The Drag was written by Mae West in 1927. The play explores themes of gender identity, sexuality, and societal expectations. In a time when such topics were taboo, West pushed boundaries with her bold and daring script.  Unsurprisingly, it never received a full staging in her lifetime.

Our 2025 production reimagines this groundbreaking work in a dystopian near-future where anti-LGBTQIA+ laws have taken hold once again in America. The story follows Rolly Kingsbury, a closeted gay man trapped in a marriage of appearances, as his double life begins to unravel. Against the backdrop of high society and the underground drag ball scene, tensions rise when secrets come to light, relationships are tested, and the boundaries of acceptance are challenged, all leading up to a 1920’s themed drag ball extravaganza!

Contemporary Classics Theatre exists to challenge and transform classic Western theater traditions by creating an inclusive community of diverse people, ideas, and cultures.