Today we’d like to introduce you to Sa Papis
Hi SA, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
We were founded by Pinche Villa when he approached a few of his fellow Drag King friends in San Antonio to gauge their interest in forming a Drag King Troupe.
They were all enthusiastic about the idea and the name, and thus, SA Papis was born.
In 2021, following the challenges posed by COVID-19, Pinche Villa embarked on a mission to establish a space where SA Papis could thrive. The initial four members were Pinche Villa, El Panadero, Ben Chulo (formerly known as J Papi), and French Isla.
We began by accepting gigs wherever we could as a group, moving from venue to venue in search of our ideal home bar.
We produced a few shows where we performed solely for tips. Our shows were entirely self-produced, with the assistance of our family and friends.
It was not until November 2023, when Let’s Be Honest opened its doors, that we finally found our place in the Drag Scene of San Antonio. They gave us an opportunity to produce our Drag King Show, Just The Tip. They have appreciated and have compensated our Drag King performers since we started. We are incredibly grateful to Let’s Be Honest for giving us a space to perform.
We have to thank our Queen, the host for all our shows at Let’s Be Honest. The stunning Aysia Rawzé. Without her we wouldn’t be where we are today. We love you Aysia!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was not an easy journey. All our members had to put in a lot of effort and make sacrifices to bring us to where we are today. Many times, we performed entire productions for just tips. We were delighted to perform for the people who came to see us, and we did our best to make it work.
It was challenging to find venues willing to host a consistent Drag King Show. We worked with what we had available to us.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As a Drag King Troupe that has expanded to include 10 members, we are dedicated to providing opportunities for anyone interested in exploring the art of being a Drag King. We firmly believe that everyone should have the chance to explore this art form, and we are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for all.
Since November 2023, we have been a recurring show and were honored to be nominated for and win Best Drag Show 2024. Winning this award has filled us with immense gratitude towards our audience and pride in our accomplishments.
We are incredibly proud and grateful to our members for their dedication and hard work continuing to learn and performing the art.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
It is wonderful to witness the positive progress that the drag scene is making in terms of inclusivity and representation by booking more Kings in their shows.
Of course, there is always room for improvement, but it is evident that things are changing for the better.
We are thrilled to see new shows emerging with more inclusive casts.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sa_papis_?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SAPapis210?mibextid=ZbWKwL
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@sa_papis_?_t=8pg9lZxHTmI&_r=1
