"It's burlesque meets Broadway," says Joe Posa, one third of the Guys as Dolls drag troupe that is performing as part of the 2nd Annual Drag Show presented by the Lambda Student Alliance at 10 tonight in HUB Alumni Hall.

"A lot of drag shows that take place in bars or night clubs tend to be all about vulgarity," relates Posa over the phone from a swimming pool in Key West.

"That can be fun," he clarifies.

"I'm certainly not passing judgment on bar shows, but ours is more of a theatrical evening."

Performing alongside Posa will be professional dancer Mauricio and fellow drag queen Joe Schmitz.

"We're just a couple of average Joes," Posa jokes, "though we aren't exactly average."

The team has toured several different places and is planning on taking the act to New York in the fall, but still manages to perform regularly at the Crystal Room of the La Te Da Resort in Key West.

"My partner and I both have a background in theater and Mauricio is a Broadway dancer," Posa explains.

"We took that knowledge and incorporated it into the show."

The show will include musical numbers by Schmitz as well as lip-synching acts by Posa, whose repertoire includes Barbara Streisand, Liza Minnelli, and even Susan Lucci's acceptance speech.

Drag Show does not end with the 90-minute performance, however.

Following the show will be a competition to elect the Drag Queen and King of Penn State.

The competition is open to any students who are interested in participating in it.

One eager competitor in the pageant portion of the evening is Kevin Wilber (senior-HDFS). "I started doing drag as a farce on Halloween. Since then, I've been known as this Drag Queen character, Miss Veronica," says Wilber.

If this year's event bears any resemblance to last year's, Wilber will face some considerable competition.

"We had about 20 competitors last year," says Chris Brown, political co-director of LSA and student coordinator of the event, who expects about 300 people overall to show up for the planned festivities.

Brown (junior-English) believes the appeal of Drag Show breaks down into three parts: "First of all, there's the educational aspect for people who don't understand drag shows or have never been to a drag show. It exposes this whole subculture," Brown explains.

The second reason, he feels, is "It's a good time ... It's a way to show that the community isn't all serious," adding "We're not always just about political issues. We can have fun too."

Lastly, Brown feels the event is "a great way for the University to get involved with LSA." Wilber agrees with the latter, stating that Drag Show is "a way for individuals of the community to have an outlet to get dressed up and show the Penn State community what drag queens are all about," emphasizing that "it's a chance to come in, be entertained, and have fun."

Posa promises those who come to see the show are in for a "high-energy, fast-moving" night, but maintains their act is universal, most often performed before an audience that's roughly two-thirds straight.

"It's not necessarily a lifestyle," contends Posa.

"It's a costume. We don't live in drag. (Guys as Dolls) is meant to be enjoyed for what it is: a journey, a roller-coaster ride of illusion."

Drag Show, which is expected to run until 2 a.m. featuring plenty of music and dancing, is open to all students on campus free of charge.

About the group's first trip to Penn State for Drag Show, Posa says, "We're excited, because I think it's important to see what's done and just to be a part of the celebration."