Shirley Delta Blow brings her Ho Ho variety show to Hamburger Mary's Saturday

Brian Balster

Miss Shirley Delta Blow

A Shirley Delta Blow show ain't your momma's drag tradition: though Saturday night's performance at Hamburger Mary's Club M is all queens, it's not just glitter, choreography and lip-syncing. Blow and Co. bring a little comedy, some song and dance, and a whole lot of audience participation to the intimate venue for Shirley Delta Blow Ho Ho!, a benefit for Rainbow Alley. "It's not a drag show where the audience is completely removed, with performers high above the crowd," says dragster and Blow co-hort Zoe O., aka Luke List, of the group's hands-on revue.

Joined by fellow queens Trinket and Daniella, the holiday-themed comedy singalong also promises secret guest -- and with past surprise appearances by the likes of Nina Flowers, Saturday's special queen should hardly be a letdown.

List says that for the most part, Blow and her squad were "born" in 2010, out of the Queen Of Aces pageant, a fundraiser put together by the Gay Volleyball Association, for which List is a co-chair. Just like any old beauty competition, the Aces pageant included costume and talent portions while bringing some first time drag participants to the stage.

Shirley Delta Blow -- known as Stuart Sanks by day -- won last year's friendly competition, and has been running with the persona ever since. "We're not quite a troupe, but the Queen Of Aces pageant brought us together," says List of the performers taking part in tomorrow night's showcase.

Saturday's installment of the Shirley Delta Blow seasonal series at Club M carries a $10 admission price, with one-hundred percent of the door's proceeds going to Rainbow Alley, which provides GLBT youth in the Metro Area access to a variety of services. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m., and List says the drag show usually sells out.

List stresses that education and well-being are key factors in this group of performer's drive to make the comedy and drag events happen, and all lead up to the Queen Of Aces pageant in February. 2012 will be the competition's third year, which also acts as a vehicle to raise money for Rainbow Alley.

For more information on Saturday night's Shirley Delta Blow Ho Ho! show, visit the event's Facebook page.

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