UMass is a Drag: A Collective for Student Performers

Ary Lazar, a student at the University of Massachusetts, had a dream to create a space for drag performers on campus. With Halloween approaching, Lazar's initiative, UMass is a Drag, has been preparing for their annual "Creature Feature" drag show, which took place on Sunday, October 26 in Bartlett Hall. The collective, started three years ago, provides a platform for student drag performers to express themselves, offering valuable resources and a supportive community.

Key Takeaways:

• UMass is a Drag is a student-run collective that provides a space for drag performers to express themselves and offers valuable resources to students looking to start performing drag.
• The collective has been active for three years and has produced several drag shows, including the annual "Creature Feature" show, which features around 12 performers.
• The collective recruits performers through open casting calls posted around campus, as well as through the club's Discord and Instagram.
• Performers design their own outfits and prepare extensively for the shows, which run for roughly two hours, including an intermission.
• The collective provides a supportive environment for performers, who exchange tips on makeup, song choices, and managing stage fright during monthly general body meetings.
• Membership in UMass is a Drag is open to UMass students, alumni, and students from the Five Colleges, and the collective has received positive feedback from performers and audience members alike.
• Drag offers a space for performers to express themselves and explore their identity, and UMass is a Drag provides a platform for this expression.
• The collective is part of a larger queer liberation movement, and drag has historically played a pivotal role in providing care and support for marginalized communities.

Statistics:

• 17 anti-drag bills were proposed in 2025, according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
• The ACLU also reported that 616 anti-LGBTQ bills were proposed in 2025.
• The annual "Creature Feature" drag show at UMass is a two-hour performance featuring around 12 performers.
• Performers for the show are recruited through open casting calls and the collective's Discord and Instagram.

Sources:

• American Civil Liberties Union (2025)
• Massachusetts Daily Collegian (October 27, 2025)
• Personal interview with Ary Lazar, founder of UMass is a Drag.