What: Pony Cabaret, an evening of drag and musical entertainment
When: Saturday, February 9, 7:30 to 9:30 pm
Where: Mary Irwin Theatre, Rotary Centre for the Arts, 421 Cawston Ave., Kelowna
Cost: Suggested fundraising amount of $10 to $40. Pony Cabaret is 18+.
Top-class entertainment, queer culture, music and food combine for a good cause as Pony Cabaret returns to Kelowna.
The cabaret is queer-run and stocked full of talented queer performers featuring drag, storytelling, comedy and burlesque, as well as hosted by Miss Cookie LaWhore and Erin Scott. Miss LaWhore is the alter-ego of UBC Okanagan Professor Michael V. Smith and her role is to be the biggest freak in the room so everyone else can feel a little more normal, he explains.
“The goal of this event is to make a space where everyone can feel welcome, regardless of who they are or where they come from,” adds Smith.
The event showcases artists across a variety of disciplines. This is the seventh year it has been organized in Kelowna and Smith says there will be local and national talent including Ivan Coyote, Rose Butch, Tanya Lipscomb, Mother Girth and Ella Lamoureux performing.
“I’m most excited for our big names. Ivan Coyote—who is Canada’s best storyteller—and the magical Rose Butch from Canada’s A Drag mix with all the amazing local talent we have here in the Okanagan,” adds Smith “At Pony, we’re always bridging communities, on and off the stage.”
Smith has partnered with the Inspired Word Café (IWC) to organize this year’s event. IWC is a literary arts non-profit society that provides accessible and inclusive programming.
After years of partnering on Pony in a smaller capacity, performer Erin Scott—former IWC executive director—and Smith made IWC an official partner thanks to a funding boost from Canadian Heritage. Additional support comes from the Government of Canada and UBCO’s Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies, explains Scott.
“Pony is a breath of fresh air for our community and we are tickled pink that UBC Okanagan continues to support us as we get bold on stage with some of Canada’s best queer artists,” she adds. “I encourage people to come for the performers, stay for the looks and drink for the cause. Come and get in the saddle and get ready to go for a ride.”
All proceeds from the event go to the Living Positive Resource Centre, which provides harm reduction, prevention and education resources along with supportive services that focus on individual and community health and wellness to anyone living with, affected by, or at risk of HIV, Hepatitis C or related health issues.
A bar and concession will be available before and during the show. The venue is wheelchair accessible, has gendered washrooms and a gender neutral, accessible washroom available by request. The show is for adults, 18 and over.
Pony Cabaret is a fundraiser and tickets are available on a sliding scale between$10 to $40. More information and tickets can be found on Eventbrite.
Open heart. Open mind. Open mic.