Amonthlyinstitution in the world of Brooklyn drag and queer performance will celebrate a major milestone this weekend -- two years of bringing nuanced, creatively intelligent shows to the queer community of this New York City borough.
The showcase -- "RITUAL" -- is the brainchild of artist and performer Manifestany Squirtz, featured around the time of the show's inception in the HuffPost Gay Voices series, "Queer New World."
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Unlike many other performance showcases in the spectrum of Brooklyn drag, "RITUAL" tends to follow a structure -- and it works. At the beginning of each show, Squirtz and her fellow performers -- Chris of Hur, Tyler Ashley, Boy Georgia and Annie Witch-Way -- enact a dance-heavy "ritual" that ties into the theme of that month's show, giving the vibe of the room an ethereal, other-worldly quality. All of the numbers throughout the showcase tend to also be shaped and informed by the theme.
The Huffington Post chatted with Squirtz this week about the upcoming anniversary, the evolution of "RITUAL" and what we can expect from this showcase in the future.
Lucas Blair
The Huffington Post: What was your initial concept for RITUAL? How has it changed and developed over the years?
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Manifestany Squirtz: "RITUAL" has always been a platform for me and my friends to try out new "work," whatever the context of that word may be for the performer. The #TwistersOfRitual have experimented many times on the "RITUAL" dance floor and done it all for the people who show up to our monthly queer cabaret. Over the past two years, "RITUAL" has always been about the show. Since changing venues, that feeling of actually going to see a show has all been due to Kinfolk 94 for hosting us and totally supporting what we do -- not to mention it's gorgeous inside the venue. I really feel that we as the cast has solidified our little show into a niche within Brooklyn drag... whatever that means.
What makes this queer performance showcase different from other queer performance showcases in Brooklyn?
What I hear from people who attend "RITUAL" is that they find it to be more "artsy" -- more "performance-based drag." I've had guests of "RITUAL" who I know from my other professional life say, "Oh, this isn't drag, this is performance art" and I always kinda chuckle to myself because I know that their context of drag was probably limited to just Manhattan or some other gay bar in another city. Brooklyn's performers are creatively intelligent and yet ridiculously entertaining and I'm really try uphold that within the show and honor it every time we step onto the dance floor for the group opening number.
Dominic Andolina
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What is important to you when deciding on a monthly theme?
Oh Gawd! So our first "RITUAL" was board game-themed and we called it "Twisters," hence where our nickname came from. But usually the themes are always just ridiculous word play we, the #TwistersOfRitual, throw around. It was tradition for awhile that we would come up with the following month's theme at the end of each "RITUAL" when everyone is either drunk or high or both. We all also spend New Year's together in a cabin tucked away in the mountains far from the city and brainstorm for the coming year's themes. Last year's trip we jokingly came up with such RITUAL theme's as "Marital Aids," "ERMAGERD ARNAMAY!" and "Shamjizzim!" Sometimes there's a specific theme I want to play out and sometimes it's just like, "OMG that thing you just said while slurring, stoned... is the next RITUAL." But whatever the theme, it has always been up to the performer to interpret the theme or just ignore it.
Lucas Blair
How, in your eyes, do the people involved with "RITUAL" embody the spirit and nature of the show?
The #TwistersOfRitual are composed of Brooklyn-based performers, Chris of Hur, Tyler Ashley, Boy Georgia and myself, as well as our Philadelphia import, Annie Witch-Way. These performers I have curated together who embody the far-reaching possibilities that could be described as drag, art, dance/movement and/or performance art. On top of being my friends, they are also so professional to work with. Like, I know when each of them has or has not rehearsed their number. Yet, even though I can tell, I know the audience will never be able to know that these improvised moments of mayhem and uncertainty are really the magic each of the Twisters bring to the dance floor.
Dominic Andolina
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What do you envision for the future of "RITUAL?"
The future of "RITUAL" is uncertain, but I know as long as Kinfolk is being so awesome to us and giving us a platform to do our show, then we will continue to produce something for you to come see. Maybe one day, the #TwistersOfRitual will all do an evening-length work, one long number of musical, instead of just having a theme. But, God, getting a rehearsal schedule together for that sounds like a nightmare...but who knows?
The two-year anniversary of "RITUAL" will take place on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015 in Williamsburg. Head here for more information.
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