Trustus Theatre Presents the 2011 MISS VISTA QUEEN PAGEANT May 16

Trustus Theatre is presenting the 13th annual installment of the Miss Vista Queen Pageant, the professional theatre's popular fundraiser event. The pageant is May 16th with happy hour starting at 6:00pm, and the campy competition starting at 7:00pm.

Trustus Artistic Director Jim Thigpen is known for saying, "We wish ticket sales could keep a theatre going, but we have to have fundraisers to keep the doors open." The Miss Vista Queen Pageant is Trustus' longest running and most popular fundraiser. This drag pageant is known for being full of fun and surprising contestants. "The first Miss Vista Queen was Sheriff Leon Lott," said Thigpen. "He was a...looker, let me tell you."

2011 marks the 13th incarnation of this popular fundraising event. The Vista Queen Pageant is famously full of surprises and unexpected mishaps that make the night enthralling and hilarious, so it's only appropriate that the pageant's theme this year is Lucky Thirteen. Will luck be on the sides of the new contestants, many of whom have never done drag before? Only the night will tell, but patrons can be assured that they will be entertained.

In keeping with past traditions, the pageant will be judged by three qualified and well-known judges from the Columbia area. Debbie McDaniel, owner of popular Five Points stores Sid & Nancy and Revente will be on the dais. Executive Director of The Nickelodeon Larry Hembree will also be bringing his judging skills to the table. Otis Taylor, entertainment writer for The State, is usually at the judge's table however this year he is competing. Trustus is still securing its new judge for the event, while Taylor is busy buying make-up for his first drag competition. Along with judge votes, audience members cast votes for their favorite contestants by purchasing vote tickets which they place in their choice competitors' ballot boxes. After all of the judges' votes and audience ballots are tallied, the 2011 Vista Queen will be crowned.

This year's pageant will be hosted by the "Queen of Queens" winner and Trustus Company Member Terrance Henderson and last year's winner and Trustus Company Member Walter Graham. Battling for the coveted crown will be new contestants including Columbia theatre critic and arts writer Jeffrey Day, The State's entertainment writer and past judge Otis Taylor, WXRY personality Steve Varholy, and many surprises keep lining up. Undoubtedly, this will be a night full of surprises and never-ending entertainment.

Tickets for this one-night-only event on May 16th may be purchased in advance for $25, and $30 at the door. Reservations may be made by calling the Trustus Theatre Box Office at (803) 254-9732. Also, interested parties can visit www.trustus.org for more information on this special fundraising event and upcoming shows.

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