Deconstruction Drag Ball & Special Events!

‘Deconstruction of a Drag Queen’ is drawing near!  We have so many exciting things to share with you between now and then like photos from our fabulous shoot by Rich Soublet, several preview articles & podcasts, a CCdd commercial, and plenty of gab on our blog!  We hope we’re keeping you entertained as we continue building the world of Stilettos- the one-stop drag destination nightclub where ‘Deconstruction’ is set.   For the next two weeks you’ll be drowning in sparkles, wigs, and all-around glam!  We hope you’ll love it as much as we do! 

For today’s blog, we want you let you know more information on special nights that are occurring around the production.  Of course ALL nights are special, and we will more than likely add some extra fun events- but we would like to give you a little more insight on our opening weekend that is jam-packed full of fun.  Heck, you might even want to come more than once!  So, check out our schedule and insider-info on this super exciting weekend:

April 6^th @8pm: OPENING NIGHT/ DRAG BALL! 

That’s right!  CCdd loves a good opening night party.  We provide food/beer/wine and after the launch of our projects we love to celebrate!  This time, with the help of the community involved in the event- we are having a Drag Ball post-show to embrace the culture celebrated in our production!  You can go full out, or you can wear a little lipstick or a tie!  The Circle team will be decked out in their finest gender-bending looks and we hope you will too!   Prizes will go out to the best costumes of the night and you will have the opportunity to show off your look with Grace Towers and the help of Rob Lucas, a local amazing photographer who works with Modern Aperture Photography and recently shot Grace, the inspiration for ‘Deconstruction’, check out his fantastic work: 

 

Good gravy that is a beautiful lady!  Who wouldn't want to take a picture with her?

April 7^th @8pm LGBT Center Fundraising Night: 

The Center provides amazing health and communal resources for the LGBT San Diego community.   ‘Deconstruction of a Drag Queen’ is a story of tolerance and acceptance- and we at Circle celebrate those that maintain that agenda.  We have decided to give a large percentage of our ticket sales from this evening directly to this amazing non-profit organization.  So not only are you able to see a great show- but you can help out your fellow man.  A win-win! 

April 8^th @4pm Mimosa Sunday show: 

Because we love brunch, and so does San Diego, we will be serving up mimosas to all ticket holders of this Sunday show!  That’s right, you get a ticket, and you get a free mimosa!  You don’t have to stop the fun you’re having at Babycakes or Urban Mo’s- just bring it down to the 10^th Ave Theater and hang out at Stilettos!  (Please practice responsible drinking lades & gents!) 

So as you can tell- we are kicking off our first weekend of performances with a bang, some social consciousness, and a whole lot of fun.  Stay tuned for more information on what’s in store with the rest of our run, and get your tickets TODAY!  Opening Night will sell out!  

Dreamgirls Field Trip!

It's a whole lot of work building an original piece, but sometimes working with communities has fantastic perks.  During 'Ragnarok' we had the thrilling opportunity to go into battle with LARPers, and with 'Deconstruction' we get to be entertained by amazing local Drag Queens!  We've seen shows at Lip's with the amazing Fifi, and Wednesday night the entire cast went and watched the sensational Grace Towers make her debute performance with the 'Dreamgirls Revue' at Urban Mo's!  We took some pictures to capture the fun:  

James, Kevane, Shaun, and Justin waiting for the show to start.  Soon it will be these handsome gentlemen dancing around in heels and glitter!  

Is that Cher?  It might as well be!  Any RuPaul Drag Race fans out there?  Well, you might recognize THE Chad Michaels!  

GRACE TOWERS!  Her performance was inspired!  So much energy, life and charisma.  Love this girl!  

Grace gives Gaga a run for her money.  Beauty!  

Grace hams it up with her biggest fans.  

 As you can see it's a tough job, but someone's gotta do it!  The show is drawing near!  Make sure you get your tickets HERE and join our mailing list (to the left of this blog) to stay updated.  Also- be on the look out for a special extra blog next week all on special performances and our Opening Night Drag Ball!  (Tickets for this night/event will likely sell out- so don't hesitate too long last-minute San Diego!)  

Guest Blog: 'Deconstruction' Star: Shaun Tuazon!

Happy Friday everyone!  We are in our full swing of rehearsals for 'Deconstruction of a Drag Queen' (Opening night is April 6th!) and it's hard to believe that in a week we will be setting up shop at our beloved home: The 10th Avenue Theatre.  We can't wait! 

This week we invited the wonderful Shan Tuazon, who is playing THE Drag Queen that is deconstructed in our production- a role that is based off of the life of local artist Grace Towers, who just so happened to be friends with Shaun before our Director approached him about the role!  It was fate!  Here is what Shaun has to say about all things 'Deconstruction': 

Shaun Sparkles!Greetings, everyone!!!! For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Shaun Tuazon. This is my very first time working with CCdd  and I cannot express how grateful I am to have this opportunity. From the moment I read the company’s mission statement, I knew I wanted to get involved in some way. And look at me now! I have the task of playing the Drag Queen to be deconstructed in April! I cannot be anymore excited yet incredibly nervous at the same time.

During one of our first rehearsals, our director asked us what we were most excited about for this production. For an actor, it is such a treat to get to present a never-been-told story to an audience. That is what excites me most, getting to share a story unlike any I’ve ever heard or seen before. What adds to my excitement is the fact that we are bringing to life a true artist. An artist I met almost a year ago.

I first met Anthony Diaz in April of 2011. Anthony was an understudy for one of the dancers in a play I was in produced by the Diversionary Theatre called, ‘Dooley.’ Anthony was a pro from the very beginning and was performance-ready after only a few rehearsals while the rest of us had been rehearsing for weeks! The cast and I were blown away by his professionalism and undeniable talent.

Fast-forward to a couple months later to when I experienced the brilliance of Anthony’s drag persona, Grace Towers, at San Diego Pride. Grace performed a medley of hits by pop sensation, Lady Gaga, that definitely gave Gaga a run for her money. I stood in awe as I watched Lady Gaga (it might as well have been her!) perform on that stage in Balboa Park.

Shaun and Grace before 'Deconstruction'
Fast-forward again to present day, almost a year after I first met Anthony, and I find myself playing him in full-length production of his life.   I truly hope to do this fabulous drag artist some justice and perform the crap out of this role! I am honored to be walking/dancing in the shoes/heels of a true artist. I was actually really nervous about dancing in heels but I surprised myself with how well I’m handling these raised foot-torture devices. Up until a few weeks ago I had never even tried on a pair, and I must say... they’re really fun!! ...And painful, oh man, they’re painful. But it’s for the love of the art, right?!
RIGHT! In that case, bring on the stilettos!!!!!!

Anywho, I hope you are getting as excited about this show as are all of us working on it. We cannot wait to share! You do not want to miss a chance to see some beautiful artistry and storytelling at the 10th Avenue Theatre like none other before. And you certainly do not want to miss a chance to see me possibly eat-it onstage in heels, right? Well, I hope you wouldn't want to see that... but if it means you purchase a ticket for you and a friend(s), by all means, please do!!! ;)

I hope to see you at the show or even our Drag Ball on Opening Night!!!

Thanks for reading!!

-Shaun Tuazon  

P.S. I guess I love exclamation points too, James!

Thanks Shaun!  You're awesome, AND you look great in heels! You certainly don't want to miss this one friends.  And yes, it's true- Opening Night will be featuring a post-show reception Drag Ball!  Details to come, in the meantime get your tickets HERE! 

'Deconstruction' Gets DOWN!

Our second week of rehearsals have entirely been dedicated to mapping out all of the fierce choreography that will be happening in 'Deconstruction of a Drag Queen'.  The fabulous choreographers Anne Gehman and the amazing Grace Towers have developed wonderful pieces that fit the story and are making the piece pop!  There is still much work to do, but here are some fun (cell phone) behind-the-scene pictures of all the work that's been shaking down our rehearsal space:  

Opening duet with Utopia Pleneesha and Ben Dover (Kevane La'Marr Coleman and Melissa Coleman-Reed) 

Utopia is having non of Ben's antics!  

This trio is going to rock the house!  

Watch out for catty back-up dancers!  

Adorable duet performed by adorable boys!

We realize this is just a little glimpse, but that's what we have today.  We will however, leave you with this, a short clip of the trio practicing interrupted by a surprise sneeze: 

Tickets are on sale now!  Visit our main page HERE and grab yours today!  

Guest Blog: ‘Deconstruction’ Cast Member: James P. Darvas!

‘Deconstruction of a Drag Queen’ rehearsals are underway!  This Monday marked the start of our intensive work on finalizing the script and scratching the surface of the blocking of the beast.  Next week is our big dance workshop with our fantastic choreographers: Anne Gehman, and Anthony Diaz! 

For our blog today we asked cast member James P. Darvas to share his insight on the production, and the experience of trying out Drag for the first time, here is what the wonderfully talented performer had to say:

James P. Darvas

Well, hello there. I am James P. Darvas, and hopefully many of you remember me from CCdd’s last show ‘Ragnarok’. Not only have the crazy talented kids asked me to perform in their next production, ‘Deconstruction of a Drag Queen,’  but they have also requested that I be their guest blogger this week. I am extremely excited about all of this!!!

 Rehearsal s for Deconstruction kicked of this week and it is shaping up to be a very interesting process. The cast that has been assembled is over-flowing with talent, kinda like my back fat in a corset!  We are learning to walk in heals, and carry ourselves like true divas.  Let me tell you, it is going to take a lot of work to get ready to WERK IT!! I have no doubt that we are going to blow your minds come April 6^th.

 I am what people in the biz call a ‘Method Actor.’   I like to live in the shoes that my characters would walk in as a process to prepare for performance.  I had the opportunity to attend the very successful ‘Love roulette’ fundraiser, (thank-you bunches, these wigs and shoes cost a fortune), and I decided to begin my research and attend this function in full-drag mode. This was quite an experience, to say the least.

 I needed to start by finding the dress, shoes, and wig for the evening. As I had expected this took me to many shops and stores.  What I hadn’t expected is that it would take me on a journey of emotion that left me with such a deep amount of respect and empathy for the drag queen society.  I felt judged, ridiculed, and most importantly- completely misunderstood. The looks and stares I received spoke volumes on how people react to things they don’t understand. It also unlocked a door that allowed me to realize what a beautiful opportunity I have to be a part of a show that is going to shine a light of truth on a society that is riddled with stereotypes and pre-conceived notions.

 The biggest lesson I learned was the person who I am going to portray is a strong, motivated, highly creative artist. This person looks in the face of adversity, bats his beautiful lashes, and pours his heart and soul into his art. This is a person that I respect and that I am proud to be given the opportunity to portray with truth, passion, and above all empathy.

 This show is going to be full of glamour, laughs, honesty, and most importantly a Double-D cup stuffed full of heart!!!  I thank-you for reading this and can’t wait to see you after the show!!!! I also love exclamation points!

-James P. Darvas

Thank you James for your bravery and honesty.  This is not a show you want to miss, and wouldn’t you know it, tickets are already one sale and can be purchased HERE!  Until next time divas!