During Al Hirschfeld’s long career, no area of show business was left visually unexplored. A colorful vibrant thread in the tapestry of the theater has been the use of drag as a form of creative expression. Consequently, through Hirschfeld’s remarkable catalogue, we’re able to chart the ways cross dressing has been used as a theatrical tool over the past century. At first, it was often the only way closeted LGBT artists were able to express their voices. At other times drag has been employed as a plot device allowing society to articulate in a light-hearted manner its fear of the “other.” In more recent decades, openly gay artists have taken drag into new realms both dramatic and comic. With this collection of drawings, we chart the history of performers and shows that have used drag in a variety of creative strategies. Hirschfeld’s great gift in portraying the joy of theatrical self-expression gives all of these drawings a...
