The Kinsey Sicks Perform 'Naked Drag Queens Singing!’ on March 28 & 30

By:  Debbie White

The Kinsey Sicks, America’s Favorite Dragapella® Beautyshop Quartet, are celebrating  their 25th anniversary as a performance group at Act II with their  hilarious  new show, ‘Naked Drag Queens Singing.’   These are the final Puerto Vallarta performances of founding member and chief writer and lyricist, Benjamin Schatz (Rachel) before he retires! Enjoy these final performances at Act II  on Thursday and Saturday, March 28 & 30 at 7:30 pm at The Red Room.

The Kinsey Sicks, whose cast also includes Spencer Brown as Trampolina, Jeff Manabat as Trixie and Nathan Marken as Winnie, have performed their outstanding music and comedy to audiences at performing arts centers, music venues and comedy festivals throughout the U.S. and internationally. Their performance record includes an Off-Broadway show, an extended run in Las Vegas, two feature films and three concert DVDs, nine albums, and appearances in over 40 states, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Australia. The Kinsey Sicks' award-winning a cappella singing, fabulous satire and delightful drag have earned them rave reviews and a devoted following around the world. They have become a Puerto Vallarta favorite having performed shows here since 2002.

The Kinsey Sicks present both original music and lyrics as well as parodies of well-known songs. Their shows are comedic and often politically charged. Their name is a play of words on "Kinsey 6," the end of the Kinsey scale defined as exclusively homosexual. The term 'Dragapella' is a registered U.S. trademark of the group.

The Kinsey Sicks began in 1993 when a group of five friends (mostly lawyers and professional activists) attended a Bette Midler concert in San Francisco dressed as the Andrews Sisters. Assuming they'd be among many drag queens, they were actually the only ones. That night they were approached by a woman who asked them to perform at her 50th birthday party. Though their initial response was, "we don't sing," the group was surprised to learn that they all had previous musical experience.

Since its beginning in the 90's, the Kinsey Sicks has undergone several changes in members. . Each member of the group performs a fully realized character, and as new members have joined, they have been encouraged to personally expand and develop their own "history."

The current members of the Kinsey Sicks are:


Ben Schatz as "Rachel" (1993–present) – Schatz, a Harvard-trained civil rights lawyer and former Director of the National Gay and Lesbian Medical Association, created the first national AIDS legal project and authored Bill Clinton's HIV policy during the 1992 presidential campaign. He is now a full-time performer as a member of the Sicks. His character, "Rachel," is loudly feminist, angry, and an activist noted both for her diminutive stature, muscular build, and her refusal to shave her underarms.

Jeff Manabat as "Trixie" (2004–present) – Manabat, a professional musical theater-performer and a graduate of UC-Berkeley, was discovered by the then-current members of the group while performing in a production of When Pigs Fly at the New Conservatory Theatre Center in San Francisco. The Asian American Manabat's casting as Trixie means that the character has actually had three ethnicities over the years. Since joining the group, Manabat is responsible for musical arrangements, Trixie's inordinate glamour and soaring counter-tenor, as well as the entire group's hot couture. Manabat's "Trixie" is glamorous, and somewhat conceited, frequently referring to the other members of the group as "backup singers."

Spencer Brown as "Trampolina" (October 2008 – present) – The Kinsey Sicks was joined in October 2008 by Spencer Brown, a Kansas City-based actor and singer, already known for his drag character Daisy Bucket(pronounced "bouquet"). His character, "Trampolina", is dim but sweet and sometimes slutty. Spencer is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York.

Nathan Marken as "Winnie" (October 2014 – present) - Nathan Marken replaced Irwin Keller, who originated the role of Winnie. Nathan, based out of San Francisco, comes from a musical theatre background and adds a saucy charm to Winnie's already lovable, though somewhat dorky, persona.

In Tuesday’s performance of ‘Naked Drag Queens Singing,’ we enjoyed Trixie, Trampolina and Winnie as an a cappella trio since Rachael was recovering from surgery.  We heard rhyming songs with gorgeous 3 part harmony and no musical accompaniment, only the beautiful and clear voices of the group.  We were given a brief history of the group and their mission to entertain, enlighten and promote equality and understanding. They delivered some fabulous song parodies, like “No Nobel” (for Trump) to the tune of “The First Noel.  There was another parody, “I Love Mexicans South of the Border” referring to the bias some have about Mexicans coming to America.    Mama Mia was parodied as a social disease, with a funny reference to the fact that you won’t hear that song at Kim Kuzma’s ‘Dancing Queen’ show!  Wayyy to risqué for that!

There was also a song dedicated to Putin to the tune of “Putting on the Ritz.”  There was even a Stormy Daniel’s parody to the classic “Stormy Weather.” And they had us smiling and styling with “Be A Tramp” and “Everybody Loves a Drag Queen” There was a fun question and answer time with the audience and they even dressed up an audience member in drag to perform a song with them.

The final number was “Dragapella” performed to the tune of “Hallelujah.”  It was very inspiring.  As classically trained musicians/performers, the Kinsey Sicks is all about communicating outstanding a cappella music with a message and promoting diversity and inclusion. And at the same time, they poke fun at the political absurdity that we are living with in the Trump era.   

There are just two more opportunities to see this group in P.V.. 'Naked Drag Queens Singing' will be performing on Thursday and Saturday, March 28 & 30 at 7:30 pm.  All four performers will be present for the final shows.  For more information and tickets go to:  www.actiientertainment.com.

"The songs are marvels... pun-filled and sung in four-part harmony - a cappella, let's remember - with a good deal of wit in the arrangements." The Washington Post

This isn't, let's note, just innocent political buffoonery. Often a joke that starts out mild ("The 'moderate' in 'moderate Republican' is silent, like the 'p' in 'psoriasis'") will end up having a surprisingly pointed kicker ("...or the 'Judeo' in 'Judeo-Christian.'")The Washington City Paper

"[the] group's signature tight harmonies" and gave their show five stars out of five. The Maryland Theatre Guide