‘American Glamour Story’ Draws Eager Students to Keystone Room

By Yaasmeen Piper
Contributing Writer

A thunder of applause erupts as Carol Ann Carol Ann and Sharron Ann Husbands enter the stage for ESU’s 7th annual Drag Show. About 30 volunteers helped the “American Glamour Story” come to life.

All 540 seats were filled, with leftover stragglers hanging in the back of the room and on the side walls.

According to Matthew Simmons, ESU’s Coordinator of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Ally Program Center, the idea of a drag show was brought up in Lenape Lounge by three students.

“The idea had come from other schools we’ve been to that had them,” wrote Simmons, “so they organized it and put it on. There was a crowd of about 7080 and it was free. The following year, we had three students [Chris Torres, Robert McGuckin, and Tim Hahn (Sharron Ann Husbands)] who took the lead with the show, and morphed it into what it is today.”

Carol Ann Carol Ann and Sharron Ann opened the show flaunting their pinup girl hair with Ike and Tina Turner’s “River Deep / Mountain High.” The show had a wide variety of acts as well as music, from country to hip-hop to pop, and even an ode to an SNL classic originally performed by Lonely Island and Justin Timberlake.

Between the music acts, five lucky audience members got a chance to play the “hokey pokey” with Sharron Ann; a game I’m sure they’ll never forget.

The crowd roared when the “Hawthron Hotties” danced their way to the stage, ripping off their shirts to a blend of pop, R&B and hip-hop.

However, the real show stopper was our very own President Welsh. With the help of Carol Ann and Sharron Ann, President Welsh took the stage wearing a cotton candy wig and blue dress to match. She joined the hosts in singing “I Will Survive” as the audience shouted their approval.

“I’m also extremely proud of the fact that we have such a supportive campus that we can fill Keystone Room year after year,” says Simmons,”and that the President, VP’s and countless other faculty and staff get involved, not only to support the show, but some who even participate. It’s a great show of support for our LGBTQ Community here at ESU!”

All acts came together for the finale. They gave their final walk on the runway to Sara Bareilles’ “Brave.”

The show left people giddy, and their sides aching from laughter, ready for “The Greatest Homecoming on Earth.”

Email Yaasmeen at:
ypiper@live.esu.edu