ROBIN BANKS FULLY LOADED SHOW OCTOBER 20

ROBIN BANKS IN HER MARGE SIMPSON GLORY   PHOTO BY ANTHONY BUELL

A decade ago Shawn Bodey took a right turn from his life in Arizona and his job as a personal assistant babysitting houses, catering and shopping for other people and headed to Connecticut to deal with health issues.  Once he recovered, he chanced to meet a drag queen who fascinated him and his life as he knew it changed forever.  His background as a public speaker and interpreter for the deaf, his love of the theater and his talents for entertaining made him a natural.   Enter Robin Banks, your neighborhood friendly drag queen.

Come meet Robin and her bevy of seven friends on Friday, October 20 at 7:30 pm at the Annex YMA Club, 554 Woodward Avenue, New Haven, a quick  right off I-95 at exit 50.  The show Robin Banks Fully Loaded promises to be a hoot of laughs, with singing, lip synching, dancing, jokes (colorful and off-colorful), burlesque, live music, games and fashions and forms like you’ve never seen before.  There will be food, vendors, gourmet cupcakes, drinks to buy (you can bring your own food or buy it on site, but drinks must be purchased), a makeover person with a table of makeup glamour, scented bath products and a host, named Robin Banks, who will make it all work.

Looking like a cross between Marge Simpson with her trademark beehive hairdo, in any number of attractive colors, and that comedian we loved named Lucille Ball, Robin Banks and the evening promise to be a one of a kind entertainment.  Joining Robin will be Kiki Lucia, a drag queen who lip synchs by night and by day is a community leader, the director of the New Haven Pride Center. Dixie Normus has a wickedly naughty sense of humor  and in the past was a hard working fireman, now retired, as well as a stripper.  Bigger and with the benefit of padding is Xiomarie LaBeija, known as the J-Lo of the Drag Queens, named the top dancer on the circuit, and the one who can kick and split with the best.

Also on the marquee are Loosey LaDuca, an 80’s queen who looks like a living Barbie Doll, a blonde bombshell, who may sing in a bikini and is the baker of the special cupcakes that will be for sale and the guitar playing Sinthia Sinatra, an amazing musician who sings live in the style of a 70’s acoustic rock band. Completing the menu are Vivienne LaFlamme, a female burlesque performer who brings a unique sense of humor clothed in a beautiful and sexy package and Dot Mitzvah, also a burlesque dancer and a classically trained opera singer, a mother, a nursing student and an activist, who will perform an aria or two.

All this and Robin too!  Look for her trademark blue and white polka dot dress as this people’s queen takes center stage, with quick wit, dancing, singing, lip synching, being funny and kookie and giving her A game performance.  Robin Banks wants you to forget your troubles, laugh your backside off, feel good and enjoy an experience that’s unique.  Know you’re in a safe place to  have a good time and be appreciated.

For tickets ($20 in advance and $25 at the door), call 203-815-7506. Doors will open at 7 p.m and the show will begin at 7:30 p.m.

It takes a village to put on a show of this caliber and Robin Banks is ready, talented and fully loaded to take on the joyful task.