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Miami Herald
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Philly drag king gets the national spotlight in ‘King of Drag'
PHILADELPHIA -- Painter Joy Taney knows how to awe and unsettle viewers. With dynamic makeup and body painting skills, she has transformed actors into ghouls at Eastern State Penitentiary for Halloween and designed stunning looks for contestants on "RuPaul's Drag Race." Taney first met RuPaul in 2016 when she competed in "Skin Wars: Fresh Paint," which the celebrity drag queen hosted, and won the $10,000 grand prize. With the winnings, the West Philly native relocated back home to work as a professional makeup artist and quickly became a regular behind the scenes of drag shows - and on the three latest seasons of "Drag Race" - where her talent was sorely sought after. But Taney had "more outrageous ideas." She wanted more horror and gore with prosthetics and latex; she wanted something monstrous and extraordinary. Her clients found that too extreme. "I realized I was having those ideas for myself," said Taney. "The only person who was really going to be embodying the thing that I was looking for in the drag scene, but wasn't quite seeing, was me." Enter Henlo Bullfrog. Around 2017, Taney created the stage persona where she could embrace a fantastical mess of a character: "Henlo Bullfrog is Joy Taney's changeling twin brother who was stolen by the fairies at birth and dropped in a frog pond for 30 years," she explained. "He is very fae, but he's also very monstrous, because he's a shape-shifter." Bullfrog has brought Taney out of dressing rooms of other performers and thrown her into the spotlight with her own brand of dazzling weirdness. Now, Bullfrog has earned a spot representing Philadelphia on the nation's first-ever drag king reality competition show, "King of Drag," now airing on the free LGBTQ+ streaming service Revry. Philly's drag kingdom Philly's drag and burlesque workshops taught Taney the art of being a drag king - typically a female performer who dresses in masculine clothing and emphasizes gendered stereotypes. (However, as a queer art form that gleefully blurs gender divides, drag isn't prescriptive; not all kings are women, not all queens are men, and not all drag looks the same.) Drag kings constitute a smaller subgenre of mainstream drag, often booking fewer gigs and earning less stage time than the more popular drag queens. That discrepancy has played out on national television, too, as "RuPaul's Drag Race" has run for a whopping 17 seasons, expanding with franchise spinoffs like "All Stars," before the arrival of "King of Drag." For Taney, becoming a drag king meant experimenting with monster drag, embodying horror characters like the Babadook at Philly Pride Parades, and learning the best ways to showcase her artistic talent onstage at venues like Frankie Bradley's and Tattooed Mom. Airbrush makeup is Taney's speciality, a practice she learned from Philly artist Bryon Wackwitz, who, for years, ran South Street's Mutt Airbrush and Art Supply. Unlike performers who rely on dance, Taney lives with a disability called reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome that limits her movements. Instead, she focuses on stagecraft, costume transformations, and illusions, like layering makeup to "tear off" her face and reveal gore underneath. On King of Drag, Henlo Bullfrog delivers a unique amphibious aesthetic that helps him stand out from the other nine contestants. Nearly a decade into performing drag in Philadelphia, Taney, 38, says the queer nightlife scene has become more welcoming of drag kings. "Philadelphia is gaining a reputation as one of the better cities in the U.S. for drag kings," she said. "We have the biggest drag king scene I've ever seen in Philadelphia right now, in terms of variety of styles of king performance, visuals, and gender expression." Philadelphia drag gained more recognition on last year's season of RuPaul's Drag Race, which saw the first drag queen to represent the city: the charismatic opera singer Sapphira Cristál. Taney was part of Cristál's creative team, airbrushing a bodysuit with fig leaves to evoke Eve in the Garden of Eden and helping design winning looks like the massive flower outfit and the spooky Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater character. Cristál was a finalist for the crown and won Miss Congeniality. In classic Philly underdog fashion, some fans believe she was robbed of the title. "People were like 'RuPaul better not come to Philadelphia. We're going to fight,'" Taney recalled, laughing. Taney and Cristál first met when the latter took Taney's airbrush makeup classes and today they're close friends; Henlo Bullfrog is part of Cristál's drag house, which includes about a dozen other local drag performers. Becoming Bullfrog Raised by folk musicians in West Philly, Taney has developed her own musical talent for the stage. As Henlo Bullfrog, she pushes her performances to be more unhinged; Part of the "King of Drag" audition included a video of Bullfrog playing trombone with his feet. Beyond the folk influence, Taney's dad, Peter, has been a guiding light for the creation of Bullfrog. "My dad is so present in Henlo. I contour based on my father's bone structure," said Taney. "He's even done some monster drag with me, and wrote a song called 'The Ballad of Henlo Bullfrog,' and we play it together." At 75, Peter Taney regularly travels from his home in the Poconos to see drag at Philly nightclubs, and to occasionally participate in local activism. In recent years, the Taneys worked to successfully petition the city to rename Taney Street, which recognized their notorious ancestor Roger B. Taney, the U.S. Supreme Court Justice behind the 1857 Dred Scott decision, which denied humanity to enslaved African Americans and claimed they could never become citizens. That street is now named LeCount, after local civil rights activist Caroline LeCount. For Joy Taney, performing as a drag king represents another activist practice in the face of the Trump administration's calls to ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth and attacks on drag performers. "One of the most fun things about the drag king medium is that you punch up at the people at the very top - the men holding power over all of these systems that are making it worse for all of us," said Taney. "Drag kings are so perfectly and uniquely posed to make fun of them … It is so punk to queer masculinity right now." ____ "King of Drag" airs weekly on Sundays on Revry. On Monday nights, Henlo Bullfrog hosts a watch party for the show at Strangelove's. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Meet the kings competing on first-ever 'King of Drag' series
- YouTube Murray Hill is building a drag kingdom of his own on the LGBTQ+ streaming service Revry. The New York City legend, Somebody Somewhere actor, Drag Me to Dinner TV host, and Mr. Showbiz himself is hosting the first-ever drag king competition series, King of Drag, premiering Sunday, June 22 on Revry. A hunky cast of 10 drag kings will compete for the title of "King of Drag" over the course of six episodes hosted by Hill. This inaugural season will feature celebrity guest judges like Tony Award-winning actor Cole Escola (Oh, Mary!), director Paul Feig (Bridesmaids, Freaks and Geeks), actors Bridget Everett and Jeff Hiller (Somebody Somewhere), reality TV star Lisa Rinna (The Traitors, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills), actor Liv Hewson (Yellowjackets), and musician Kathleen Hanna (Le Tigre band member). This star-studded lineup of guest judges on King of Drag also includes drag royalty such as Sasha Velour, Tenderoni, Kylie Sonique Love, Landon Cider, Jackie Beat, Gottmik, Carmen Carrera, and Wang Newton. Keep scrolling to meet the kings competing in the first-ever season of — and tune in for the grand premiere this Sunday, June 22 on . Revry Alexander the Great on King of Drag. Instagram: Here to conquer the binary and your hearts is this gravity-defying, aerial, acrobatic king from Austin, TX: Alexander the Great. Revry Big D on King of Drag. Instagram: Big D is an avalanche of idiots in the body of a middle-aged mom. Revry Buck Wylde on King of Drag. Instagram: Buck Wylde is a smooth Latin Drag King with switchblade sharp teeth dedicated to bringing drag to a wider audience, one can of pomade at a time. Revry Charles Galin King on King of Drag. Instagram: Charles Galin King is a creature of facial expressions who brings the weird, creepiness, and warmth to the stages; and lets us feel things alongside him/them. Revry Dick Von Dyke on King of Drag. Instagram: A band kid who discovered drag to win the star roles he was never allowed to play, Dick Von Dyke is ready for his close-up… or a d*ck pic, if you will. Revry Henlo Bullfrog on King of Drag. Instagram: Known for his unhinged stagecraft, Henlo Bullfrog is an expert at airbrush, SFX, and character lore — and his work has appeared on Skin Wars and RuPaul's Drag Race. Revry King Molasses on King of Drag. Instagram: For King Molasses, drag is a practice of mindfulness, a return to spirit, and the audacity to create images of self-liberation. Revry King Perka $exxx on King of Drag. Instagram: Come for the comedy, stay for the social commentary and dad jokes! King Perka $exxx is also famous for his "Tag Them" joke meme. Revry Pressure K on King of Drag. Instagram: Pressure K doesn't follow trends; he sets the tempo. If confidence was currency, Pressure K always stays paid. Revry Tuna Melt on King of Drag. Instagram: Live from New York, Tuna Melt is a stanky and delicious melt with a belt is for all of the altos who've known deep down they were tenors. - YouTube
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Watch: World's first drag king competition series unveils cast in fierce new teaser
The world's first drag king competition series, King of Drag, has unveiled the cast taking part in the inaugural season. In a brand new teaser shared on Thursday, May 29, viewers are introduced to the 10 contestants who will be battling it out for the coveted crown. 'Bring in the kings!' host Murray Hill announces at the start of the clip. From there, we meet Perka Sexx, who knows how to be 'wildly inappropriate'; Dick Von Dyke, who is 'desperately looking to stand out'; Charles Galin King who is just happy to be seen; Tuna Melt, who is 'going to give it to you raw'; the king himself King Molasses; the oldest person in the competition Big D; Henlo Bulfrog, who 'desperately' wants this; Alexander The Great, who finds 'ultimate freedom' in drag; the energetic Pressure K; and Buck Wylde, who wants 'every bit of it'. Joining the cast of drag acts will be a star-studded panel of judges, also known as the King's Court. Among the names are Bridget Everett, Jeff Hiller, Tenderon, Sasha Velour, Paul Feig, Gottmik and many more. The show is set to be a celebration of masculinity in all its forms, serving bold, brilliant and unapologetic talent like never before. Get ready for swagger to meet sequins as the 10 kings take centre stage for this groundbreaking competition. According to Christopher J. Rodriguez, Co-Founder of Revry, King of Drag is one of the streaming platform's most ambitious programmes to date. He promised that the show will follow a new and exciting format, explaining, 'In each episode, we will learn more about the individual king's backstory, what motivates them, and their goals.' Rodriguez added: 'We're going to give the drag competition format a run for its money and give audiences something fresh and original.' In a press release, Revry also stated that the show will incorporate challenges that emphasise comedy, unconventional performances and 'timely commentary on masculinity, which has been part of the drag king subculture for decades.' Don't miss King of Drag, streaming June 22, only on Revry. The post Watch: World's first drag king competition series unveils cast in fierce new teaser appeared first on GCN.
Forbes
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘King Of Drag' Becomes The First Reality Show Centered On Drag Kings
For the first time TV history, a show with an exciting new premise titled 'King of Drag,' will showcase drag kings exclusively in a reality competition show. Airing on Revry, a free LGBT+ streaming app. The trailer for the show was released earlier this month, and it's entertaining and ambitious. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 11: Murray Hill (L) and Tenderoni attend the 13th annual Queerties ... More Awards at AVALON Hollywood on March 11, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by) For years, fans of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' have argued, outside of their usual arguments concerning who they want to win the title of 'America's next drag superstar,' about one question when it comes to contestants, and that's whether Drag Kings should be featured on Drag Race. Some fans have argued that as the show's host, RuPaul, is exclusively judging contestants from his expertise as one of, if not the, most powerful drag queens on the planet and that, while there are drag competitions outside of the show that include both drag queens and kings, the premise of Drag Race is for drag queens to compete against one another. On the other side of the debate, fans in favor of drag kings competing on Drag Race have argued that if Drag Race has been called the 'Olympics of drag' by judges and fans alike, then drag kings should be included. Some contestants, like Victoria Scone, a non-binary drag queen who identifies as female, have even performed as drag kings for lip-syncs as a nod to drag kings. Even outside of Drag Race, drag competitions like 'Dragula,' hosted by the Boulet Brothers, have had drag kings and queens competing alongside one another for years. Gottmik at the 35th Annual GLAAD Media Awards held at the New York Hilton Midtown on May 11, 2024 in ... More New York City. (Photo by Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty Images) Instead of waiting for fans to figure out what they want out of the show, drag kings have built their platform, with Murray Hill, who starred as Fred Rococo on HBO's 'Somebody Somewhere,' acting as the host of King of Drag. To aid him, Drag race contestants and drag kings alike have signed on to act as guest judges, like Gottmik, from season 13 and 'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars' season 9, and Tenderoni, a drag king and household name in the Chicago drag scene, are only two names that were featured in the star studded trailer. Even with the introduction of a new show and platform for drag kings on the King of Drag, the question still remains about what this may mean for the future of Drag Race. It can be argued that RuPaul helped open doors for many queer and gender non-conforming drag artists, and while his name may not be part of it, King of Drag does benefit from Drag Race already existing as a platform. Still, one of the main draws for contestants on Drag Race is the opportunities and platform it offers. On Drag Race, you don't even have to win to become a household name. A queen only needs to get their name out into the public sphere and build upon their brand once they get onto the show and they're set, even for contestants that go home on the first episode, opportunities that previously weren't available. No matter what happens, King of Drag is sure to be another interesting gateway into the world of drag and, hopefully, it propels drag kings forward into success the same way that shows like Drag Race does for its contestants.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cole Escola, Lisa Rinna, Paul Feig and More Revealed as ‘King of Drag' Guest Judges in First Trailer (EXCLUSIVE)
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways Newly-minted Tony nominee Cole Escola, Lisa Rinna and 'Another Simple Favor' director Paul Feig are among the guest judges for 'King of Drag.' The bold-faced names were revealed in the show's first trailer, released exclusively to Variety Thursday morning (watch above). More from Variety 'King of Drag,' premiering June 22 on LGBTQ+ streaming platform Revry and presented by e.l.f. cosmetics, is the first-ever drag king reality competition show. Hosted by 'Somebody Somewhere' star Murray Hill, the series follows eight drag kings as the compete for the title King of Drag. The line-up of guest judges also includes Bridget Everett, Layshia Clarendon, Jeff Hiller, Landon Cider, Vico Ortiz, Liv Hewson, Mo B. Dick, Brian Michael Smith, Carmen Carrera, Jackie Beat, Aubrey Shea, Kathleen Hanna, Cameron Esposito and Kylie Sonique Love. ''King of Drag' is one of the most ambitious original programs we've ever developed,' Revry co-founder and chief content officer Christopher J. Rodriguez said Thursday. 'We're going to give the drag competition format a run for its money and give audiences something fresh and original.' The regular judging panel consists of Sasha Velour, Gottmik and Revry co-founder and CEO Damian Pelliccione. 'The groundbreaking new series, exclusively featuring drag king performers, will expansively represent drag while promoting inclusion, authentic self-expression, and diverse gender identities including trans masc, cisgender women, non-binary and more,' reads a press release about the show. Hill previously told Variety, 'I'm so excited to be working with Revry as the host of 'King of Drag.' I started performing in 1995, so it's long overdue for the kings to take center stage. This vibrant community deserves to be in the spotlight, and I'll be their biggest hype man. I can't wait to work with the kings and introduce them to the biggest audience possible, thanks to Revry. That's showbiz.' Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
