Dark art vendors unite for horror movie pageant July 28

Horror Movie Pageant

$10, 21 and up

Saturday, July 28, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The Avenue Café

2021 E. Michigan Ave.

Click here for event page

See Frankenstein do burlesque, Dracula show some skin and the Wolfman do the boogie.

Vendors at the event: Salvador La Strange Emporium, Subversive Image, Macabre Creations, Freakshow Friends, The Underground Unleashed, Electronic Kitty, Ralphie’s Reverie, Wax Witch and Punks With Lunch.

“We are a gender neutral pageant, which a lot of people don't realize,” said Tiesha King, founder of the Dark Art of Michigan. “You can be unique as a performance artist. There is a new birth of drag since RuPaul’s Drag Race has made it more mainstream.”

With Lansing drag queen legend Delicious, as well as burlesque performer Cinna Moan as co-judges, King said she is grateful for the experience they bring to this event.

“Once everybody runs through their initial performance, we will score them and the top four will be invited to lip sync for their afterlife. They get on stage with another contestant facing elimination and perform together,” said King. “Whoever does the best performance will move on to the final round.”

Putting on the horror movie theme is a good way to incorporate dark arts into a pageant, said King.

“When you are a kid, those were the first things that scared you, and mom kept you safe. I just think those kind of things can be timeless, because it takes you back to a time when you were vulnerable.”

Since winning the title last year, Tater Tot Noxious’ drag career has expanded.

“He’s got opportunities and he’s been booked out of town 一 he never thought being a drag queen in his first year would get those opportunities,” said King.

King said each contestant competes for the crown differently, and that’s part of the fun. Putting on this show is important to foster a greater understanding of this community, said King.

“I like that it is actually being paid attention to by people that aren’t necessarily into the dark stuff. They see the value in what we’re doing and accept it.”