September 5, 1998

By Maria Fernandez

Some faux-hair fans think paying to get into Wigstock is a real drag.
The Annual gender-bending festival celebrating music, dance and the drag queen lifestyle is once agin setting up shop on the 12th street Piers. And the question is whether fans will be wigging out over the $15 price of admission or if they’ll happily shell out the cash for tomorrow’s eight-hour fair.
Pedro Pena, a 27 year old student who attended Wigstock when it was a free party, is one drag devotee who won’t be going because of the admission price.
I don’t like the way they’re doing it now where we have to pay to get in,” he moaned. “They make money with the vendors.”

Karl Schwabauer, 24 also has trouble accepting the price tag.
“I went a few years ago when it was free, and there was a great energy about it,” he said. “It was very natural. There wasn’t anything commercial about it. That’s what made it so much fun.”
Others feel that the festival, which kicks off at 2 PM, is one of the best deals going.
“People don’t realize how much it costs to put together.” Says Dorian Bryant aka Harmonica Sunbeam, a 27 year old comedian who performed at last year’s festival. “None of the performers gets paid and the organizer, Lady Bunny doesn’t make a dime either.”
Wigstock was started in 1985 as a free event in Tompkins Square Park by Lady Bunny.
“It was inspired by quite a few beers at the Pyramid Club, which at that time was very vibrant rock and drag scene,” said Lady Bunny.
“The Pyramid scene was so dynamite that I thought it could be brought to everyone. I never thought I’d be a festival promoter. With my looks, a model would’ve been a more natural choice.”
That following Labor Day Weekend, the first ever Wigstock – loosely modeled after the hippie rock fest Woodstock, sans the mud baths – took place in the east Village’s Tompkins Square Park.
The carnival attracted hundreds of drag queens and spectators, and word spread faster than a run in a diva’s diamond studded panty hose. Eventually, the party mushroomed into a cross-dressing spectacle attracting thousands. With dozens of drag queens decked out in outrageous colorful costumes and a line up of dance music performers, the vent was one of the city’s best freebies. In 1991 the event was moved to Union Square, followed by two more years at Tompkins Square. In 1994 the glam gala was dragged to its present home at the west side piers.
The festival was moved fr4omm its original location because the park could no longer accommodate the growing festival. With the cost if putting the festival together – not to mention the inflated price of press on nails and Louis XIV style wigs – the show’s organizers, led by lady Bunny, began charging Admission last year.
“I hat to charge,” said Lady Bunny,” but what can I Do? Water even costs money these days.”
This year lady Bunny and crew are trying to justify the admission price with a stellar lineup of performers and a cast of fabulous drag queens.
Performers include Deborah Harry, lead singer of the rock group Blondie; Tony Award winning actress Lillias White; disco pop singers Deee-Lite and Crystal Waters; Cindy Wilson of The B-52’s; salsa singer La India and the leggy crossdressing radio and TV personality Ru Paul.
“There’s 50 or 60 acts,” boasted Lady Bunny. “It’s most exciting at night because that’s when the sequins start to sizzle.”