Introduction to Drag Workshop Series

Presented by Pine Tree Players and Fake Mustache

This fall, Pine Tree Players and Fake Mustache are joining forces to offer a hands-on drag performance workshop series. You’ll get to explore character, performance, makeup, wigs, costuming, and discover how to bring everything together on stage.

Over three workshops, and one dress rehearsal, you’ll work with experienced drag performers and producers to develop your own drag character and pick up practical skills you can use in your own style, identity, and performance goals.

The series wraps up with a live showcase on October 16, where you’ll have the chance to bring what you’ve created in the workshops onto the stage.

Improv & Character Development

September 22

Facilitators: Avalon Divine and James Dean
With assistance from Papa Perc.

Every great drag performance begins with a character. That character might be bold and over-the-top, based on your own personality, totally theatrical, or anything in between.

In this interactive workshop, you’ll learn the basics of drag character development through improv, movement, performance exercises, and creative exploration. Avalon and James will help you work on stage presence, personality, storytelling, audience interaction, and the choices that make a character stand out.

You’ll start developing a character you can keep building throughout the workshop series, while picking up practical tools to help you feel more confident and comfortable on stage.

Topics include:

• Developing a drag persona and point of view
• Improv and thinking on your feet
• Stage presence, movement, and audience connection
• Building confidence as a performer
• Turning character ideas into performance choices

No previous drag, theatre, or improv experience is required.

Drag Makeup: Femme, Masc & Everything Between

September 29

Facilitators: Luci Furr and Viola Vendetta

Drag makeup is all about transformation, exaggeration, experimenting, and learning how to use makeup to bring your character to life.

Luci Furr and Viola Vendetta will lead this hands-on workshop, where you’ll try out different approaches to drag makeup, including both femme and masc techniques. You’ll learn how performers use shape, contour, highlight, brows, facial hair, color, and other tricks to transform or exaggerate facial features for the stage.

Instead of focusing on one ‘correct’ drag look, this workshop will show you flexible techniques you can experiment with to create a style that fits your own character and performance.

Topics include:

• Preparing your face for stage makeup
• Contouring and reshaping facial features
• Femme and masc makeup techniques
• Brows, eyes, lips, facial hair, and finishing details
• Designing makeup that reads under stage lighting
• Developing a signature character look

You’ll get the chance to practice these techniques and start working on the makeup look you might use for the final showcase.

Wigs, Costumes & Building the Look

October 6

Facilitators: Shane Onyou and TBD

Drag costuming doesn’t have to be expensive or require a closet full of custom outfits. Some of the best drag looks come from creativity, resourcefulness, and knowing how to make an outfit work for your character and the stage.

You will be guided through the basics of creating a complete drag look, from wigs and hair to costumes, accessories, silhouettes, and finishing touches.

Participants, you’ll explore practical ways to build, adapt, thrift, style, and personalize your look, while thinking about movement, performance, quick changes, and what really works on stage.

• Wig basics, styling, securing, and performance considerations
• Building a costume around your character
• Creating silhouettes and visual impact
• Thrifting, altering, and repurposing clothing
• Accessories and finishing details
• Designing costumes that allow you to move and perform
• Bringing makeup, hair, costume, and character together

The goal isn’t perfection or having an expensive wardrobe. It’s about creating a look that feels intentional, supports your character, and works when you step on stage.

Dress Rehearsal: Bringing It All Together

October 13

Facilitators: Avalon Divine and James Dean

This is the moment when everything comes together.

You’ll bring your character, makeup, costume, and performance ideas into the theatre for a supportive dress rehearsal before the final showcase. Avalon and James will work with participants on stage presence, entrances and exits, blocking, music cues, timing, audience interaction, and the practical details of performing in a live show.

You’ll get to rehearse in costume, receive helpful feedback, make final adjustments, and get comfortable with the stage before show night.

The rehearsal will also show you what to expect behind the scenes at a drag show, so you can feel prepared and confident about what happens backstage and onstage.

The Final Showcase

October 16

It’s time for the show.

The workshop series ends with a live drag showcase at Pine Tree Players, celebrating the characters, skills, and performances you’ve developed throughout the program.

You’ll have the chance to step onto the stage and share what you’ve created in a supportive live performance, alongside experienced members of the drag community. As a recital, the showcase is a celebration of creativity, experimentation, community, and the many different ways drag can be created and performed.

Show details and ticket information: TBD