PhotosSee the Pregnant Suits, Mid-Show Shaves and Fabulous Drag as We Go Backstage at The Legend of Georgia McBride!An Elvis impersonator turns drag queen in the New York premiere of The Legend of Georgia McBride, by Whipping Man playwright Matthew Lopez. Afton C. Williamson, the sole female presence in a company of glammed-up men, takes us behind the scenes!
By
Matthew Blank
September 10, 2015
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See the Pregnant Suits, Mid-Show Shaves and Fabulous Drag as We Go Backstage at The Legend of Georgia McBride!
See the Pregnant Suits, Mid-Show Shaves and Fabulous Drag as We Go Backstage at The Legend of Georgia McBride!
An Elvis impersonator turns drag queen in the New York premiere of The Legend of Georgia McBride, by Whipping Man playwright Matthew Lopez. Afton C. Williamson, the sole female presence in a company of glammed-up men, takes us behind the scenes!
18 PHOTOS
Getting a dose of my daily guilt trip has become our morning ritual before I walk out of the door, courtesy of Mr. Boo Williamson.
Afton C. Williamson
Aaaaah... Any stress I have just melts away on my walk down Christopher St. What a beautiful day!
Afton C. Williamson
The sign-in sheet is in the boys dressing room so I never know who or what I'll find... Apparently today it's a terrified Keith Nobbs and a terrifying Matt McGrath! Love my boys 鉂わ笍
Afton C. Williamson
The essentials. Bobbi Brown, Mac, and most importantly: Altoids!
Afton C. Williamson
Jo is all dressed and ready so I had better get down to places! Wedding ring: check. Favorite flannel: check. Waffle House uniform ready in the wings: check! Ready for the matinee. Let's go get em
A backstage shot of our many, many costumes before the show!
Afton C. Williamson
I have some downtime backstage before the next scene, so I go over to the boys room and hang out with Keith Nobbs while he transforms from Jason into Rexy. I always steal Wayne Duvall's chair! #sneakyselfie
Hey Jason! One half of the duo I like to call "Jexy" played by the super talented Keith Nobbs
Afton C. Williamson
鈥nd here's miss Sexy Rexy also played by Mr. Keith Nobbs. #yassssssgirl
Afton C. Williamson
My onstage hubby Dave Thomas Brown being fitted in between shows for one of the many gorgeous wigs worn by the legendary Ms. Georgia McBride!
Afton C. Williamson
These boys may play killer women on stage, but in between shows they're still boys! #shaving
Afton C. Williamson
Wanted to check in with my buddy at the box office before grabbing a bite on my dinner break. Looks like we are sold out again!! Hurry and get your tix!!
Afton C. Williamson
Was able to grab a quick photo of the gorgeous Lucille Lortel theater right as they open the house to the audience... just beautiful鉂わ笍
Afton C. Williamson
Show # 2 already in progress! Have to grab pics of the quick-changes when I can! The only time I have is during my change into my Preggo body suit! Photo of me taking a photo, courtesy of Mr. Keith Nobbs.
Afton C. Williamson
Got a great pic of our amazingly talented crew who kill it in seconds with a million quick changes and no intermission!! They are totally apart of the cast!
Afton C. Williamson
And another audience goes home happy!!! Sooo thrilled to be a part of such an amazing show!! #georgiemcbride #ticketsonSaleNow!!
Afton C. Williamson
A beautiful end to another amazing two-show day here at the Lucille Lortel Theater with the Cast of The Legend of Georgia McBride! Come have a blast with us!!鉂わ笍
The opening production of 's 2015-16 season is scheduled to run through Oct. 4. For more information visit .
Here's how it's billed: "A heartwarming, music-filled comedy about Casey, an Elvis impersonator who just learned his dive bar act is being replaced with a drag show. With the bills stacking up and a kid on the way, Casey鈥檚 going to have to adapt to a whole new show business like none he鈥檚 ever known in this risqu茅 romp." With Dave Thomas Brown in the title role, the cast also includes Wayne Duvall ("O Brother Where Art Thou?," "Leatherheads"), (Cabaret, Hedwig and the Angry Inch), (Lombardi, 鈥淭he Black Donnellys鈥�) and Afton C. Williamson (鈥淣ashville,鈥� 鈥淗omeland鈥�).
The production is directed by Mike Donahue, who also directed the 2014 world-premiere production at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, with choreography by (Hedwig and the Angry Inch), set design by Tony Award winner (Peter and the Starcatcher), costumes by Anita Yavich (Venus in Fur), hair and makeup by Jason Hayes (Casa Valentina), lighting by (Fun Home), sound design by Jill DuBoff (Hand to God) and casting by /Telsey + Company.
"I grew up in the small panhandle town of Panama City, FL. There were very few things to occupy the mind and the time of an artistically-inclined young gay boy other than community theatre and, later, the one local gay bar," playwright Lopez said in a statement. "It was at the theatre that I learned the power of transformation and make-believe. It was in the local bar as a teenager that I learned how those two things were put to specific use through drag. They are two things that I have carried with me through the years and they came together in this play. The idea of a straight drag queen came to me when I happened across a playlist that had been handed down to me from a friend who knew a woman who's boyfriend was exploring drag as a performance art form. The playlist was filled with Tammy Wynette and . It captured my imagination, this notion of a straight man learning drag. My history and this collection of music converged in my imagination to create The Legend Of Georgia McBride."
Lopez's The Whipping Man, the historical drama about a Confederate Jewish soldier returning home to his former slaves, played to acclaim Off-Broadway in 2011. It has enjoyed a robust regional life since then. His other plays include Somewhere, Tio Pepe, Reverberation and Zoey's Perfect Wedding.
The Broadway alum's golden vocals brought Old Deuteronomy from Cats and the Lion from The Wiz to life, along with Oogie Boogie in The Nightmare Before Christmas.
