Dragapalooza

Sat., March 12, 8 p.m., $25-$50, Voyeur, 1221 St. James St., 215-735-5772

by Josh Middleton

Jason Joseph celebrated his one-year drag-iversary on Feb. 28, but when you see him perform as diva Diana Dharling (back row, center), you'll swear he came bopping out of the womb in that signature cropped wig and curly lashes. His energetic performances — always a peppy show tune — ooze with enough oomph to resurrect Judy.

That spirit — and Joseph's passion for musical theater — is why producer Bruce Yelk handpicked the full-time hairstylist as the driving force behind Dragapalooza: Broadway Divas, his variety-show-style spectacle that he hopes will become a recurring, multithemed event in the Gayborhood. "For this particular genre, he's the guy," says Yelk of Joseph. "He has a great knowledge of Broadway and has the respect of other drag queens in town."

That's fortunate because, as head choreographer, Joseph's leading a cast of 12 drag queens, including big-name local acts like Brittany Lynn, Alexis Cartier and Joey Josephs — the very queens who inspired him to throw on his own pair of fake tits a year ago. For the past 10 weeks they've been rehearsing the show, which will culminate as an 18-number production that Joseph describes as "more like a night of theater than just going to a club to see a show — it's like a drag cabaret."

On the performance slate are popular stage numbers like "Cell Block Tango" from Chicago and "Forget About the Boy" from Thoroughly Modern Millie — all staged according to their original Broadway choreography and sets. This attention to detail, Joseph hopes, will be an ideal way to showcase what he considers one of the most gifted drag scenes in the country. "I just saw three [lackluster] drag shows in Key West and it made me realize the talent we have in Philadelphia," he says. "We really do have a unique bunch here."

(joshua.middleton@citypaper.net)

Sat., March 12, 8 p.m., $25-$50, Voyeur, 1221 St. James St., 215-735-5772, nightlifegay.com.