The Big Wigs Big Rewind hits the stage at Rochester’s Blackfriars Theatre this Friday and Saturday, July 21 and 22 with performances at 8:00 p.m. on both days.

For the Big Wigs the performances will begin a residency at Blackfriars through the holidays.

Ed Popil, better known as Mrs. Kasha Davis, and Tom Smalley, better known as Aggy Dune, discussed the Big Rewind and performing in drag Wednesday during News 8 at Noon.

“We’ve been doing our show for fourteen years now and we’re so excited to be in residence at the Blackfriars Theatre,” said Popil. “So we will be doing shows starting this summer and into the fall and the holiday season, so it’s taking our show to another level with the theatrics with it and what they can offer with the lighting and etcetera.”

Popular favorites like Cher, Celine and Liza will return, along with new appearances from Petula Clarke and Karen Carpenter. Drag performances are becoming mainstream. “Well Rupaul’s Drag Race, I mean it’s on VH1 now they’re in their tenth season now, and Aggy is auditioning for this current season, we’re very hopeful and excited about that,” Popil said. “They’ve really brought the art form of drag out to the mainstream, and people nowadays are really looking for ways to really express their identity and their uniqueness and it’s fantastic, and we get to be a part of that here in Rochester, on the Blackfriars stage!”

Another expression of this was the Pride Parade in Rochester, which drew its largest crowd ever this past weekend. “It was the biggest parade and the biggest festival that we’ve ever had and I think a big part of that is that people are looking for that escape,” said Smalley. “The world is a little bit crazy right now, so I think that people are looking for something that’s fun and silly and they just want to allow themselves that opportunity to laugh and have a good time.”

For tickets to the Big Wigs Big Rewind, visit the Blackfriars website, click here.

For more about The Big Wigs, click here.