Drag Musical Pageant to Close Early Off-Broadway

Alas, beauty is fleeting.

Pageant, an off-Broadway musical comedy featuring male actors dolled up as female pageant contestants, will close October 26 at the Davenport Theatre.

Conceived by Robert Longbottom and written by Albert Evans, Frank Kelly, and Bill Russell, Pageant originally debuted off-Broadway in 1991 and had a successful engagement in London's West End. Following a sold-out five-show run in February to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the revival officially opened July 14 and had previously extended through January 4.

Matt Lenz directs the new production with choreography by Shea Sullivan, music direction by Mark Hartman, and costumes by Stephen Yearick. The lovely cast includes John Bolton, Nic Cory, Alex Ringler, Marty Thomas, Seth Tucker, Curtis Wiley, and Skivvies star Nick Cearley.

A forthcoming cast album, partially crowd-funded through an Indiegogo campaign, will mark the acclaimed show's first official recording in its 23-year history.

Read about more drag highlights off-Broadway here.