Skip to Main Content
New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

An illustration of a man wearing heavy make-up and a black suit, holding both of his hands up. He is pictured inside a burgundy planetary illustration. Behind him is a purple expanse with white planets, stars and the text “Beyond N.Y.U.”

Beyond NYU: Concocting creativity with cabaret

Salty Brine discovered his passion for storytelling while studying at NYU. Now, he creates and performs his own cabaret shows in New York City.
Adrianna Nehme, Deputy News Editor April 8, 2023

Tisch alum Salty Brine takes audiences on a musical, comical and historical journey in his drag cabaret shows. Brine grew up in the suburbs of Massachusetts and North Carolina,...

After seeing his first drag show in New York, Gary began performing in drag himself as a creative outlet. (Photo by Sofia Lopez Arredondo)

From the fringes to the spotlight: The art of NYC drag

NYU students explore their identities through drag performance.
Vivian Stockley, Contributing Writer November 24, 2021

Drag queens were some of Andy Warhol’s favorite muses. According to him, drag queens used to be “on the fringes” of heteronormative American society, but when the sexual...

When the pandemic hit, the drag culture was hit just as hard. Many queens, such as Honey Davenport, turned to the internet and social media, attempting to translate the extravagance of a live performance to a camera. (Staff Illustration by Arnav Binaykia)

New York drag queens share struggles and successes of online performance

Drag queens speak on the drastic changes that New York City’s drag culture experienced during the pandemic.
Valentina Arrieta, Staff Writer May 6, 2021

Drag is a performance of gender expression, most commonly seen when someone performs femininity, or personifies a female character, as a drag queen. Regardless of gender identity,...

Illustration by Charlie Dodge.

Magic and Glitter in Brooklyn: Interpreting the World Through Drag

In this audio profile, Gallatin sophomore Milenka Bermanova discusses being a nonbinary drag performer while dealing with alopecia, a rare autoimmune disease and how it informs their art.
Mandie Montes, UTA Senior Editor April 13, 2020

After coming out as nonbinary in 2018, Gallatin sophomore Milenka Bermanova realized that some of their talents such as applying expressive makeup on themselves and designing chainmail...

Erin Peden sits with her friends at Dragcon.

Die Hard Fans Dress to Impress at DragCon

Fans of RuPaul's Drag Race dressed to impress at DragCon last weekend.
Tess Tamar, Contributing Writer October 2, 2018
Fans of RuPaul's Drag Race dressed to impress at DragCon last weekend.
Performers in “RIOT,” an interactive dance experience showing in Skirball Center of Performing Arts.

The Politics of Joy in ‘RIOT’

Alex Cullina, Contributing Writer February 20, 2018
“RIOT,” Irish theater collective THISISPOPBABY’s multi-genre theater piece, is 100 minutes of spectacle –– both joyful and political –– being deadly serious and ridiculously fun.
Dragged Out With Malcolm Lewis

Dragged Out With Malcolm Lewis

Pamela Jew, Copy Chief November 9, 2017
This Tandon student enlists his friends to beat the face, transforming him into Malcom the Not So Well Known Drag Queen.

New Drag Show Is As Close to Whitney As You Can Get

Joseph Myers, Staff Writer September 21, 2016
Kevin Smith Kirkwood creates a tribute to Whitney Houston that is almost as good as the original in his latest show, "Classic Whitney: Alive."
"Viva," starring Hector Medina, opens on April 29 at the Angelika Film Center.

‘Viva’ Brings New Life to the Queer Coming-of-Age Tale

Angelica Chong, Contributing Writer April 27, 2016
Set in Cuba, "Viva" centers on Jesus, whose father does not approve of his desire to be a drag performer.