Skagway is breaking out the drag costumes and rolling out the red carpet this weekend for its first major Pride event of the month. Gigi Monroe and her Juneau-based drag troop The Kings and Queens of Juneau Drag will host the proceedings at the Dedman Stage at Seven Pastures on Saturday night. It’s all part of Skagway’s celebration of Pride month.
Gigi Monroe posts videos prolifically on her drag queen Facebook page. The page is full of skits she’s performed since the pandemic shut down live performances across the globe. She does Sarah Palin impressions, lip sync performances from myriad artists, and she answers questions from her fans on Facebook live events.
“Do you wanna swim in a pool of maple syrup or a pool of Nutella? No problem, hands down, Nutella. Maple syrup is too much, it’s too much,” said Monroe during one of those Q&A sessions.
She’s bringing her troupe to do a one-off show in Skagway on Saturday night, and as one of the show’s organizers, Skipper Stovall tells it, the last time he saw her perform, she put on quite a spectacle.
The Kings and Queens of Drag from Juneau come to Skagway for Pride month
“She had a stainless steel crotch cover and a metal grinder and she would hit the grinder onto the steel crotch cover, and it would shoot fire six feet in the air! It’s quite exciting,” said Stovall.
He also said Saturday night’s show will be a big event.
“This is not just a fun, campy show. It’s a really professionally done, full-on illusion-type drag show. So it’s a really fancy thing. It’s truly the art of drag,” said Stovall.
Skipper and his partner Nils own Bites on Broadway in Skagway, they see it as a safe space where the LGBTQ visitors to the town can gather. And they understand just how special a place Skagway is, especially during pride month.
“It’s wonderful to be in a town that is so accepting of our society. So first, let me say that, because there are not very many people that get it quite as good as we do. So for that, I’m appreciative,” said Stovall.
The cafe has a bear out front dressed in drag, and a pride flag inside, locals and visitors alike can be treated to old family recipes and the couple’s warm southern charm.
As for the show on Saturday night?
“It’s going to be better than anybody thinks. I, when I first saw Gigi perform, it was just amazing. I was totally floored. You’re going to see an act that has Dolly Parton in it, Liza Minnelli, Cher,” said Stovall.
The show starts at 4 o’clock Saturday afternoon with kids’ entertainment until 6 p.m. Then it’ll be local Skagway performers for the next two hours. The main event runs from about 8 till 10:30 p.m. Then DJ Miranda spins the hits till the wee hours. Food and drinks will be served by Skagway Brewing Company.
