Owl Manor, FAU’s annual drag extravaganza, returned on Oct. 25 under its new, not-so-subtle alias from last year designed to dodge any Gov. Ron DeSantis-era pushback. The usual suspects were all there: vibrant performers, a killer playlist, and snappy banter from the host and queens.
But what wasn’t there?
A crowd.
Despite the energy on stage, the seats in the Carole and Barry Kaye Performing Arts auditorium remained stubbornly empty, with only the center row showing signs of life.
Two years ago, the theater was so packed they had to have people standing in the aisles, according to longtime host and drag queen Ariel Rimm.
Now, she says, it feels like FAU forgot the show was even happening.
“Being there that day, I didn't see one flier, one poster, one nothing, nowhere,” Rimm said.
Abigail Wood, health science junior, agreed.
“I didn't know that the drag show was happening until after the fact, whenever you told me that you were doing a piece on it,” Wood said. “I knew that FAU had a drag show, but I've literally never seen any advertisement at all for it. Like no posters around campus, no Instagram posts, nothing.”
Despite the lack of attendance, the queens gave it their all, and the audience that did attend were vibing along with them.
The Pulse Dance Troupe opened the show with a nostalgic Y2K money-themed playlist, including “Rich Girl” by Gwen Stefani and “Bills, Bills, Bills” by Destiny’s Child, in outfits that called back to the aughts.
Rimm then performed a homage to Gen Z’s newest lesbian icon, Chappell Roan. The attendees were introduced to the Homecoming Court candidates, along with Rimm’s clever commentary on each one.
Other performances included TP Lords evoking a techno rainbow while wearing a strobe light lampshade headdress. Rianna Petrone delivered the glamour in a flamingo pink coat with the passion of the chorus of a remixed “Left Outside Alone” by Anastacia.
Velvet Lenore brought Beyoncé to Boca with a performance of “Sweet Dreams” and “Crazy in Love.”
Kat Wilderness closed out the first half with a homage to “brat” by Charli XCX, decked out in that distinctive lime green and bringing some lucky audience members on stage to relive brat summer.
In between performances, Rimm took a moment to remind audience members to vote.
“I know we say this every single time that an election is up here, right? You know, literally, we are days away from the new face of the United States, ladies and gentlemen. In either direction, the new face of the United States will happen,” Rimm said. “In November, and you need to be part of that change. So if you haven't already, please go vote!”
Rimm wryly warned that she doesn’t want to hear any complaining from people who didn’t vote. She didn’t stop there. In true drag queen-life coach fashion, she touted the importance of self-care.
“Mental health is important. Take care of yourself,” Rimm said. “Do whatever it is that you need to do in order to fucking find your peace, okay? Because at the end of the day, no matter what is happening in your life, only you matter, because your happiness matters. You are important.”
She led the crowd through a group affirmation that felt part therapy, part drag gospel, with the auditorium echoing in response to her words.
“I am important.”
“I matter.”
“I am that bitch!”
The audience ate it up - too bad there weren’t more mouths to feed.
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