding auditions for its 2023 show to be held on Sunday, October 1 at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. Auditions for the annual Best In Drag Show event will be held on Sunday, April 16 by appointment only.

Have you got an idea for a great drag character? Thoughts about what her costumes would be? A talent performance that you’ve never seen before? Something that would surprise an audience? This is your chance to bring that character to life! And you’ll be doing it for a great reason—to provide much-needed housing services to people living with HIV who are experiencing homelessness.

All contestants must prepare an introduction of their character (including her name, the state she is representing and a description or her personality), share costume ideas and perform one minute of talent. Producers aren’t looking for lip-syncing acts. They want to see something new, something unexpected, something great or ridiculous or hilarious or astounding.

If you have the ideas but aren’t sure how to execute them, the audition! The producers can help you. Some of the past contestants—even some past winners—had never done drag before doing the show. It’s more about creating a character and telling a story than about having a closet full of dresses and heels. (You’ll end up with a closet full of dresses and heels after you do the show).

Auditions will be held in-person on Sunday, April 16, 2023. To schedule an audition slot, email director Jeffrey Drew at [email protected].

Best in Drag Show is an annual fundraiser to support the work of Alliance for Housing and Healing. The show is produced by a dedicated team of extraordinarily talented volunteers who give their time year after year to support our mission of providing essential housing and supportive services to people living with HIV or other challenging health conditions.

Some of the services Alliance for Housing and Healing provides are:

• Group Homes with 24/7 care for those who are too ill with HIV/AIDS to live on their own and have no other resources
• Permanent, subsidized apartments that are safe places for individuals and families with HIV/AIDS and a second diagnosis
• Emergency financial assistance to pay rent and utility bills for those with HIV/AIDS who are facing eviction and homelessness

Best in Drag Show began as Battle for the Tiara—a small annual party and AIDS fundraising event filled with love and heart in Alexis Pittman’s living room. Each year it has grown in size and renown to become a not-to-be-missed event. No longer able to squeeze into a tiny living room, the event now attracts 2,000 people and takes place at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Los Angeles. Helmed by an amazing group of dedicated and creative people and filled with outlandish characters, over-the-top performances, elaborate costumes and celebrity judges, Best in Drag Show embodies the ideals of humor, love and dedication, continuing the work started all those years ago in Alexis’s living room.

Over the years, Best in Drag Show has raised $6,000,000 to provide services for people living with HIV who are experiencing homelessness.

Schedule an audition slot now by emailing director Jeffrey Drew at [email protected]!