Former Atlanta resident and New York drag phenom Lady Bunny steps into the role of the preacher’s wife for a limited time in the ongoing play ‘Veranda 2.’ (Photo by David Shankbone/AP)
MORE INFO
‘Veranda 2’
Through Feb. 4
Ansley Park Playhouse, 1545 Peachtree St.
404-875-1193, www.ansleyparkplayhouse.com
WHEN LADY BUNNY joins the cast of “Veranda 2” next week, it’s a return home to the South for the bawdy drag goddess. Known for her high blonde hair and her naughty routines, Bunny takes over the role of Charity Divine in the second of the “Veranda” trilogy of comedies from gay writers John Gibson and Anthony Morris.
Charity is a preacher’s wife who has recently adopted a baby overseas and thinks she is actually pregnant. The role is regularly played by local drag personality Bubba D. Licious in this production. Charity’s husband is minister to the show’s main character, who is running for Christian of the Wear while she plans her son’s gay wedding. The show, written several years ago, gets new life in the current climate of controversy surrounding gay marriage.
Lady Bunny arrived in town on Jan. 8 and is rehearsing for a week before making her debut in the role.
BUNNY GREW UP IN CHATTANOOGA and moved to Atlanta in 1982, where she befriended DJ and music promoter Larry Tee. While here, she was roommates with RuPaul.
“I remember Atlanta and the club scene here was so much fun,” she says.
It was around that time that Lady Bunny began to find her calling. She found some acting roles but soon decided to take her career into her own hands, adopting her drag persona.
“I was a sissy who had been pretending to be straight all my life,” she says. With the wig on, Lady Bunny was born. “I love it — you can be your own director, your own choreographer, your own star.”
When she moved to New York City, she was instrumental in starting Wigstock, one of the world’s biggest drag celebrations. The project started off very modestly with a group of friends, but grew into a major New York happening. In 1995, the feature-length documentary “Wigstock: The Movie” chronicled the rise of the event and sent Lady Bunny’s star rising higher. Wigstock hasn’t been held since 2005, but this year marks the 25th anniversary.
EVEN BY HER OWN TERMS, Lady Bunny had a busy 2008. Besides her various nightclub acts, her snippy fashion contributions to “Star” magazine and her popular website/blog, she was seen in the film “Another Gay Sequel” and was one of the co-hosts for the GayVNs, the Oscars of gay porn.
She and RuPaul were reunited on the set of “Another Gay Sequel” and remembered what made them friends originally.
“We both have a sick sense of humor,” Lady Bunny says.
Ironically, Lady Bunny shared the stage with Bubba D. Licious back in 2004 at the Divas Rock Atlanta event featuring Deborah Gibson, Deborah Cox and Martha Washington.
“We hit it off like the Southern queens that we are,” Lady Bunny laughs. “We spent time backstage complaining about how sore our feet were.”
The performer says the character of Charity, which she and Bubba share, will suit her.
“I like the fact that she is colorful and has crazy costumes and gets to chew the scenery,” she says. “I am very excited about it. What I love about doing ‘Veranda 2’ is that my parents can come see it.”
Much of her material is not suitable for all audiences, but this show, as well as its geographical convenience, make her family’s attendance appropriate, she says.
While in Atlanta, Lady Bunny jokes that she wants to go to Swinging Richards, but her top priority is getting the character and the show down. She also plans to have dinner with Charlie Brown.
“She got in touch with me via MySpace, and we are going to meet up. She is drag royalty,” Bunny says, noting that it would be even better to get old-school legend Lily White there as well.
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