CLEVELAND — The North Coast Men's Chorus, Northeast Ohio's largest LGBTQ+ performing arts organization, is bringing in a star of the silver screen to perform at its upcoming concerts at Playhouse Square during Pride weekend.
Drag artist and "RuPaul's Drag Race" star Nina West will be the featured performer at the NCMC's "Loud & Proud" concerts on June 1 and 2 at the Mimi Ohio Theatre.
“This concert is more than just a performance; it’s a celebration of unity, diversity, and the transformative power of music and storytelling,” said Richard Cole, NCMC artistic director. “We are honored to partner with Nina West, who has become an icon of inclusivity, to deliver the best of what the arts can offer: an immersive experience that brings out laughter, tears, and most importantly, a loud and proud declaration of Pride."
West, who hails from Columbus, was shot to stardom as a contestant on the eleventh series of the popular reality competition show created and hosted by drag icon RuPaul Charles. During her first run on "Drag Race," West placed sixth and was named the season's "Miss Congeniality," an award presented to the kindest, most helpful performer by her fellow competitors.
West was also featured as Edna Turnblad in the recent national tour of the musical "Hairspray," based on the beloved John Waters film, and can be seen in the 2022 Roku original movie "Weird: The Al Yankovic Story" starring Daniel Radcliffe. In that film, she plays Divine, a legendary drag queen and frequent Waters collaborator.
"This unique musical collaboration will combine Nina’s dynamic flair with the Chorus’s powerful performances," the chorus said of the June 1 and 2 concerts. "Audiences can expect a vibrant mix of singing, dancing, and laughter, all wrapped in the warmth and humor typical of NCMC shows."
West can currently be seen making her return to the "Drag Race" franchise as a contestant on the ongoing ninth season of "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars," airing Fridays on the streaming service Paramount+. This season, she is competing to earn prize money for her charity of choice, The Trevor Project. The organization works to prevent suicide in LGBTQ+ youth, who are four times as likely to attempt suicide as their peers.
Tickets for the NCMC's "Loud & Proud" range from $25 to $70 and can be purchased HERE.
The "Loud & Proud" concerts are held on the first two days of Pride Month and coincide with this year's Pride in the CLE parade and festival, which is being held in downtown Cleveland on June 1. The celebration will take place on the Cleveland Mall from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
