The annual spook-tacular drag show Werk Witch cast a spell on the Otter Student Union (OSU) ballroom Friday night, with local drag performers, students and even CSUMB alumni all ‘werk’-ing the stage in this year’s Werk Witch All Stars Drag Show.
The beloved on-campus drag show has graced the OSU ballroom stage every October since its first show in 2018 – with a “virtual” show during COVID. Tickets for the event premiering a week early on MyRaft and notably selling out rapidly. Each performer in this year’s show was a returning participant.
While the drag show celebrates LGBTQ+ culture and history, many show participants noted that the show feels different this year. Show participant and fourth-year psychology major Breyon Harris (drag alias Kitty De Creme) shed light on why.
“There’s been a lot of push-back on drag and on the queer community in general. So it’s important to have Werk Witch every year to let, you know, people who disagree with it [know] that we’re not going anywhere,” said Harris.
CSUMB alumni and returning performer Quinn Sedona, performing under the name Saint Sallos, also said that a lack of applicants for this year’s Werk Witch played a part in the decision to solely feature returning performers in the show.
“I think people are scared of the current state of the world. I think especially a lot of queer drag artists are afraid to perform. I think it’s so vital that now more than ever we are louder than ever,” said Sedona. Through the controversy and the chatter, over 400 hundred attendees eagerly filled the OSU Ballroom seats with witch hats and fans, provided by organizers, in hand, ready for a night of radical fun and joy.
The night kicked off with a stunning stage introduction given by Werk Witch student lead Nurayah Alvarado and committee board member Jacky Flores, who introduced the panel of judges made up of three professional drag performers: Kenya Belove, Xinistra and Papi Churro. Another notable figure introduced before the show was CSUMB alumni and Santa Clara University professor Ari Perez Montes, who was one of the main creators of the first Werk Witch Drag show in 2018. Montes gave a short speech speaking on the history of Werk Witch along with his role in its creation, and was then given a legacy award on stage from The Otter Cross Cultural (OC3) center. Then, it was time to werk.
The first performance of the night was delivered by Sweet Magnolia, a returning drag performer from Werk Witch 2024. Magnolia brought together goth and rock culture as she performed “No More Tears,” by Ozzy Osbourne decked out in all black with fishnets and Doc Martens.
At the end of her performance, Magnolia even recreated Osbourne’s iconic bat head biting moment (with a rubber bat, of course).
The second electric performance came from Buzz Kill, who performed a remix dressed as Count Orlock from the famous 2024 horror movie “Nosferatu.” Kill had the audience clapping, dancing and cackling as they lip synced to the audio quoting the internet famous Nosferatu meme, “You must bounce on it, crazy style.”
The next performer was Saint Sallos, who was also a participant in Werk Witch 2024. Sallos performed “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)” by Big & Rich, and even utilized their walking cane topped with a horse stuffed animal to ride on around stage. Sallos’performance was followed by a fan favorite performer from Werk Witch 2024, Ms. Kitty De Creme.
Creme sported a wedding dress and veil in honor of her recent change in marital status and performed “Hot N Cold” by Katy Perry, dazzling the audience with her energetic choreography. Next up was Xochitl Cempasúchil, who stayed true to her name as she peppered the stage with hundreds of marigold pedals while performing “La Gata Bajo la Lluvia” by Rocio Durcal, paying homage to Mexican and Latinx culture.
Last, but definitely not least, was all-star drag performer Shorty D Elle. Elle closed the show with an electric performance that fused together Halloween, camp and classic drag, which won her both the Werk Witch Drag Show All Stars trophy as well as the title of Mx. Congeniality.
“Audition for Werk Witch, it’s not scary,” Sedona said. “You will have the most fun of your college career and possibly your life.”
Photos by Maddie Honomichl