Darcelle XV Showplace is a
drag venue in
Portland, Oregon
Portland ( ) is the List of cities in Oregon, most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon, located in the Pacific Northwest region. Situated close to northwest Oregon at the confluence of the Willamette River, Willamette and Columbia River, ...
, opened and formerly operated by drag performer
Darcelle XV
Darcelle XV (November 16, 1930 – March 23, 2023) was the stage name of Walter Willard Cole, an American drag queen, entertainer, and cabaret owner and operator in Portland, Oregon. Guinness World Records had certified him as the oldest drag q ...
.
History
The club opened in 1967. In June 2020, the venue was nominated for national historic registry status by the State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation, marking the first time an
LGBTQ
LGBTQ people are individuals who are lesbian, Gay men, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning (sexuality and gender), questioning. Many variants of the initialism are used; LGBTQIA+ people incorporates intersex, Asexuality, asexual, ...
-related establishment was considered in Oregon. The site was listed in November 2020. The venue launched drag brunch in September.
Darcelle XV
Darcelle XV (November 16, 1930 – March 23, 2023) was the stage name of Walter Willard Cole, an American drag queen, entertainer, and cabaret owner and operator in Portland, Oregon. Guinness World Records had certified him as the oldest drag q ...
, the founder and namesake of the showplace, died of natural causes at the age of 92 in March 2023.
From July 10 through July 12, 2023, Darcelle XV Showplace hosted a 48-hour
Drag-a-thon attempting to break the
Guinness World Records
''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a British reference book published annually, list ...
for longest drag artist stage show.
In addition to attempting to break the world record, the event also raised money for the nonprofit
The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is an American nonprofit organization founded in 1998. Focused on suicide prevention efforts for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth, they offer a toll-free telephone number where con ...
that provides crisis intervention services for
LGBTQ
LGBTQ people are individuals who are lesbian, Gay men, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning (sexuality and gender), questioning. Many variants of the initialism are used; LGBTQIA+ people incorporates intersex, Asexuality, asexual, ...
youth.
Cast members have included
Alexis Campbell Starr
Alexis Campbell Starr is an African-American drag queen based in Portland, Oregon. She is a resident cast member at Darcelle XV Showplace and has performed at CC Slaughters and other events and venues. She is active in the Imperial Sovereign Ros ...
,
Bolivia Carmichaels, and
Poison Waters.
Reception
Darcelle's won in the "Best Drag Show" category of ''
Willamette Week
''Willamette Week'' (''WW'') is an alternative weekly newspaper and a website published in Portland, Oregon, United States, since 1974. It features reports on local news, politics, sports, business, and culture.
History
Early history
'' ...
'' "Best of Portland Readers' Poll 2020".
See also
*
References
External links
*
{{Portal bar, Architecture, LGBTQ, National Register of Historic Places, Oregon
1967 establishments in Oregon
Drag (entertainment)
LGBTQ drinking establishments in Portland, Oregon
National Register of Historic Places in Portland, Oregon
Restaurants in Northwest Portland, Oregon
Restaurants in Old Town Chinatown