Drag artists seldom travel solo. Theirs is a communal, celebratory art form, shared in clubs and eateries but also, as we see this week, in grand old theaters and hip art galleries.
The standard drag show format mirrors variety shows or burlesque revue of past eras. The drag brunch scene isn’t as robust as it was just a couple of years ago, though Sky Casper Entertainment’s Pink Eggs and Glam brunches are still happening at least once a month around Connecticut.
There are several clubs and restaurants in the state where you can find professional nighttime drag shows on a regular basis, among them Chez Est in Hartford, Troupe429 in Norwalk and Partner’s in New Haven. There’s also the long-running weekly drag series “Lipstick, Lashes and Lies” on Friday nights at 10 p.m. at Mohegan Sun’s Comix Roadhouse with a rotation of hosts from the local drag scene, including Mia E Z’Lay, Felicity V. Lay, Kenya Mone Heart and Ambrosia Black.
This week brings two special drag events. “Drag at the Poli” kicks off what may be the start of a new series at the Waterbury Palace Theater’s intimate Poli Club room on Sept. 4. This show features drag kings as well as drag queens and has a punk edge. The performers include Frankie Cyanide, Angelina Fierce, Kiki Lucia and Ryder Die. “Drag at the Poli” is the first local revue of its kind at the Palace, but in the past decade or so the historic theater has brought in tours of “Hairspray” and “Kinky Boots” and appearances by RuPaul, Dixie Longate and Waterbury’s own drag star Summer Orlando with her Halloween-time “Hocus Pocus Live” event.
Drag adds a performance art element to an art show at Real Art Ways on Sept. 5. “Megafauna,” an environment-themed art installation by Ezra Moth is being augmented by a free drag performance featuring Moth, Maljo Blu, Mx. Ology and Amygdala. Moth has studied painting and sculpture at UConn. Their work, according to their website, “engages with ecology, queer identity and the Anthropocene.” The exhibit is the result of Moth receiving a coveted Real Art Award from Real Art Ways. The exhibit, which has been up since mid-June, comes down Sept. 7.
Visual artist Ezra Moth is also a performer. Both aspects will be evident on Sept. 5 at Real Art Ways when Moth’s current installation “Megafauna (these desperate earthly forms)” will be augmented by “an evening of bio-mimetic drag.” Besides the artist, performers include Maljo Blu, Mx. Ology and Amygdala. (Courtesy of Real Art Ways)
JP Justice
Funny Bone Comedy Club, 194 Buckland Hills Dr. Suite 1054, Manchester
JP Justice is a seasoned veteran of the stand-up circuit and even wrote a book, “Set: Breaking Down the Elements of Urban Stand-Up Comedy,” drawing from his 30 years of experience. He keeps his own sets current and vital. Aug. 31 at 6 p.m. $22. hartford.funnybone.com.
Eladio Carrión
Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater, 500 Broad St., Bridgeport
The Latin trap/reggaeton sensation from Kansas City, Kansas, Eladio Carrión, has branched out with his sound to a more soulful territory. He’s only been a solo artist for five years but has released five albums in that time. Carrión is at Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater on Aug. 31 at 8 p.m. $42.50-$85.75. hartfordhealthcareamp.com.
The Improbable Victoria Woodhull
Mark Twain House & Museum virtual event
Eden Collinsworth, author of the biography “The Improbable Victoria Woodhull: Suffrage, Free Love and the First Woman to Run for President” is interviewed about the book in a virtual event with Mark Twain House & Museum associate director of education Erin Bartram. Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. $10. Register at marktwainhouse.org.
Rilo Kiley
College Street Music Hall, 238 College St., New Haven
The four-piece band Rilo Kiley (none of whose members are named Rilo Kiley) broke up maybe a dozen years ago, and some of the members have played with vocalist Jenny Lewis on some of her solo outings. Now that breakup is being referred to as a hiatus, and Rilo Kiley is back on tour, with a show on Sept. 3 at 8 p.m. at College Street Music Hall. Natalie Bergman opens. $64.26. collegestreetmusichall.com.
Sofía Gallisá Muriente/MATRIX 197
Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 600 Main St., Hartford
Artist/filmmaker Sofía Gallisá Muriente is present at the opening of her multimedia installation at The Wadsworth, then takes part in a discussion of her work. The exhibition opens Sept. 4 at 5 p.m. and the gallery talk is at 6 p.m. Free. thewadsworth.org.
Former “American Idol” winner Ruben Studdard is on road with his latest tour featuring his biggest hits and songs from his latest album, “The Way I Remember It.’ The Grammy nominee will be in Connecticut on Sept. 4 at The Kate in Old Saybrook. (Courtesy of Studdard Entertainment)
‘Tuesdays with Morrie’
Westport Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, Westport
The stage version of journalist Mitch Albom’s bestselling memoir about his years of regular visits to his philosophical mentor Morris Schwartz has a four-performance run at Westport Playhouse Sept. 4-6. It stars the great Len Cariou (the original Broadway Sweeney Todd, also known for TV’s “Blue Bloods”) and Christopher J. Domig. The stage adaptation, which has had many productions in Connecticut over the years, is by Jeffrey Hatcher, whose new adaptation of the play “Rope” will be at Hartford Stage in October. This production is directed by Erwin Maas and was originally done at the Sea Dog Theater in New York last year. Performances are Thursday at 7 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 3 and 8 p.m. $45-$65. westportplayhouse.org.
Ruben Studdard
Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook
Ruben Studdard, who won the second season of “American Idol” in 2003, is still putting out albums and touring. His latest album is “The Way I Remember It.” He will be performing at The Kate on Sept. 4 at 7:30 p.m. $60-$70. thekate.org.
‘Drag at the Poli’
Palace Theater, 100 East Main St., Waterbury
Local drag kings and queens perform at the Poli Club inside the Waterbury Palace Theater. You may recognize some of the names from their appearances at the Troupe429 club in Norwalk or the now-defunct State House club in New Haven. Sept. 4 at 8 p.m. $35. palacetheaterct.org.
Lake Street Dive
Westville Music Bowl, 45 Yale Ave., New Haven
The eclectic Boston-rooted indie pop/rock band Lake Street Dive is at Westville Music Bowl with the sibling pop duo Lawrence on Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. $26.62-$422.12. westvillemusicbowl.com.
Old Dominion
Mohegan Sun Arena, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville
The Nashville country/rock/pop vocal group Old Dominion released its sixth album, “Barbara,” just a couple of weeks ago. The band’s many hits include “Shut Me Up” and “Break Up With Him.” Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. $104.65-$125.90. mohegansun.com.
country/rock/pop vocal group Old Dominion is performing on Sept. 5 at the Mohegan Sun Arena. (Dove Shore)
Amalgamation
Shubert Theatre, 247 College St., New Haven
The Jamaican dance performance troupe Amalgamation is well named since the dancers come from a variety of different Jamaican dance companies and schools, including the National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica, the CDT troupe, the Ashe Company, Dance Theatre Xamayca, Movements Dance Company and the University of the West Indies Dance Society. Choreographers include Robert Battle, Shahar Binyamini, Steve Cornwall, Jessica Lang, Renee McDonald, Orville McFarlane and Andrew Winghart. Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. $58.30-$86.90. shubert.com.
‘Megafauna: a selection of biomimetic drag’
Real Art Ways, 56 Arbor St., Hartford
Artist Ezra Moth is hosting a one-night drag performance revue as an extension of his immersive art installation “Megafauna” in the Real Art Ways gallery space. The drag artists have been asked to present pieces “inspired by biological entities and processes.” Besides Moth, the performers include Maljo Blu, Mx. Ology and Amygdala. Sept 5 at 7 p.m. Free. realartways.org.
Tower of Power
Infinity Music Hall, 20 Greenwoods Road West, Norfolk
The funk/soul powerhouse Tower of Power has been around since the late 1960s and its horn-based sound hasn’t wavered. As one of the band’s songs says, “Don’t Change Horses (in the Middle of a Stream).” Sept. 5 at 8 p.m. $108.24-$160.82. infinityhall.com.
Bizarre Bazaar
Old State House, 800 Main St., Hartford
The spooky Bizarre Bazaar is back over seven weeks before Halloween but with that occasion very much on its mind. The fair features horror-themed crafts, gifts, art and more from dozens of vendors and artisans. Local singer/songwriter Asher Kai is one the three live music performances on Sept. 6 from noon to 4 p.m. Free admission. hartford.com.
Mihali
Levitt Pavilion, 45 Jesup Road, Westport
Vermont singer/songwriter/guitarist Mihali, of the band Twiddle, mingles spiritual sounds with reggae and folk/roots beats. He sometimes plays solo on tour, but this is a full band show. Sept. 6 at 5 p.m. $40-$67.50; lawn seats; $30-$67.50 in advance; discounts for Levitt Pavilion members. levittpavilion.com.
The ‘Brotherly Love’ Podcast Live!
Foxwoods Resort Casino, 350 Trolley Line Blvd., Mashantucket
It’s live love from Joey, Matt and Andy Lawrence, the celebrity sibling who co-host of the “Brotherly Love” podcast coming to Foxwood’s Great Cedar Showroom on Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. $64.35-$80.25. foxwoods.com.
The Plot in You
Oakdale Theatre, 95 South Turnpike Road, Wallingford
The Ohio metalcore band The Plot in You has been around for 15 years and has released five albums and four EPs in that time. The most recent EP, “Vol. 3,” came out last year and contained the singles “Been Here Before” and “Pretend.” The Plot in You plays the Dome area of the Oakdale Theatre on Sept. 6 at 7p.m. $41.25. livenation.com.
Asher Kai performing at last year’s Bizarre Bazaar in downtown Hartford. The singer/songwriter plays the same event this year, on Sept. 6 near the Old State House. (Courtesy of Hartford Business Improvement District)
Donald Sosin and Joanna Seaton
Music Mountain, 225 Music Mountain Road, Falls Village
The classic 1927 silent film drama “Sunrise,” directed by F.W. Murnau, is given a live original soundtrack by the piano/vocal duo of Donald Sosin and Joanna Seaton on Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. at the Music Mountain jazz series. $20-$35. musicmountain.org.
Mike DelGuidice
Simsbury Meadows Performing Arts Center, 22 Iron Horse Blvd., Simsbury
Mike DeGuidice played in a top Billy Joel tribute band before Billy Joel himself asked him to join his real band. DelGuidice plays an outdoor show on Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. at the Simsbury Meadows. It is a benefit for Favarh, the non-profit which helps those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. $30-$40 lawn, $10 children; table seating $538.38-$1175.62 per eight-person table. simsburymeadows.org.
Quinn XCII
Toad’s Place, 300 York St., New Haven
Quinn XCII is done eating. The eclectic singer/songwriter/rapper’s last big project was several EPs and an album about breakfast, lunch and dinner. That binge must have helped because Quinn XCII’s new album and tour are both called “Look! I’m Alive!” Sept. 6 at 7:30 p.m. $26.62-$422.12 (including several VIP packages). toadsplace.com.
Foghat
Mohegan Sun, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville
Foghat, the British blues rockers who brought you “Slow Ride,” have been a band for 54 years. Still boasting founding drummer Roger Earl, Foghat plays a free show on Sept. 6 at 8 p.m. at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den. mohegansun.com.
Comedy Night
Playhouse on Park, 244 Park Road, West Hartford
Patty Rosborough and Greg Radin are the performers on Sept. 6 at 8 p.m. for Playhouse on Park’s monthly Comedy Night. $20. playhouseonpark.org.
Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band
Fairfield Theatre Company, 70 Sanford St., Fairfield
Country/blues fingerstyle guitarist Reverend Payton has some vintage steel-bodied or cigar-box guitars from the 1930s that he sometimes brings onstage. His trio includes a washboard player. The Hooten Hallers open Peyton’s show on Sept. 6 at 8 p.m. at FTC’s Stage One space. $31-$44. fairfieldtheatre.org.
