This Halloween, Billsburg Brewery is bringing entertainment to Williamsburg that’s more than just costumes: it’s a drag show.
“We do know that we have a community base in this town that is like-minded,” said Dave Baum, one of the owners. “So we are trying to connect with them and have a good time.”
Billsburg, which will celebrate its second birthday on Saturday, will host the performing group Circus of Sistahs, a drag show that is comprised of performers from all over Hampton Roads, Richmond and even some from Southwest Virginia.
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This will be the second year Billsburg is hosting the show and Baum said he is excited to see guests’ reaction after it going over so well last year.
Robert Kyle created Circus of Sistahs five years ago after performing a character in drag for a play with the Williamsburg Players. He said he realized there weren’t many outlets for this form of entertainment, so he decided to create his own.
“By doing drag shows, [the LGBTQ community] can see that there is support for groups of all different types,” Kyle said. “So it allows everyone to see that together, we can be a community that accepts everyone.”
Kyle said dressing in drag isn’t necessarily always associated with sexuality. It just so happens many who dress in drag might have different sexual identities, but regardless he said he wants people to realize that drag is just fun and for everyone.
Each performance is different from the next, he said, with no one performance ever repeated. The performers go on stage and dance and sing for the audience in elaborate costumes and makeup that sometimes will match a theme, such as Thursday’s performance which is “Hallow-queen” themed.
Kyle, whose stage name is “Aria Ova’here,” said he designed the makeup for the for the Haunting of DoG Street event with Colonial Williamsburg and took his skills to his show to provide something different for the community.
“It’s like watching something on TV,” Kyle said. “You can watch gay characters and until you know someone or go to see a performance, you have no idea how fun it is.”
Billsburg is known for hosting an array of community groups and events that help bring out locals and provide unique experiences. Recently, Billsburg hosted the new LGBTQ group “Love is Love Williamsburg” for an event and now members of that group will be performing in this year’s drag show.
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“I think for us, it’s all about inclusion,” Baum said. “It’s about making sure everyone feels like they have a home or a place in town that they fit in and belong.”
The two-hour show will be at 8 p.m. in the brewery’s taproom and feature five performers from the group. Baum said there will be a costume contest — Kyle said the show will be an interactive experience. Tickets are $20 and can be bought in advance.
