A Catholic church in Times Square is outraged that a brunch time drag show is being performed at Lillie's restaurant next door in the middle of Lent.
Parishioners at St. Malachy's Catholic Church on 49th street are not happy.
“It’s terrible,” lamented parishioner Della Connolly, who said she is “almost” 100 years old. “Why are they acting like this? What did the church do to them?”
At the center of the controversy is a drag performer known as Epiphany Get Paid and the church's pastor, the Rev. Richard Baker.
The New York Post reports that the battle began last week when churchgoers noticed a poster hanging next to the church for the opening of "Breakfast at Ephiphany's" a show in which the 6-foot-7 drag queen sings show tunes.
"Ephiphany" is also the name of a sacred Catholic feast day and the first scheduled performance of the so-called "dragilicious brunch event" would have coincided with the first Sunday of Lent.
After parishioners complained, Father Baker complained to the management of the Victorian-themed restaurant.
“He was upset,” recalled Shannon Noecker, Lillie’s general manager. “He felt it was inappropriate.”
Epiphany, whose real name is Calen Tomaszewski, insisted the revue would be “lighthearted and family-friendly.”
“I could see how [Baker] might think a drag show would mean hookers and [oral sex],” said Epiphany, 31. “People are always afraid of what they don’t understand. These old ladies probably cried when Liberace died and they found out he was gay.”
Lillie agreed to cancel the show and move it to a sister restaurant nine blocks away. But Epiphany protested.
“It’s New York City. It’s Times Square,” he said. “If you can’t have a drag show here, where can you have one?”
Last week, the drag queen and the priest had a talk and agreed to disagree.
“I think as a man of the cloth, he’s used to saying a few choice words and getting his way,” said Epiphany. “I’m not worried. I’m victorious.”
The show will open at Lillie’s on Sunday, February 24, along with a march at noon in support of the event.
Father Baker, who softened his stance somewhat when he learned the show would not be as provocative as he feared, said, “I’m not pleased that we’re having a drag show next door.”
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.merefalow | Feb 27, 2013, 06:53 PM EST
misogynist men in funny hats and frocks complaining about strange men who like to dress up as women,you couldnt make it up.father ted ,dougal,and old jack,positively normal compared to these weirdo,s.
Smyrnian | Feb 27, 2013, 01:12 PM EST
Desty - don't be a moron.
Desty | Feb 27, 2013, 10:11 AM EST
@Smyrnian: "I thought they cleaned up Times Square. Guess not." Nope, they haven't cleaned it up. That church is still there.
STEVENSTAR | Feb 27, 2013, 06:09 AM EST
AS AN IRISHMAN SECURE IN HIS OWN SEXUALITY WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH A MAN IN A DRESS AT A DRAG SHOW.. I DO HOWEVER HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM WITH THE HYPOCRACY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND PRIESTS SEXUALLY ABUSING CHILDREN.. EACH AND EVERY DAY WITH NEW STORIES EMERGING.. I FIND IT SICKENING AND EVIL OF ANY CHURCH OR PREISTS WHO DO THIS AND I ALSO FIND IT MORE HORRIFTY THE WAY THAT THEY TRIED TO HIDE IT OR IN A LOT OF CASES OVER HERE IN IRELAND THEY SENT THE PRIESTS OFF TO AMERICA.. SORRY BUT THAT TO ME IS 100 TIMES ALOT MORE SHOCKING THEN A DAY TIME DRAG SHOW IN SOME BAR IN THE MIDDLE OF ABIG CITY !!!...
Smyrnian | Feb 26, 2013, 06:39 PM EST
I thought they cleaned up Times Square. Guess not.
olovely | Feb 25, 2013, 09:25 PM EST
Her name is Epiphany and that priest wouldn't recognize the opportunity to promote one if it bit him on the backside.
Ms.Gail | Feb 25, 2013, 06:05 PM EST
Suck it up, you're in Times Square for goodness sake. In the tradition of complying with longstanding church "requests" Shakespearean players dressed as women and provided entertainment. So the costume is outrageous, did you complain about the clown costume on the kid that came trick or treating? Evangelize, take StRoibard's idea and fly with it.
Eschetic | Feb 25, 2013, 04:03 PM EST
As is so often the case, the Church should be ashamed of it self but so seldom is. The Times Square Theatre District HAS become much more "family friendly," cleaned up and diverse in recent years - it is tragic that a CHURCH should be reintroducing intolerance and bigotry into a neighborhood remarkably free of same. Real community leadership - be they church, synagogue or mosque - would involve educating the congregation they are bringing into the neighborhood how to interact with their neighbors. Lighthearted references or even satires which old biddies might at first view as offensive should more properly seen as supportive interaction to everyone's benefit. If this church - having usurped one of Broadway's mos historic houses on the strength of simple deep pocket brute power - wants to remain comfortably in the neighborhood they neither made nor shaped, they are going to have to learn how to fit in and LIVE WITH their neighborhood.
jhmdeuce | Feb 25, 2013, 02:07 PM EST
“I think as a man of the cloth, he’s used to saying a few choice words and getting his way,” said Epiphany. “I’m not worried. I’m victorious.” A small victory over a defenseless man. But you will meet defeat in eternity, Epiphany.
StRoibard | Feb 25, 2013, 01:53 PM EST
Pay attention, church! This is a perfect (and conveniently located, at that!) opportunity to witness Christ's love for everyone. I say the priest should lead the congregation next door after mass and everyone sit down and demonstrate how to bless those who are your enemies (I know, they didn't say "we're your enemies" but you know what I mean ... non-churchies). Have a few non-alcoholic drinks, buy lunch, OVERtip grandly, and then invite them all over for the next church-deal. Meanwhile, let them know you're open to talk more about Christ's salvation if anyone is interested later on. Jesus went to a lot of "Objectionable" dinners and parties. Drove the priests nuts. So mad, they killed him over it!
89west | Feb 25, 2013, 01:52 PM EST
chrisvogel....One has wonder how different your comments might be had it been a synagogue or mosque.
ChrisVogel | Feb 25, 2013, 11:27 AM EST
Typical of the Roman church: they think they can tell everyone else what to do, always, everywhere. Still, better than the old days; modern secular governments do not permit their traditional response to difference: torture and mass murder.
irishamerica46 | Feb 25, 2013, 10:42 AM EST
Take the show to the East Village where it belongs. Times Square has become family friendly with Disney etc. Why ruin it now?
olovely | Feb 25, 2013, 08:22 AM EST
It's Times Square in the heart of the theater district! Broadway is gay turf, it would be strange if there wasn't a drag show on every block. The Rev. Richard Baker probably resents them for pulling a bigger crowd.