For well over a decade, The Kinsey Sicks, America's Favorite Dragapella
Beautyshop Quartet, have served up a feast of music and comedy to
audiences across the United States. Combining award winning a cappella
singing, sharp satire and over-the-top drag, The Kinsey Sicks have
developed a large and loyal following.
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.
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 Ogden Theatre in Denver, the Colony Theatre
in South Beach, and the Wheeler Opera Hall in Aspen. They have packed
the houses with shows such as "The Balled Sopranos," "Motel Sicks: A
Dragapella Summer Vacation," "Everything But the Kitsch 'n'Synch" and
"GreatesTits," all of which premiered at San Francisco's New
Conservatory Theatre Center.
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 and a Drama
Desk Award nomination for Best Lyrics.
The Kinseys Sicks have been profiled on national television, including
on "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.) They have won
numerous a cappella awards and have recorded five CDs: Dragapella,
Boyz 2 Girlz, Sicks in the City, I Wanna Be a Republican, and
Oy Vey in a Manger: Christmas Carols and Other Jewish Music.
In 2006, the Kinsey Sicks performed an extended engagement at the Las Vegas Hilton. In addition,
their first feature film, "Kinsey Sicks: I Wanna Be a Republican," premiered at the 30th
San Francisco International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and is now available on DVD.
When 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. 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 fierce actor/singer/designer
Jeff Manabat in the role of Trixie. In 2007, the role of Trampolina was taken over by
hilarious newcomer, Charles Romaine.