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Who Are The Kinsey Sicks?
For nearly 15 years, The Kinsey Sicks, America's Favorite Dragapella Beautyshop Quartet, have served up a feast of music and comedy to audiences across the United States and internationally. Combining award-winning a cappella singing, sharp satire and over-the-top drag, The Kinsey Sicks have developed a large and loyal following.
Humble Beginnings. The Kinsey Sicks began in 1993 as a group of friends who went to a Bette Midler concert in San Francisco dressed as the Andrews Sisters. Assuming they'd be among many drag queens, they found themselves to be the only ones (other than Bette, of course). They were approached that night to perform at an upcoming event. Their reply -- "we don't sing" -- was quickly disproved when they realized that all of them had musical backgrounds. They began singing and harmonizing that night, and the seed for The Kinsey Sicks was planted.
Becoming a Phenomenon. In July 1994, The Kinsey Sicks drew a large and enthusiastic crowd at their first public performance on a street corner in San Francisco's Castro District. Since then, The Kinsey Sicks have produced and performed full-length theatrical productions around the country in such prestigious venues as the Herbst Theatre in San Francisco, the Nordstrom Recital Hall in Seattle, the Broward Center in Ft. Lauderdale, the Hobby Center in Houston, the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen and the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles. Their earlies shows, such as "Sicks Appeal," "Sicks-Tease," "The Balled Sopranos," "Motel Sicks: A Dragapella Summer Vacation," "Everything But the Kitsch 'n'Synch" and "GreatesTits," all premiered at San Francisco's New Conservatory Theatre Center. Their more recent musicals -- "I Wanna Be a Republican," "Condoleezzapalooza," "Oy Vey in a Manger" and "Wake the F@k Up America" have toured internationally and have drawn the attention and devotion of unexpectedly diverse audiences.
Off-Broadway and Las Vegas. In 2001, the girls produced and starred in their critically acclaimed Off-Broadway hit, "DRAGAPELLA! Starring the Kinsey Sicks" at New York's legendary Studio 54. That production received a nomination for a Lucille Lortel award (the Off-Broadway Tony) as Best Musical of 2001. In 2006, the Kinsey Sicks wowed audiences with a much-coveted extended run at the Las Vegas Hilton. The show was ranked by critics as one of the best shows in Vegas, and heralded by reviewers as "a feast for the eyes, the ears and the funny bone."
Recordings, TV and Print. The Kinsey Sicks have recorded six CDs: Dragapella, Boyz 2 Girlz, Sicks in the City, I Wanna Be a Republican, Oy Vey in a Manger: Christmas Carols and Other Jewish Music and their latest and most devilish offering, Sicks! Sicks! Sicks! They have been profiled on national television, including "20/20" and "CBS Early Show with Bryant Gumbel," and were the subjects of a lengthy cover feature in the arts section of the New York Times. (That article is posted on this website as well.)
Film. The Kinsey Sicks are the subjects of two feature films. Their concert film, "I Wanna Be a Republican" premiered in 2006. The behind-the-scenes documentary, "Almost Infamous", which premiered June 2008 at the 32nd San Francisco International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, chronicles the adventure of the group's extended run at the Las Vegas Hilton in 2006.
The Boyz Behind the GirlzWhen THE KINSEY SICKS began in 1993, its founders were a group of refugees from successful careers as professionals and activists. Original member Ben Schatz ("Rachel") is a Harvard-trained civil rights lawyer, former Director of the national Gay and Lesbian Medical Association, and one-time presidential advisor on HIV issues. Schatz created the first national AIDS legal project and authored Clinton's HIV policy during the 1992 presidential campaign. Irwin Keller ("Winnie") is a University of Chicago-trained lawyer and linguist and former director of the AIDS Legal Referral Panel of the San Francisco Bay Area. Keller authored Chicago's gay rights ordinance, passed into law in 1989. In 2004, the KINSEY SICKS were joined by actor/singer/designer Jeff Manabat, who is responsible for Trixie's inordinate glamour and soaring counter-tenor, as well as the entire group's hot couture. In October of 2008, the Kinsey Sicks were joined by the hilarious and talented Spencer Brown ("Trampolina"), a Kansas City-based actor and singer, already known for his drag character Daisy Bucket (pronounced, of course, "bouquet").
