Queer the Block Presented by Drue Salon at the Kalamazoo State Theatre
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It’s Pride month and we are ready to celebrate! Join us outside the historic Kalamazoo State Theatre for Queer the Block Presented by Drue Salon featuring Beats by DJ Dazzelship, the Kunty Kittens Drag Show with a sneak peek performance by Queer Theatre Kalamazoo Friday, June 17th!
We’ll have free live entertainment outside our iconic Theatre, patio seating, drink specials, and more! Help us decorate the dance floor and enjoy free activities provided by local downtown businesses and organizations during “Chalk the Block” from 3-5PM, with our patio and bar opening at 5PM and live entertainment from 5:30-8:30PM!
Patio seating is first-come first-serve and will be limited. Feel free to bring your own chairs.
“Paul Sizer deejays under the name “DJ DazzleShip”, a name inspired by the Orchestral Manoeuvres In the Dark album of the same name, and by the World War 1 Vorticism-style camouflage used to hide battleships by making them confusing rather than invisible. You will recognize him as the official DJ for Club Vortex since 2018!
Paul’s DJ style is much like his long standing love of music; varied, informed by many different styles, and constantly looking for the newest sounds. Growing up in the late 70’s and early 80’s, Paul discovered music in the height of disco and the beginning of the punk and new wave era of the very early 80’s. Always a fan of propulsive, beat driven music, Paul also loved the emerging synthpop wave of bands coming out of the UK and Europe, from experimental to pure pop to industrial funk and dark ambient soundscapes. He also had a great love of early electro and hip hop music coming from America, and loved seeing the musical styles from all over the world inform each other.”
“The Kunty Kittens are the first and only drag girl group in Michigan established in 2015 that travels all over the state to multiple venues entertaining the masses with burlesque, comedy, glamour, and shenanigans!”
“Queer Theatre exists to empower queer voices, support emerging artists, and build community through the creation of works that dignify and amplify. They put new plays by queer storytellers at their center, with an opportunity for representation that is yet to be seen by other theatre companies in the area. Since their founding, Queer Theatre has produced over 50 new plays written by queer playwrights, providing theatrical opportunities to hundreds of people in the queer community, and the greater Kalamazoo area. For most of their history, they have provided their shows to the public with a Name-Your-Price system so that no audience member is turned away for not affording a ticket. Queer Theatre was founded in 2013 by then-graduate student Laura Kay Henderson as part of her thesis project and became a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in 2018. Current leadership is Connar Klock, Managing Artistic Director.”
Here is the rest of our 2022 State on the Street lineup:
· July 15th “Kalamazoo State Theatre Birthday” featuring The Insiders: A Tribute to Tom Petty
· August 5th Serita’s Black Rose & Art Hop
· August 19th Rene Meave
· September 23rd “Welcome Back Students” featuring DJ Mel V
We can’t wait to see you all at these free, outdoor events!
What To Expect:
– Free admission
– Drink specials available to purchase outside of KST
– Enjoy live music from 5:30-8:30PM
– Visit local business and organization’s tables including Drue Salon, OutFront, Queer Theatre Kalamazoo, Cureleaf, Bee Joyful, Black Arts and Cultural Center, Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation, Heirloom Arts LLC, Kalamazoo Roller Derby, Great lakes Center for Autism, and SHE!
– KST Box Office and Merch on site
– To-go drinks in Social District cups