Easter Worship
10:00 a.m. at
Pershing Auditorium
Experience the joyful celebration of our
choirs, instrumental groups and handbells.
8:30 a.m. Fellowship and Refreshments
Nursery Provided....Parking Available
There's a Place for You at
St. Marks United Methodist Church
Faster at Pershing Aud., 15th & M 488-8885^
; Acacia Fraternity
• presents
j Vein Drain '90
• Blood Drive
• TODAY •
: Thursday, April 12,1990
| 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
: City Union
% -
Mercedes lip syncs to a Carmen Miranda song during Sunday’s show.
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Fe/male
Continued from Page 8
because I have no lips,” B.B.Q.
said.
Lafayette said there are many
everyday things most female im
personators must do if they want to
perform. For instance, most per
formers must shave their legs. Lafay
ette does not — he solves the hairy'
leg problem by wearing nylon stock
ings over lights. However, he does
have to shave his chest and under
arms fairly regularly.
“There are outfits that I wear
that are revealing, risque to a cer
tain extent,” he said.
Female impersonation also is a
littleuncomfortable, Lafayette said.
If an impersonator chooses to wear
falsies, they must be super-glued to
his chest to keep them from mov
ing around or falling off Also, many
outfits bought from the store are
designed to fit women's bodies,
not men’s, and they can be a little
restrictive.
"It’s uncomfortable to a degree,"
Lafavetlesaid. “You’re pultingyour
men’s feet in women’sshoes. Some
people say it’s not uncomfortable,
but I know they’re lying."
And then, of course, there is the
monetary price of female imper
sonation. Performers can spend a
great deal of money on clothes and
makeup and accessories for their
routines. Female impersonators lake
a great deal of pride in their appear •
ances because it is a very expen
sive hobby. And for many, it’s their
livelihood.
“Oh God, the sky’s the limit,”
Lafayelte said about how much an
impersonator can spend on an outfit
he may wear only once for one
show. “I’ve known people who
have spent $10,000 on a gown,
seriously."
That is why it’s important to win
pageants, because if you have a
title, you can go to other cities and
ask a certain price to perform.
Known title holders often draw
crowds.
“Basically, when you get your
name established, you get invited
to other cities to do shows,” Mer
cedes said.
Fun
Probably the best-known lemale
impersonator who started in Lin
coln is Amanda Foxx He is Miss
Gay California/America. He per
formed at the Boardwalk on April
1, and appeared on the April \
episode of Night Court, imperson
ating Cher
“As a boy, he’s very plain, but he
really impersonates well,” Growl
said. “You have to know it’sJ . . .,
otherwise, you’d think it was a
woman.’’
Mercedes, Champagne, Lafayette
and B.B.Q. all said they enjoy
becoming somebody else for a
while. It’s a thrill, and they love it.
“It’s a total transformation into
someone else,” B.B.Q. said, “It’s
neat to see yourself as somebody
else.”
For many, it really is a total
transformation. For instance, one
night several years ago after having
some promotional photos taken,
Lafayette decided he wanted to go
out and have a drink. In drag. Sone
went to the Night Before, since it
was the closest bar. Some men at
the bar sent him drinks and started
hitting on him. Lafayette told them
he was a female impersonator, but
they didn’t believe him. They
thought he was just trying to avoid
their advances. He was so convinc
ing that evening, that a year later he
did a three night impersonation
show at the Night Before - a bar
that ordinarily features topless
dancing.
“It’s amazing how muen you can
change yourself,” Lafayette said.
“It’s scary; it’s wild.”
However, Mercedes, Cham
See FE/MALE on 11