Cherry Falwell (David Bussard)

The season two finale of Who Wants To Be A Drag Star was held at Firehouse Tap and Grille in Meadville, PA, on Saturday, June 13th. Six contestants competed for the title of Drag Star: Ophelia Payne, Lew D'Ness, Jodi Patron, Ruby Skye, Jawz Onda Flor, and Velvet Viper.

The third round of Who Wants To Be A Drag Star season two was held at the competition's new home - Firehouse Tap and Grille  (875 Park Ave, Meadville, PA) - on Friday, May 8. "We're really happy to be at Firehouse," said show host Cherry Falwell. "They are so incredibly supportive of queer and trans folks, and now more than ever it's so important to support businesses that support us." Five contestants (Sunny Rae Rex, Ruby Skye, Sexy Blue, Jawz Onda Flor, and Velvet Viper) battled it out for their spot in the season two finale.

Who Wants to be a Drag Star, Meadville's bi-monthly drag competition series hosted by Cherry Falwell, is back and bigger than ever for season two. Round one was held on Saturday November 19th at Voodoo Brewery. Head judge Lady Travesty and guest judges Snarebear and Shea D'Heaux made up the judges panel. Five drag performers (Angelica Starlight, Marina Flowers, Ophelia Payne, Sunny Rae Rex, and Ruby Skye) battled it out for their spot in the spring finale. "Drag Star is a great way for newer performers to showcase their talent and find their footing on stage," said Cherry Falwell. "The competition is open to all genders and all types of drag - queens, kings, things. I can't wait for round two. We have more kings competing than ever before."

Miss Great Lakes Comedy Queen, a preliminary to the National Miss Comedy Queen pageant, was held in Batavia, NY, on Saturday, September 6th, celebrating the reign of Great Lakes Comedy Queen 2024, Morticia Monroe. Five contestants representing Northwest Pennsylvania and New York competed for the title. Miss Viola of Elmira, NY, was crowned Miss Great Lakes Comedy Queen 2025, winning awards for Best Outrageous Evening Gown, Best Presentation, and Best 60 Second Spokeswoman. Cherry Falwell of Meadville, PA, was named first alternate, winning awards for Best Interview, Best Comedic Talent, and the audience vote for funniest performer. The evening included entertainment from Erie's own Debbie Does Drag, the current reigning National Miss Comedy Queen. Miss Viola and Cherry Falwell both qualified to compete at National Miss Comedy Queen 2026 in March in Orlando, FL.

Who Wants to be a Drag Star, the bi-monthly drag competition show hosted by Cherry Falwell, is returning for a second season at a new venue. "We had such a great run at Meadville Council on the Arts, but unfortunately, their theater space is no longer available. The show was a surprise hit for sure; we sold out every round. Multiple times, we had to turn folks away at the door because there wasn't enough space in the theater. Partnering with Voodoo gives us room to grow, plus both food and drinks will be available for the audience to enjoy," said Cherry Falwell.

Two funny fake ladies from NW PA are heading to Orlando to compete in the National Miss Comedy Queen Pageant, and they're both losers. Debbie Does Drag, first alternate to Chicago Comedy Queen, and Cherry Falwell, first alternate to Great Lakes Comedy Queen, will be competing with over 40 other performers for the crown March 24th - March 27th.

Round three of Who Wants to be a Drag Star, the area's only open stage drag competition hosted by Cherry Falwell, was held on Saturday March 8th at Meadville Council on the Arts. Five contestants - Emerald Rose, Sunny Rae Rex, Ruby Sky, Esper Dreamz, and Aiysha Storm - battled it out on stage, showcasing their individual talents. For their surprise on stage challenge, contestants were tasked with naming a drink for an upcoming show at Cussewago Creek Distillery and selling it descriptively to the audience.

Round two of Who Wants to be a Drag Star was held on Saturday, January 25th, at Meadville Council on the Arts in front of a sold-out audience. The open-stage drag competition featured five contestants: two drag kings and three drag queens, battling to win the night and their spot in the spring finale.

Snowmageddon couldn't stop these comedy queens! The Miss Great Lakes Comedy Queen pageant, a preliminary to National Miss Comedy Queen, was held in Buffalo on November 30th. Contestants were judged in several categories including comedic talent, a sports themed presentation, and outrageous evening gown. The queens were also tasked with showcasing their improv skills to sell a mystery product in the 60 second spokeswoman category.

Who Wants To Be A Drag Star, Cherry Falwell's all-new drag competition show, kicked off the season with Round One on Saturday, November 16th. The sold out event was hosted by Meadville Council on the Arts in the theater above the Market House in downtown Meadville and featured a pop up bar by Cussewago Creek Distillery. Four newcomers to drag (Veronica Ville, Emerald Rose, Velvet Viper, and Hydroxyzine) were given five minutes of open stage time to impress the judges and the audience. "I encouraged the contestants to show us what makes them unique. They could lip sync, juggle, sing live, do stand up comedy, anything they wanted as long as it was entertaining," said Falwell. Additionally, contestants were given a surprise on-stage challenge where they had to construct a garment or accessories using five random household items in front of the audience and then model their drag on a dime.

An all-new drag competition is coming to Meadville. Local drag queen Cherry Falwell is partnering with Travis Smith and the Meadville Council on the Arts for Who Wants To Be A Drag Star: Round One on November 16th. In each round, drag performers will showcase their individual talents and compete in an on-stage challenge. The winner of each round will advance to the spring finale.

Have you always wanted to give drag a try? Are you a new queen, king, or performer looking to break into the local drag scene? Sign up for round one of Who Wants To Be A Drag Star and show us what you’ve got to earn your spot in the spring finale. Who Wants to Be a Drag Star is an all-new drag competition hosted by Cherry Falwell with head judge Travis Smith. It is open to drag performers of any gender who are 18 or over. Round one will be on November 16 in downtown Meadville. Email MeadvilleDragStar@Gmail.com for info or to sign up. If you’re interested in performing, reach out ASAP - we only have five spaces available for the first round!