Lip-synched songs. Gender-bending makeup. Electric energy. Costumes, both funny and fabulous. A little lewdness. A lot of dollar bills. Rowdy, raucous crowds.
The production has all the quintessential callings of a drag queen show with one twist: The stage personas here span the gender spectrum. These are Rookie Knights.
Co-founder and host Freddie Hercury started Rookie Knights in 2022 to provide performance and learning opportunities for new and emerging “drag kings, things and other underrepresented performers” in Buffalo. After searching here and seeing none, Freddie had found a strong drag king culture in Rochester and wanted to create a similarly welcoming avenue in Western New York.
Mx. Mixx at Hot Mama's Cantina.
“King drag is very different than queen drag,” Freddie explains. “That’s flamboyant, serving the feminine side. Because masculinity taken to an extreme is stoic and not that interesting, drag kings have to get really creative in drawing an audience in and telling a story.”
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Rookie Knights hosts a low-key, high-energy amateur drag king competition at Hot Mama’s Cantina on Amherst Street in Black Rock on the second Wednesday of every month starting at 8:30 p.m. Admission is free, but showering performers with crisp dollar bills is customary. The venue is intimate, the audience is full of instant fans and the stage is a safe space to showcase hard work, courage and talent.
To prepare for the show, Rookie Knights provides in-person and virtual learning opportunities for people who are curious about getting into drag. Workshops cover makeup, movement and dance, sewing and costume design, wig styling, drag history and drag on a budget. Rookie Knights’ mentorship program pairs newcomers with seasoned performers to build confidence and learn the ins and outs of the industry.
For those who want to get involved in drag shows behind the scenes, the Stage Jesters program teaches stage crew skills like prop management, tip etiquette and backstage logistics.
Rookie Knights founder Freddie Hercury with guest performer Ania Murphy.
Recently, Rookie Knights added a new program for youth ages 12-21 called Squires. It’s offered in partnership with GLYS WNY, a support organization for LGBTQ+ youth, and gives teens an outlet to explore and express their creativity and identity. Mx. Carnal Desire, the winner of the February Rookie Knights competition, launched their drag career through Squires.
“I’ve always been big on self-expression,” they explain. “I was interested in drag culture, but at 20 years old, I couldn’t go to the 21-plus shows at bars. Then I talked to Freddie at GLYS and was able to work through ideas, get feedback, learn costume craft and choreography and feel ready for my first performance.”
Since their Rookie Knights debut, Carnal has performed at six additional shows and events throughout the region and been invited to perform at more.
Freddie and Carnal now belong to a roster of WNY drag kings that has grown from just two or three to nearly 20 in the two years since Rookie Knights’ debut. Performers have been warmly welcomed by the Buffalo drag queen community, which has offered unwavering support and invitations to more inclusive shows.
“I love the performance,” says Freddie. “But it’s the community that matters most—the activism and advocacy and giving back.”
