Who Are The Kinsey Sicks?
Published 9/11/2006
For well over a decade, The Kinsey Sicks, America's Favorite Dragapella Beautyshop Quartet, have served up a feast of music and comedy to audiences across the United States. Combining award winning a cappella singing, sharp satire and over-the-top drag, The Kinsey Sicks have developed a large and loyal following.
The Kinsey Sicks began in 1993 as a group of friends who went to a Bette Midler concert in San Francisco, dressed as the Andrews Sisters. Assuming they'd be among many drag queens, they found themselves to be the only ones (other than Bette, of course). They were approached that night to perform at an upcoming event. Their reply -- "we don't sing" -- was quickly disproved when they realized that all of them had musical backgrounds. They began singing and harmonizing that night, and the seed for The Kinsey Sicks was planted.
In July 1994, The Kinsey Sicks drew a large and enthusiastic crowd at their first public performance on a street corner in San Francisco's Castro District. Since then, The Kinsey Sicks have produced and performed full-length theatrical productions around the country in such prestigious venues as the Herbst Theatre in San Francisco, the Nordstrom Recital Hall in Seattle, the Ogden Theatre in Denver, the Colony Theatre in South Beach, and the Wheeler Opera Hall in Aspen. They have packed the houses with shows such as "The Balled Sopranos," "Motel Sicks: A Dragapella Summer Vacation," "Everything But the Kitsch 'n'Synch" and "GreatesTits," all of which premiered at San Francisco's New Conservatory Theatre Center.
In 2001, the girls produced and starred in their critically acclaimed Off-Broadway hit, "DRAGAPELLA! Starring the Kinsey Sicks" at New York's legendary Studio 54. That production received a nomination for a Lucille Lortel award (the Off-Broadway Tony) as Best Musical of 2001 and a Drama Desk Award nomination for Best Lyrics.
The Kinseys Sicks have been profiled on national television, including on "20/20" and "CBS Early Show with Bryant Gumbel," and were the subjects of a lengthy cover feature in the arts section of the New York Times. (That article is posted on this website as well.) They have won numerous a cappella awards and have recorded five CDs:
Dragapella, Boyz 2 Girlz, Sicks in the City, I Wanna Be a Republican, and Oy Vey in a Manger: Christmas Carols and Other Jewish Music. In 2006, the Kinsey Sicks performed an extended engagement at the Las Vegas Hilton. In addition, their first feature film, "Kinsey Sicks: I Wanna Be a Republican," premiered at the 30th San Francisco International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. Another documentary following the Kinsey Sicks backstage on tour is due for release late in 2006.