ORLANDO | Makeup and Creative Arts (MCA) will host their third annual “Straight Men – Real Makeup,” benefit to raise money for the onePULSE Foundation on Feb. 15.
MCA is a Central Florida studio that specializes in FX makeup, masks and props; and its event showcases straight men “stepping out of their comfort zones” and dressing in drag while performing routines for a live audience, all while raising money for a worthy cause. While this is the third “Straight Men – Real Makeup” benefiting onePulse, this is actually the fourth time MCA is holding this event.
“That first benefit was just months before the tragedy at Pulse,” says MCA makeup and admin assistant LG Wright. “We pulled together a fantastic cast and crew of straight men and local professional makeup artists and we hosted our first ‘Straight Men – Real Makeup’ benefit at the Pulse.”
The first event benefited Give Hope, an organization that assists families battling pediatric cancer.
“We had no idea how the public would accept this style of show, but the audience loved it and it proved to be a success,” Wright says. “As soon as we received the news of what happened [at Pulse], we felt it was our duty to support the LGBTQ community.”
Everyone involved volunteers their time and supplies, and many times the crew doesn’t even meet the drag contestants until the day of the show. The performing straight men put together a costume, select a song to perform to, show up on the day and MCA provides a makeup artist to apply their drag makeup and off to the stage they go to shake their assets for charity.
“Our show is really like no other,” Wright says. “Because our cast and crew volunteer their time and supplies, we can’t pay them to take off work for rehearsals so we never really know what we are going to get until show time.”
There will be three ways to donate during the event: at the door, by text-to-donate during the event or tipping the performers directly. The winner will be decided by a panel of judges which includes onePULSE CEO Barbara Poma, LGBTQ activist and actress Juleigh Mayfield and others.
The event will take place at Tin Roof in Orlando. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the show starts at 6 p.m. For more information, visit MCA’s Facebook event page.
