Pageant: The Musical Comedy Beauty Contest returns to NYC

The new contestants of "Pageant"
Photos by Jenny Anderson

While I was still acting in New York City, I made my off-Broadway debut in a huge hit show called Pageant.

Opening to rave reviews, the show was a parody of what we put women through in beauty pageants across the country and around the world.  With six contestants vying for the title of "Miss Glamouresse" the audience is treated to talent, swim wear, evening gown and spokesmodel competitions.

And the best part?  The audience decides the winner each night - the cast has no idea who will win.

Immediately after the show opened, the production realized they didn't have someone to understudy the contestants.  Quick audition held - one callback - and I got the job.  Two weeks later I was on for the fab "Miss Deep South" originally created by Obie Award winner David Drake.

I loved doing the show.  I was only with the production for the first three or four months as I got a job on the national tour of "A Chorus Line" which paid more.  But it was amazing fun to be in Pageant and the cast was brilliant.

The new NYC cast includes Nick Cearley (of The Skivvies), Frankie James Grande(Mamma Mia), Douglas Lyons (Beautiful), Alex Ringler (West Side Story), Marty Thomas (Xanadu), and Seth Tucker (Our Kiki). The evening is "hosted" by Tony Award nominee Brad Oscar (The Producers; Big Fish).

Fifty percent of ticket sales benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, one of the nation’s leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations.

Pageant is running on Monday nights for the rest of February at the Red Lacquer Club, home of the new Lucky Cheng’s.  Tickets are available here.

Head over to Queerty for more pics.

Brad Oscar as host for the evening "Frankie Cavalier"

Marty Thomas as "Miss Deep South" during the Talent competition

Frankie J. Grande as "Miss Industrial Northeast" shows her Talent

And for a little "Throwback Thursday," here I am going on as "Miss West Coast" in the original off-Broadway run of Pageant.  On the left is Russell Garrett ("Miss Texas") and on the right is Tony Award nominee Dick Scanlan ("Miss Great Plains")