By Lindsay Peyton
The West End Girls are taking West Seattle by storm.
After a sold out show last spring, drag queen Cookie Couture is making her performances at the Skylark a monthly gig.
And she’s bringing a cast of characters along for the ride, including Betty Wetter, Butylene O'Kipple, DonnaTella Howe, Fraya Love, Harlotte O'Scara, Londyn Bradshaw and Old Witch.
The “West End Girls: a Drag Extravaganza!” shows are already on the calendar for 8 p.m. on Saturdays, Aug. 26, Sept. 30, Oct. 21, Nov. 25 and Dec. 30. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 the day of the event. The Skylark is located at 3803 Delridge Way SW.
Cookie Couture lives in West Seattle and was eager to bring drag to her own neighborhood, when she planned her first show in March.
The tickets flew off the shelf, and the bar was crowded to the gills.
“It was totally wild,” Couture said. “The audience we had at Skylark was so engaged and excited to have us in the neighborhood.”
Soon after, she and Skylark co-owner Matt Larson decided to make the show a regular event.
“I’m glad we have a set spot now,” Couture said. “There’s no other multi-performer drag show in West Seattle. I’m excited to keep it moving forward.”
Her fellow performers are equally eager to make drag more accessible on the west side of town.
“The drag audience is already here,” Betty Wetter said. “We want to fill the void. We have the opportunity to take our shows out to other parts of town and meet new people. It’s our first step to building one of the strongest generations of drag in the city. We want to go all over the place – and we’re ready to do it.”
Wetter has already been in two of Couture’s shows at the Skylark. “That first night, the response was overwhelming,” she said. “It was so great to have so many people excited to have us over there.”
Wetter, who resides in Capitol Hill, said usually her fans have to drive or bus to see her.
She’s glad to save them the trip and take the show “wherever they will have us.”
For now, Wetter is looking forward to joining Couture at the Skylark shows.
“The core of Cookie Couture’s drag is community,” Wetter said. “She involves all types of people and all types of drag. It’s all the variety that makes it interesting.”
Wetter will be one of the regulars cast in West End Girls. Couture will also invite three or four new queens to perform at each event.
“We want to keep it fresh,” she said. “We’re bringing in great performers. These aren’t amateur drag queens. You’re going to get a Grade A performance.”
Couture said that West Seattle’s population is growing, including its LGBQT community.
“LGBQT people are moving to the south end, because it’s so expensive to live in Capitol Hill,” she said.
Of course, the show is for everyone to enjoy – not only LGQBT audiences.
“It’s just fun,” Couture said. “Everyone is so stressed out in this political climate. Sometimes, it’s good just to have some pure entertainment. Everyone needs to take a break, turn off their brains and have a good time.”
To purchase tickets, visit http://buytickets.at/theskylark/102694.
For more information about the Skylark, visit www.skylarkcafe.com.
Follow Cookie Couture on Instagram at @cookiecouturequeen.
