Dragtastic: A Dumpsta Players Fundraiser

Fri., Feb. 4, 7 p.m., $5 suggested donation, Tabu Lounge, 200 S. 12th St.

by Josh Middleton

After nearly 15 years of performing some of the sleaziest experimental theater Philly has ever seen, DJ K-Tell (pictured) and the Dumpsta Players (DP) suddenly find themselves feeling all legit and upstanding. Last November, they officially became a 501(c)3 company, which means they're finally recognized by gay Uncle Sam as a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization.

"I'm pleased as punch that the government finally recognizes us as a group that's making a difference," gushes DP founder Ricky Paul (aka K-Tell), who says proving itself as an educational outreach group for the LGBTQ community helped seal the deal on the pricey, yearlong application process.

The goal, Paul says, is to use their newly tax-free dollars not only to fund their regular productions (some of which have benefited nonprofits like William Way and the Attic Youth Center), but to organize an outreach program that takes their brand of comedy outside the gay community. "We want to take the message of queerness wherever it's welcome," says Paul. By "wherever," he means enlightening folks in malls, blighted neighborhoods and even seniors' homes that being queer is an "expression by individuals who are happy and able to express themselves," and above all, "it's normal."

To raise dough for their endeavors, Paul and his troupe have coordinated Dragtastic, a night of hot messiness featuring drag queens Chardonna Jenkins and Nueva Gabor, a bachelor auction and a performance by the Players themselves. After all these years, this is DP's first self-benefiting fundraiser, but Paul says its reputation as a philanthropic champion for other LGBTQ groups will persist. "That's part of who we are as a nonprofit," he says, "to raise funds for other worthy organizations."

Fri., Feb. 4, 7 p.m., $5 suggested donation, Tabu Lounge, 200 S. 12th St., 215-964-9675, dumpstaplayers.org.

(joshua.middleton@citypaper.net)