The sexy king and Pantheon alum is ready to reclaim his Throne in Brooklyn; March is a busy month for Cunning Stunt! [Cover photo: Syra Sparkle]
Thotyssey: Hello Cunning! So, it’s beginning to look a lot like Spring!
Cunning Stunt: Thank you so much for having me! I am so ready to spring into Spring! Bring on the heat.
You do have a very impressive man-chestplate that you use in many numbers. That must stick to you in the humidity!
Oh goodness, yeah–the creatine can only get me so far. It’s sweaty under there! But absolutely no better way to get the instant six pack we all want.
Including me! How long have you been a drag performer now?
Two years and some change! But I actually started drag in Taipei, Taiwan–where they have a fabulous and strong drag scene–for my first year.
Oh wow! Where are you from originally, and how did you wind up in Taipei?
I grew up just outside of Washington DC, but I moved to Taipei in 2020 right before the pandemic… and ended up out there for three years! It was a wild ride, for sure.
What inspired you to do drag there; did you have a background in performance, makeup, etc?
Yeah! So I did theater for about fifteen years growing up, and had been going to drag shows since I was a teenager. While I was out there, I ended up taking the plunge to try drag myself, and I was hooked!
How would you describe Cunning as a king today, as far as looks and numbers go?
Cunning Stunt is the impossibly possible man. Sometimes Humphrey Bogart and sometimes Joe Exotic, he is always down to hit the city. He gives high energy numbers with increasingly dangerous stunts, trying to live up to his name. A dude you meet at the intersection of 80s glam rock and a leather biker bar.
We have a healthy “king and thing” scene here in New York, featuring lots of great performers. Were you aware of the existence of that scene before you got here?
Oh absolutely, yeah! So I look back at old stories, and I was reposting images of the incredible Drag Kings we have here in NYC while sitting in my little apartment half way across the world! Absolutely, NYC kings set a high standard and always go above and beyond.
Indeed! You performed strongly in the recent cycle of the “Pantheon” competition at Icon.
Omg yes, I loved “Pantheon!” It was a blast. Honestly, I connected so much with my competitors, and I feel so blessed to call them my friends now. Icon is a really fabulous bar that does a range of really fantastic shows! Definitely go out and support the next season. The feedback from the judges really helped me to push my drag to the next level! Actually, shout out to Astoria LGBT bars in general–the crowd and vibe out there is kind of unmatched! Plus, [“Pantheon” host] Suddenly Audrey is beautiful, and you can quote me on that.
Kings and things have carved out a piece for their art in the New York drag scene, but it’s otherwise still dominated by queens. What are your thoughts on the progress that nightlife has made regarding inclusive drag since you got here?
Poignant question! I would say more and more often we see casts that feature usually one King on what were once all Queen platforms. This is a good step in the right direction, but unfortunately also a double-edged sword. We fight to be seen and given space (often creating our own spaces and shows), and when we are offered space on larger, more established platforms it can come off as being cast as a freak show or side character. Drag kings / things / artists are far from new in NYC, and have put a lot of elbow grease into carving out a path to be seen and express ourselves, and share our art… and we should not be an afterthought!
In the last year, I have seen an outpouring of shows with really great casting and a lot of support for new / up-and-coming drag Kings and Things in open set spaces (please check out “Open Bussy Stage” at Pink Metal or “Another One” at Purgatory!) But overall, we would all benefit as a scene with more inclusive, thoughtful, and diverse casting.
To put it concisely: if you have the platform, your show will only benefit when you book Black Drag Kings / Things / Artists, book Drag Kings / Things/ Artists of color and Book Drag Kings / Things / and Artists in general. There is no shortage of talent.
You’ve got some big shows coming up, starting with this Friday’s return of “Throne” at Brooklyn’s Alphaville–that’s a king and thing showcase you’re hosting! Tell us a bit about what this show is like, and how it began.
Yeehaw! Yeah, so “Throne” is a monthly show at Alphaville where I aim to showcase Drag Kings and Things. It began when I was toying with the idea of hosting my own show; a King sits on a throne, so it seemed a logical name! I produce the show and emcee, and it’s my favorite night of the month! we have an absolute blast.
On top of absolutely wild numbers artists have been bringing, I’ve been doing fun raffles where people can win jewelry and pastries, games where audience members get in to drag as quickly as possible, dating games, and chances to win free shots! What more could you want?
This month we have a really special offering from Brooklyn Irish Dance Co. who will be show casing an Irish dance number to kick off St. Patrick’s day weekend! They do weekly “Gayli” classes on Monday nights, where anyone in the community can go and learn how to do a jig! So I’m really excited to be working with them.
Right afterwards, you’re performing for a large Whorechata event at Outbox Gym called “K.O.” which is actually a benefit for a trans boxer named Dawnii. What can you tell us about this?
This Saturday, March 16th, at Outbox Gym in Williamsburg I am honored to be a part of “K.O,” an event that is part protest and part party. Dawnii faced point blank, unacceptable discrimination from another gym in Crown Heights which revoked an offer to work out with them because she is Trans.
This event will raise funds for gym memberships for Dawnii and other trans athletes, which is so crucial in a nation and a time where dozens of laws on state and federal levels are aiming to limit or exclude Trans athletes from participation. The infographics for the event are concise and well-worded to the aims for the event: “we want to show the world that they can try to exclude us, but we will meet each other with joy.”
As for my part in this event, I am so stoked to have a chance to whip out my bedazzled Rocky Balboa look and get in some good old fashioned, smack down choreography; I just rehearsed it today, and it’s going to be great fun.
I encourage you all to please show up and show out at Outbox Gym on Saturday, March 16th 10pm to 4am, for what will no doubt be a meaningful and memorable event.
And March 18th, you’ll be part of another benefit… this time for a pageant package!
OMG, you really have your finger on the pulse! Yes, so Monday I will be at All Night Skate with a heap of fabulous performers to help raise funds for Alex the Meh and their pageant package for the Mx Monster pageant.
Any more benefits?
I will be pushing the fliers more next week but I’m also doing two really wonderful FUNdraisers for top surgery funds for two really great people: Slutty Mesh, and KJ of Brooklyn Irish Dance Co. They will be on the 22nd and 25th!
And looking ahead, you’ll be back at Icon on April 20th for a production of Reefer Madness: The Musical, featuring a fab cast of drag folks!
So, this show is a labor of love… and dirty little weed freaks! Midnight at Six is a really fabulous drag-centered theater company that puts together multiple shows a year at full production–which is a joy to partake in, when a lot of bar shows can’t accommodate that level of theatricality! The cast is absolutely stacked, and rehearsals have been a pleasure. I will be playing the role of Jimmy, the bright eyed, bushy tailed handsome young man who is ravished by the devil’s lettuce and his life is turned topsy turvy (speaking of which, come to the show and you might just see me get fully flipped!)
I really encourage everyone to come to the show and check out the stacked cast. Angela Mansberry has been a guiding light as a director, alongside the visionary Avant Garbage , and our dance choreographers Rafael and Gierre have cooked up a truly out of this world show.
What else is coming up for you?
Fab question! This summer season I am going to be working closely with the team at Lil Park Drag Show to put together some really fun outdoor shows, which I am very much looking forward to! Other than that I encourage people to come out to “Throne” every month and say hi! My inbox is always open for bookings, and if you have questions about starting drag or need support as a new or emerging artist, feel free to reach out!
And as always, if you are someone with a platform and a show, book more drag kings and things! Other than that I hope everyone shakes off the Winter blues, and has a fabulous spring.
Thank you, Cunning!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Cunning Stunt’s upcoming appearances, and follow him on Instagram.
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