From brunch to burlesque, here's where you can see a drag show in Louisville
Editor's note: some of these locations may have altered hours due to the coronavirus pandemic. Please check with individual locations on show plans and events.
Making plans can be such a drag — and boy is that exciting!
As female impersonation continues to rise in popularity with series like "RuPaul's Drag Race" and "Dragula," an increasing number of bars and restaurants in Louisville are serving up a smorgasbord of gender-bending entertainment.
So whether you're a seasoned drag show groupie or are dabbling in what queer culture the city has to offer, sashay over to one of these local establishments for a show you'll never forget.
Play Louisville — Butchertown
1101 E. Washington St., 502-882-3615
One of the more trendy places in the city to see regular performances, you can hit up this dance bar/theater every week and see a sassy spectacle. "The art of female illusion perfected," Play's Facebook page says. The club holds several shows per night Wednesday-Sunday, featuring Play Mates Gilda Wabbit, Leah Halston, Lexi V. Love, Melody Valentine and Mykul Jay Valentine, plus a revolving door of celebrity guest queens. It also holds a monthly drag bingo with the Derby City Sisters.
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Le Moo — Irish Hill
2300 Lexington Road, 502-458-8888
Hungry for drag but hate late nights? You can get your fill of cross-dressing realness at Le Moo steakhouse's Le Femme Drag Brunch, "a fabulous drag show with a decadent brunch buffet," according to the restaurant's Facebook page. Every Sunday — and sometimes on Saturday — you can watch extravagant lip sync performances produced and hosted by Daniel Cole, known for booking nationally recognized queens. Make sure to check out its occasional themed weekends where they devote the entire show to a different female artist — Beyoncé, Madonna and Britney Spears have all been featured. Oh, and did we mention the food is also on-point?
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PRIDE Bar + Lounge — New Albany
504 State St., New Albany, Indiana, 812-200-9546
As Louisville continues to burst at the seams with LGBTQ talent, it's no wonder some has spilled across the river into Southern Indiana (OK, so that may not be where credit is due). PRIDE Bar in New Albany is drizzling in glamorous showgirls — mostly on Saturday nights — and definitely worth a sashay over the bridge — unless, of course, you live there.
Board and You Bistro & Wine Bar — New Albany
434 Pearl St. New Albany, Indiana, 812-913-4109
Another option for those who prefer their drag shows during the day, New Albany's Board and You hosts Drag Brunch on Saturdays twice a month. As if the upscale brunch menu developed by chef Aaron Flanagan and the bar's refreshing custom cocktails aren't enough of a reason to make a trip to Pearl Street, the show hosted by Southern Indiana's own Aubrey Jae will surely take brunch to the next level.
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The Limbo — Downtown
411 W. Chestnut St., 502-822-1222
Titty Tiki Tuesdays — the name says it all. The Limbo brings its own unique spin on Polynesian party time to downtown Louisville. This show was voted "Best Burlesque" 2018 by Louisville Magazine and is "a cabaret-style show with many forms of burlesque and drag that will have different performers on stage every week," according to the bar's Facebook page. What does a burlesque luau extravaganza look like? You'll have to pop in to find out.
Other spots that host occasional drag/burlesque shows:
Speed After Hours: Speed Art Museum, 2035 S 3rd St., 502-634-2700
Zanzabar: 2100 S Preston St., 502-635-9227
This story will update as more shows become available or times change. Introducing reoccurring shows to your venue? Email Gege Reed at greed@courier-journal.com
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville drag shows: Best places to see show during 2022 Pride month
