It\u2019s been some 20 years since he first dressed in drag, and about eight since he last did so for a performance. But Jazz Nance is ready to hit the stage again when the 51ÁÔÆæ Drag Show returns to the Milwaukee Theatre Saturday, Feb. 27.<\/p>\n
Nance, a senior majoring in social work, is co-hosting and performing in the annual show\u2019s 2016 edition. It\u2019s his first appearance in the 51ÁÔÆæ event, which has a 15-plus year history as one of the LGBT Resource Center\u2019s most popular happenings.<\/p>\n
51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s Drag Show offers free admission and regularly draws more than 1,000 people. It attracts participants and audience members from across the state, making it one of the Midwest\u2019s largest shows of its kind. That level of popularity is a big reason why the show moved to the Milwaukee Theatre in 2015, and why it\u2019s back there again.<\/p>\n
Nance is eager to be part of it. His introduction to drag came when he still lived in Miami and worked at Disney World. To his surprise, he was assigned to wear the Queen of Hearts costume, and though he felt weird doing so at first, he eventually felt empowered by the experience of embracing another personality.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what brought up my alter ego, Lady J,\u201d Nance said.<\/p>\n
Performing as Lady J allows Nance to shed his normally introverted ways for the extroverted diva that is Lady J. Now, the character sometimes feels more natural for Nance than his everyday self.<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess when I\u2019m Lady J, I don\u2019t just think about it; I am,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
As an adult returning student, an African-American and an introvert who identifies as LGBTQ, Nance sought a university where he wouldn\u2019t stick out for any of his identities. 51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s diverse range of students and experiences attracted him.<\/p>\n
When he came to 51ÁÔÆæ in 2014, Nance made his first group of friends at the LGBTQ Resource Center. He lauded Jen Murray, the center\u2019s director, for working to create a space for students to engage with each other.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think I would be as active on campus if it wasn\u2019t for that center,\u201d said Nance, who peer mentors adult students and transfers. He\u2019s also a Student Association senator.<\/p>\n
51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s Drag Show is also centered on inclusion, he said, noting that it\u2019s about the experience and performances, but mostly, it\u2019s about entertainment.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you don\u2019t understand drag, and you don\u2019t identify with the LGBT-plus community, just come out and enjoy the show,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Attendees are encouraged to donate to some of the event\u2019s beneficiaries. For 2016, those include Project Q, a youth program at the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center, and an initiative called Pathfinders that helps homeless LGBT-plus youth.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
51ÁÔÆæ’s popular Drag Show is back at the Milwaukee Theatre for a second consecutive year, and Jazz Nance’s Lady J is joining the party.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2985,"featured_media":29804,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","uwm_wg_additional_authors":[]},"categories":[174],"tags":[249,250],"section":[122,124],"display_categories":[],"related-coverage":[181],"uwmnews-feed":[347,155],"class_list":["post-29792","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-community-engagement","tag-student-success","section-campus-community","section-students","related-coverage-lgbt","uwmnews-feed-community-engagement-professions","uwmnews-feed-social-welfare-criminal-justice"],"yoast_head":"\n