The historic Waldo Theatre in Waldoboro, Maine, will be hosting the Portland-based drag show “Curbside Queens” for a performance on Saturday, July 29.
The event offers general admission tickets to people aged 16 and up.
“The Waldo Theatre welcomes Portland-based Curbside Queens as they spread the joy and celebration of the Queer experience and the art of Drag with the people of Maine,” the event page reads.
“Creative dress is encouraged!!!” The event page says.
The Curbside Queens are a traveling troupe of drag performers that use a pink shuttle bus named “Peg” to do shows in driveways, parking lots and theaters.
The website of the Curbside Queens boasts that they donate a portion of their booking proceeds towards “Trans Justice, Trans Liberation, and Black Lives Matter causes.”
The group started in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, and was originally called “2 Queens, 1 Driveway.”
Curbside Queens has since expanded from two to nine drag performers, putting on over 85 shows over 20 weeks in 2021.
The Waldo Theatre is a historic movie theater and performance venue originally built in 1936, and was restored and reopened in 2021.
The Waldo is on the National Register of Historic Places, and is a frequent recipient of taxpayer-funded gifts from the Town of Waldoboro.
At the 2023 Waldoboro annual town meeting on June 13, the town voted to give the Waldo Theatre $6,500 as one of several “Community Service Agencies.”
Recently-elected Republican Representative Abden Simmons of Waldoboro said in a Friday phone interview that he learned of the event that morning on Facebook.
[RELATED: Maine Republicans, Conservatives Post Wins in State House and Local Elections]
“There’s only one problem with it,” Rep. Simmons said. “It was a voter, resident initiative petition, that we had no choice but to put on the ballot, as far as giving the money to the Waldo Theatre.”
“It was out of the hands of the town, it was up to the voters whether they wanted to give the Waldo Theatre the money or not,” he said. “And the town doesn’t control what Waldo Theatre does.”
“The town has nothing to do with what they put out,” Simmons said.
Simmons said that as a Waldoboro Select Board member, he did not want to increase the money given to the Waldo Theatre, but the citizen petition resulted in increasing the Waldo’s funding against the wishes of the budget committee.
He added that he had not yet received any pushback on the drag show event from his constituents, but said, “I’m sure I will.”
The Waldo, now owned by the non-profit tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization “Waldo Theatre, Inc” received a $6,500 gift of taxpayer dollars in 2022, $5,000 in 2021, and $5,000 in 2020.
The theater has a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) statement published on their website.
“We also recognize the true value and the critical role that diversity serves in helping our theater and community thrive,” the statement reads.
“We are committed to sustaining a diverse, inclusive, and equitable space where everyone who enters this historic theatre — patrons, performers, staff, volunteers, and vendors — feels valued and respected regardless of age, race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, education, or ability,” it says.
So, as far as Drag Queens and their routines go, how do they judge “kid friendly”, “16+”, “18+”, and balance that against acceptable norms of sexual expression? Are we talking nudity, graphic music, twerking? What can you do to a 16 year old that isnt as taboo as say 9 or 10 years? Lap dances? Is physical contact permitted? Bonus: “2 Queens, 1 Driveway.” You naughty girls!! I still have that video (2 girls 1 cup). Gross. Shout out to Latifa and Karla!
More Republican, homophobia, transphobia and they just can’t except entertainment and fun. Republicans have destroyed this country you know and I know it if you open your heart you see it you don’t realize what you’re doing the genocide and the murder by denying medical care and all this and you can’t even have a little fun and entertainment and laughter, I did female impersonation from 1996 to 2000 raised a lot of money for different charities back in the day 
4/10 for trolling. Not enough passion. And you didn’t mention maga/trump.
In the off chance you were a serious person, then notice there is no “-phobia” or “-isms” in my post. Just pertinent questions concerning the criteria for rating a show as, variously; “kid friendly”, “Adults only” or
“16+”. I assume “Adults only/18+” means there is nudity and graphic activities on stage. What can a 16 year old see that a 14 or 15 couldn’t? What can an 18+ year person see that a 16 or 17 can not? Does 16-17 mean no physical contact, but 18+ you’re legal and safe to touch? Can a mature 14 year old attend the performance with parental consent?
There’s very few answers anywhere on this. Lots of redirects and accusations though….
We have had amateur drag shows around the midcoast before Held at schools… ahem… . I recall several years of “ Guys in Gowns” that featured everyone from Bank Presidents to Police officers and Fishermen, The local beauty salons made a killing on hair dos and false nails and eyelashes. While some were markedly “interesting” others were so fab that until the wigs came off even neighbors did not know who they were. Money was raised for charity and the only concern was who was the prettiest.
You know what was absent? Any controversy at all, and that is how it should be. If folks want to object, they can start with Shakespeare and Milton Berle, Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman and so many other icons. This is vaudeville , folks, and like old vaudeville- meant for adults.
Let’s all welcome The Curbside Queens!
Seems to me district elected officials who claim to represent all the people in their district should remain neutral on the subject of diversity, including drag show entertainment. Tax payer money? What of it? If a drag show isn’t to your liking, don’t attend it. But don’t expect your puritanical, homophobic attitude to have an influence on the creativity of the district. BTW attendance at votes in the State House is more your responsibility than critiquing how the Waldo spends its money…Rep. Simmons. I thank goodness you don’t “represent me.”
Lookin good Maine Wire. There’s enough coverage of your articles that activists are looking to censor and troll. I cant imagine what the email traffic trying to shut down and threaten libel suits must generate. Keep it up.
-Ellie, this is not for charity, its for profit. “Adult online tickets are available for $25 in advance, $30 the day of the event. A limited amount of Front Row Seats will be available for $40. each.”
Also, to your point of controversy, this drag queen performance is not due to demand its activist shenanigans. Either you know or don’t, its something you have to be willing to accept. Pride month is nearly 2 weeks passed now. But LGBT and trans “justice” is tied with Ukraine at this point. Are we trying to polarize a topic to drag out for election season? Abortion was for mid terms. Racism is getting tired. We should shift back to Climate, there’s way more profit with way less controversy.
-Daphne Lehava Stern “…have an influence on the creativity of the district.”
It is about control, you are correct. We all see the struggle. Progress is the favored word for dominate or defeat. You want control and will do absolutely anything to achieve that. Covid was exceptional. Trans children and drag queens is ham fisted and society hasn’t quite degraded far enough for it to blossom. Plus Seekers dont like any of that garbage, so you’ve got your challenge there. Learn to read the room.
If the Waldo Theater is trying to create awareness of the latest social concerns of the day, why not show the newly released movie, “The Sound of Freedom”?
Oh, dear. The author of this article clearly didn’t do their research. It’s full of misinformation intended to get people riled up. Go find out how they use their tax dollars before reporting on it. This article is not only incorrect, it’s a freaking joke. Go find some real news to report on.
Maynard- We are not trolls. we live here. We can read and speak clearly and we do, You haven’t made one salient point that is not already proven to be false, including the ” tax” argument. The Guys in Gowns shows were for charity and this show will pay the performers, Not tax payer money, Oh and Guys in Gowns shows were done in an elementary school which exists on tax money so where was your outrage then? Not one fabulous lash was even batted, Not one. Not bothering to respond again, so call me out if it gives you a thrill. but I will be busy deciding what to wear to cheer them on,
The Town Warrant says that the Budget Committee supported Article 23 with funding for the Waldo Theatre. As a resident of Waldoboro, I appreciate that the theatre is providing a huge variety of programs. I don’t want to see all of them, but I think the point is that you bring more people into town, and into the theatre, if you provide variety. The amount of $6,500 is about $1.25 per resident. When I have driven by, the amount of parking I see says that they are bring business to town, such as the restaurants. I also saw that the theatre housed some performers at the brand new Waldoboro Inn next door. Isn’t that the cooperative relationships a town should want. This is a bunch of hype about nothing. If you don’t want to go, then by all means, stay home.
Drag was never a problem until they thought it was a grand idea to present this as entertainment to children- which it is clearly not appropriate. Everything in a small town is tax payer funded – nobody ever says no- that is why property taxes explode.