The Antigonight Art After Dark Festival Looks Forward to an Eleventh Year

The Antigonight Art After Dark festival is looking forward to its eleventh year despite challenges posed by COVID-19, and they’re looking for artists to help make it happen! 

For those who’ve visited the festival in the past, they’ll know it for it’s vibrant, colourful, and energetic takeover of the town’s streets, parking lots, and sidewalks—featuring dozens of different artists and performers in various genres. Typically centered in the connection and interaction between artists and members of the community, with last year’s attendance estimated at 3,000 people, this year’s festival may look a little bit different than what visitors are used to. Connecting with the arts, however, is more important than ever. Festival Director Emma MacDonald believes that “art is integral to who we are” and that even though we’re living through some fairly unprecedented times, there’s no better way to connect then through creativity.

Despite new regulations regarding social gatherings, MacDonald is excited about the possibilities that a socially-distanced event might allow, sharing that just because the festival might not look like what we’re used to “does not mean that it will be any less special.” She shared that “by creating an alternative festival plan we are not only supporting creative professionals in our community, but it may also be a bright spot for the community in the coming months.” A distanced festival also brings about new opportunities to engage community members who might live farther away. 

The festival organizing team is inviting artists, collectives, and community organizations to submit original project ideas that celebrate and consider ways that we can encounter art and be connected even if we cannot gather in-person. Previous projects have including music, dance performances, painting, sculpture, workshops, storytelling, and theatre. All submissions are welcome, whether digital or non-digital, and unconventional ideas are encouraged. The deadline for submissions is Friday, June 26 at midnight. The submission form and relevant instructions can be found here, on the Antigonish Culture Alive website.

 Successful submissions will be presented, performed, installed, or displayed during the Antigonight festival from September 1 to 12, 2020. Leading up to the festival, Antigonight will also be running several community projects, so keep an eye out for the announcements on any ACA or Antigonight social media!

She’s Back! Priscilla, Queen of the Highlands: “Rise of Priscilla”

Priscilla: Queen of the Highlands is perhaps the most anticipated event on the StFX campus. The show, organized and produced by Dr. Chris Frazer (who some may also recognized as C. Leah Cruz or Joannie Cash), began in February 2005 when Frazer was appointed as 2SLGBTQ+ faculty advisor at StFX, following a number of incidents of homophobic assault on campus. Frazer, alongside Dr. Nancy Forestell and Dr. Clare Fawcett, was applying for a grant to facilitate a workshop centred around 2SLGBTQ+ experiences in rural areas, and needed to include an event. The group decided on a drag show, contacted the Imperial and Sovereign Court of Nova Scotia (similar to a rotary club for drag queens, Frazer explains), and put on a sold-out show in the KMC conference rooms.

This first show, Frazer claims, was “completely amateur,” relying on a Discman and a single set of speakers for music. However, over the past 15 years, the show has grown tremendously—transforming into a full production with professional light and sound, and moving from one conference room to two, and then to the bigger stage in the Bloomfield Centre MacKay room. Since the first show, Priscilla has raised thousands of dollars for X-Pride and other 2SLGBTQ+ focused organizations. “It’s always been a way of raising money and helping to create community,” shares Frazer. The show has played a big part in creating queer space in Antigonish, which Frazer says there “just isn’t much of.”

The show means a lot to a lot of people, including the performers. Jason Spurell, who performs as Rouge Fatale and has been part of Priscilla since the very beginning, shares that the audience at Priscilla is one of their favourites of all time. “The response, the happiness, the pride they have. Not a lot outweigh it.” In general, they note that rural crowds are most often more excited than urban ones, given that drag shows tend to decrease in frequency the further you get from a city-centre. One of Spurell’s favourite moments from the show was inviting their cousin (who used to attend StFX), up on stage— “I would bring her up on stage with me and get the whole audience to call her by her childhood nickname. She hate/loved it!”

Frazer says that Spurell’s sentiment is echoed by a number of other queens as well: “It’s their favourite show.” In fact, legend has it that Priscilla always coincides with the night that Antigonish gets its biggest storm or blizzard of the year—but the queens, and the audience, never seem bothered by the harsh weather. “There have been times where we were probably the only thing open in Antigonish—which we shouldn’t have been—and the queens had no business driving down from Halifax, but they did anyway. It says a lot about the show.”

Joannie Cash performs "Glad to be Gay" at Priscilla 2019

Lil Red in performance at Priscilla 2019

Rhea Listique performing a Beyonce inspired number at Priscilla 2019

Donatella Daddy in performance at Priscilla 2019

Farah Moan in performance at Priscilla 2019

Rhett Slutler perming an Elvis inspired number at Priscilla 2019

C. Leah. Cruz in performance at Priscilla 2019

Photos by Adelaide Strickland

While the show has only grown more and more successful, they’ve also run into difficulties financially. Tickets always sell out, yet the rising costs of space and security over the years have driven ticket prices up. Last year, for the first time, the show didn’t break even. “We’re not a money making venture, but it feels like we’re being forced to move that way,” says Frazer. “I’m really resisting that, because that’s not the point of the show … It has to be accessible, financially and physically.” Despite struggle, however, support from the community is keeping things going. Frazer recognized Impact Sound as a key supporter; the company has consistently provided a discount for their services, given the charitable nature of the show. The audience, of course, also plays a big role in the show’s continued success.

There are a number of ways that students and community members can get involved with and support the show. Ticket sales, according to Frazer, are always a good time— “it’s really rewarding to see the enthusiasm for that show build up as the tickets start to sell.” Proceeds from ticket sales and donations made at the show this year will be directed to Rainbow Railroad, an organization helping 2SLGBTQ+ refugees escape persecution and violence. Organizers are looking for support selling tickets in advance and at the door, as well as with the set-up and break-down of the production. Frazer also encourages people to think about performing— “it’s always been a part of our tradition that we encourage people to get on the stage” —in drag, or out of drag. The show welcomes Kings, Queens, genderfuck performers, burlesque performers, and pretty much anyone looking for a moment in the spotlight. Of course, for those who may not be all that keen on getting on stage, one of the best ways to support the show is to buy a ticket, and show up. “Just come, be yourself, and be fabulous,” says Frazer.

This year, Priscilla will be held on January 31st in the MacKay room. Tickets will be on sale starting January 22 at the X-Pride table in the Bloomfield lobby, and will cost $12 in advance, $15 at the door. Anyone looking to get involved in the show should contact Chris Frazer either in person or via email at cfrazer@stfx.ca.

Priscilla is part of X-Pride’s Pride Month at StFX. Other events include Amateur Drag Night, a sex-ed workshop by Venus Envy, a queer music night at the Inn, Sex Toy Bingo, and Rainbow Party. Details for these events can be found on Instagram @xpridesociety or on facebook in the X-Pride 2019-20 group.

Amherst Wrens

Amherst, in Spring the wrens

Gather together in this place,

Dear Aunt Jane used to point them out

Simple things made her happy,

Though she had not a tooth in her face!

We’d leave Dundonald Street

And walk down Hickman,

‘til we got to Victoria Street

It was all very peaceful then!

We’d go to buy bread

Can milk and cookies,

At a store called Margolian’s

We’d also buy goodies!

When we got home we’d have some tea

With six spoons of sugar just for me,

My aunt was 80 and I was 10,

I remember it was a wonderful time when

The wrens would gather in this place

And my aunt had a toothless but benevolent face!