Why This Story Matters
Hidden in plain sight, drag kings have been rewriting the rules of performance for generations. Yas King! uncovers their history, artistry, and extraordinary acts of transformation. Contemporary drag king performance has expanded far beyond traditional male illusion. Today's performers create monsters, mythic beings, animals, and speculative characters that challenge expectations of gender, identity, and embodiment.
Filmed at venues, festivals, and performance spaces across the United States, including many performers in Texas (one of the most contentious states regulating drag), Yas King! documents a vibrant artistic community whose work blends theatre, drag, fantasy, and live performance into powerful acts of transformation.
About the Director
Tinamarie Ivey
Tinamarie Ivey is a filmmaker, theatre artist, educator, and researcher whose work explores the transformative power of performance. Blending documentary filmmaking with years of theatre practice and scholarship, she is drawn to stories that reveal how artists build community, preserve cultural memory, and imagine new ways of being. Her research on drag performance and theatre has been published in books, journals, and reference works, reflecting her commitment to documenting overlooked performance histories.
Yas King! is the culmination of years spent researching, documenting, and collaborating with drag king communities across North America. The film reflects Tinamarie's commitment to amplifying voices that have too often been overlooked while celebrating the creativity, resilience, and theatrical imagination that continue to shape drag king performance today.
