Drag Cabaret - NMU Theatre and Dance

Joey Black (Director & Host) is your current raining “Miss Gay, Wisconsin USofA classic” and recently returned from Dallas, Texas competing at nationals. This former UP native now lives back home in Milwaukee. Her proudest accomplishments are starting the college shows over 25 years ago at both NMU and Michigan Tech and the various fundraisers she has hosted and participated in here in the UP for places like the women’s center, hospices and various cancer fundraisers to name a few. She is so very glad to be returning to where she got her start in the UP here at NMU!

Mercedes Benzova, a Northern Michigan native and NMU ALUMNI started her drag career 12 years ago at the NMU amateur drag show! Since then Mercedes has performed all over the midwest and even lived and performed in Colorado for a few years before becoming a resident in Madison Wisconsin. When Mercedes is not doing drag she is designing wigs for drag queens all around the US and taking care of her fur babies! Mercedes loves performing wherever she gets the opportunity to, but she will always know where home and her favorite people are, right here in Northern Michigan.

Shelby Cummins is a local Queen of Marquette. She got her start at the 2018 Up Rainbow Pride amateur show where she took the crown and became Miss Rainbow Pride 2018. She has since performed in Madison, Milwaukee and Green Bay, as well as Sault St Marie. She is the current Miss Gay Emerald City WI USofA 2024 and is set to compete for Miss Gay Wisconsin USofA in November! Shelby LOVES Marquette and all the support and love she has received while performing here. She would like to thank you so much for the continued love and support and hopes you enjoy this show! It’s definitely the drag event of the year!

Princess Janelza - The Diva, The Doll, the Belle of the ball! The Princess has traveled many of miles from the comforts of her tower to entertain the masses far and wide. Dazzling the audience with her smile, charm, and electric dance moves. So soft and sweet but when it’s time to hit the stage, you know you’ll be in for a treat.

Loretta LoveLee is our current raining “Miss Gay, Wisconsin USofA,” and just finished competing in Dallas, Texas at nationals. She is the show director of LaCage night club with her partner Mercedes and performs full time across Wisconsin as well as being one of Madison’s up and coming tattoo artists. Being a U.P. native, Loretta is so happy to be back at NMU where she first experienced the art of drag and got her start on her professional drag journey.

Taysha Montenegro is a Hispanic Latin Queen Know as the Latin Dancing Queen From Puerto Rico started doing drag back in 2012 with a total of 14 years in the business of female Drag Impersonator , has a pasión for dancing and performing bringing her heritage out as a hispanic entertainer she also has a vast knowledge of pageantry in the Lgbtq community with a total of 14 crowns and tittles trough her drag career she is the current Miss Club Wisconsin 2023/24 all the way from Milwaukee Wi.

Brayden Smith (Lighting Designer/Head Electrician/Lightboard Operator/Audio 2) is a freshman at NMU going for a degree in Theatre Technology and Design with a concentration in lighting and audio design. Brayden has already worked on a number of shows including Monty Python’s Spamalot (Head Electrician), A Christmas Carol (Sound Designer), Clybourne Park (A1), Anything Goes (Assistant Lighting Designer), Ghost Soldiers (Lighting Designer), and many others. Brayden is ecstatic to be back again with everyone lighting designing this amazing show!

Braeden Ingersoll (Technical Director), originally from Des Moines, Iowa, received his MFA in Technical Production from Florida State University where he focused on Technical Direction, Production Management, and teaching. Additional professional credits include Technical Director with Des Moines Metro Opera and Theatre Aspen, and Assistant Technical Director with Creede Repertory Theatre. His work in the Entertainment industry has been driven by his fondness for storytelling and accomplishing technical feats onstage. Clybourne Park marked Braeden’s return to scenic design after a short hiatus. Other design credits include The Bald Soprano & These Shining Lives.
 

† Indicates membership in Alpha Psi Omega, the National Theatre Honor Society.