POP! or Slow Drag, A solo performance of my own design

Thesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2018University of Washington Abstract POP! Or Slow Drag A solo performance of my own design André G. Brown Chair of the Supervisory Committee: Tim Bond School of Drama POP! initially titled "Slow Drag" came from a series of old therapy sessions I had. It was birthed from an assortment of questions. The main one being - "what if who you are, isn't who you want to be, but what if that's what you're supposed to be?" Although the narrative centers around a drag queen who suffers from the trauma of years of conversion therapy and homophobia - the main focus is hatred turned inward. I explored what happens to an oppressed person when the voice of their oppressor is silenced. What happens to a person, a life, a soul constantly crushed under the weight of heavy burdensome oppression? I surmised that it wasn't if but when the pressure became more than their soul could bear - they would undoubtedly do, as we can all anticipate and, POP