The Cult of Tuck is Bend’s premiere drag troupe made up of a collective of local queer performers and artists. Founded in 2018 by our sister and drag mother, Deb Auchery, who we sadly lost in 2022, the Cult has brought live drag performances and general gayness to venues all throughout central Oregon. In honor of Deb’s memory, the troupe is still going strong as a close collective of drag kings and queens; some of whom have been with the group since the beginning and others who are just beginning their drag journey.
The Cult of Tuck and BendFilm are excited to collaborate together and bring this series of beloved queer films to Tin Pan Theater and celebrate PRIDE all throughout the month of June. Each film in the series will be a personal pick from one of the members of The Cult of Tuck and will highlight the taste of each drag king or queen! With this series, we hope to not only put on a great LGBTQ+ film series and celebrate PRIDE month, but also to showcase a wide variety of queer films that anyone can enjoy!
The first screening in our series will take place INSIDE Tin Pan Theater and the later three screenings will be OUTSIDE in Tin Pan Alley! Each screening will feature the drag kings and queens of the Cult of Tuck in person!
Here is a little bit more about the films we picked!
To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995)
Dick Von Moreno says: “To Wong Foo will forever be a favorite of mine. It’s a classic that was ahead of its time and should be seen by all.”
You can follow Dick on Instagram @dickvonmoreno
Cabaret (1972)
Sascha Travesty says: “Cabaret always feels relevant: art and freedom must prevail against fascism! The film was my gateway to the ‘divine decadence’ of Weimar culture, bisexuality, burlesque, and body positivity.”
You can follow the adventures of Sascha Travesty, in and out of drag, on Instagram @deer__sarcophagus
Ed Wood (1994)
Foxy LaHound says: “Tim Burton’s Ed Wood is the film that has made me feel the most seen by a movie. The film’s loving and fictionalized portrayal of the infamous director reminds me that my queer gender expression and my love of cinema can be celebrated together, that my experience of queerness is valid, and that pursuing the things you love even when the world tells you it’s ‘bad’ is always worth it.”
You can’t follow this hipster on Instagram, but if you see Foxy out and about downtown, say hi!
But I’m a Cheerleader (1999)
Mystique Hunt says: “When I first came out as a teen, I spent a lot of time voraciously consuming any and all queer media I could get my hands on — I wanted very much to feel seen and understood by film and television. But I’m a Cheerleader struck a chord with me from my first viewing to my tenth. I was immediately enamored by the ridiculousness and the camp and the colorful sets and costumes — and I saw myself in Natasha Leone’s journey of discovery (I too, spent many years simply oblivious to the obvious signs of my queerness).”
You can follow Mystique on Instagram @mystique.hunt
Get tickets to all of these movies HERE
Don’t forget to also get tickets to the Cult of Tuck’s annual PRIDE show, this year titled Do Drag, Be Crime, at Silver Moon Brewing on Saturday, June 24th at 9 pm after Pride in the Park! Tickets available HERE
You can follow The Cult of Tuck on Instagram @the.cult.of.tuck, and on Facebook
BendFilm will also have a booth at the 2023 Pride in the Park celebration, put on by the Queer Creators Collective! Make sure you stop by the park, say hello and celebrate with us!