Dude for a Day

RuPaul brought Drag Race into the homes of millions and made the once taboo art form mainstream. This newfound renaissance has inspired a new generation to explore the art of drag and challenge the constructs of gender. While RuPaul’s Drag Race is a competition, Drag Heals is a documentary journey that follows men who have never worn heels or make-up but have always dreamed of letting their inner drag queen out. These men (and aspiring queens!) enter Canada’s first ever Drag class to explore how to create a compelling drag persona based on personal experience. For most, this is akin to a second coming out process. The culmination of the workshops will be a public performance where they will face down their fears of stepping into the limelight. Drag is typically viewed from a distance; Drag Heals gives unparalleled access to the creation of a performance that is more than just your average lip sync.

Dude for a Day is a one day intensive hands on workshop where female identified people discover their inner male and bring that energy forward a with the help of acting and vocal coaching, men's clothing, make up for shading and facial hair. Once the physical transformation is complete each new man does what's called a 'theatrical hot-seat' where they sit alone in a chair in front of the group and Tracey Erin Smith interviews them and they answer spontaneously as this new male character. These conversation and shocking, personal, unique and outrageous fun. After every one has had their 'hot seat' the group debriefs how that experience was, to be a part of, and to bear witness to while others were in the 'hot seat'.