A drag queen dressed as Velma from Scooby-Doo cartwheeled to “Calling All The Monsters” by China Anne McClain, setting the scene for Columbia’s “Werk It, Witch!”
The annual Wicked Week drag show celebrated its 10th anniversary this week with a show that brought student and professional performers together for a campus tradition.
“It was amazing to see all the drag talent, not only in Chicago, but here, at Columbia,” said Jesse Ruiz, a first-year fashion design major, who first performed in drag during a high school talent show and later returned to the art form after serving in the military.
Ruiz, performing as Euthanasia, drew inspiration from classic witches, 1980s fashion, Doja Cat’s maximalism vibe and burlesque.
Hosted by the Student Programming Board, the drag show drew several hundred to the fifth floor event space of the Student Center. The show featured nine performers, including five professionals and four Columbia students.
Stephanie Haro, a senior radio major and president of the Student Programming Board, said reaching the 10-year milestone was especially meaningful as she prepares to graduate. Haro has served on the organization’s executive board for three years and considers the drag show one of her favorite campus events.
“I’m very excited and honored to be part of the 10th anniversary,” Haro said.
To celebrate the milestone, SPB displayed collages of archival photographs from previous drag shows, highlighting how the event has changed over the years.
Haro said the show was previously held in a performance space at Columbia’s 623 S. Wabash Ave. building before moving to other locations, including the Conway Center. Since 2021, It has found a home at the Student Center.
Finn Deen-Lester, a drag queen known professionally as Finn, hosted this year’s show and performed along with Sangria LaRose Whine, Papa Squat, True Romance, Tiger, Byronce, Ryot, Magic Michael and Euthanasia.
The four student performers were Byron Turner, who performs as Byronce; Michael Kowalkowski, who performs as Magic Michael; Jesse Ruiz, who performs as Euthanasia; and Red Stamer, who performs as Ryot.
Beyond the anniversary, Haro said the event provided students with the opportunity to experience drag performances without the 21-plus age restrictions commonly found at venues across Chicago.
For Finn, drag began as a form of gender expression and later developed into a passion for performing through theater.
She previously studied fine arts at Columbia in 2020 before leaving college to pursue drag professionally. Returning for the 10th anniversary meant a lot for her, she said.
“It was such an honor,” she said. “The audience was electric. The energy was just amazing.”
Haro said “Werk It, Witch!” allowed student performers to work alongside professional drag artists, giving them opportunities to learn about the industry and develop their own artistic skills.
“Sometimes with the student performers, this is their first time performing in front of an audience or performing in drag in general,” she said.
Student performers also shared dressing rooms with professionals, where they could exchange makeup tips, discuss costumes and learn from performers with experience in Chicago’s drag scene.
Deanna Johnson, a first-year dance major, said she particularly enjoyed Euthanasia’s performance because of the movement quality and dance techniques incorporated into the routine.
“I feel like she was trained in that to some degree,” she said.
Dylan Butler, a sophomore fashion studies major, said the Halloween theme added to the excitement and atmosphere of the show.
“Drag shows are already fun but if you have like a Halloween gist to it, it’s just chaos,” she said.
Copy edited by Isaac Russo
