World of Wonder has acquired the global streaming rights for the upcoming Gatekeeper Productions documentary “The Little Pageant That Could.” The doc, about “The Best in Drag Show,” will premiere on May 29.
“The Best in Drag Show” began in 1990 as a spur-of-the-moment spoof of Miss America thrown by a few 20-something friends in a tiny West Hollywood apartment, and has since grown to become L.A’.s longest-running drag benefit. Executive produced by World of Wonder’s Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato and directed by John Carlos Frey, who also served as the stage show’s original director, “The Little Pageant That Could” features never-before-seen footage spanning the pageant’s 33-year history, including host and judge appearances by actors such as Chris Pratt, Jennifer Coolidge, John C. Reilly, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Martin Sheen, Charlie Sheen, Vanessa Williams, Anna Faris, singer Jennifer Holliday and designer Bob Mackie.
In addition to acquiring the documentary, World of Wonder will host a special benefit screening of “The Little Pageant That Could” to support APLA Health’s Alliance for Housing and Healing. The event will be hosted on May 21 at the Los Angeles LGBT Center in partnership between World of Wonder, APLA Health and the host committee including Bailey and Barbato, Tim Bagley, Dan Bucatinsky, Tom Campbell, Sasha Colby, Margaret Cho, Salina Estitties, Daniel Franzese, Judy Greer, Cheyenne Jackson, Dot-Marie Jones, Kathy Kinney, Carson Kressley, Ross Matthews, Ts Madison, Symone, Jamal Sims, Michelle Visage, Lisa Ann Walters and Vanessa Williams,
The event serves as a precursor to the film’s exclusive global streaming premiere on WOW Presents Plus on May 29.
The purpose of this special screening is to support “The Best in Drag Show’s” driving cause of raising money to help those living with HIV/AIDS, with all proceeds from the event being donated to APLA Health’s Alliance for Housing and Healing. Through the decades, “The Best in Drag Show” has grossed over $6 million for the Alliance for Housing and Healing, which has been able to use event proceeds to benefit programs including permanent subsidized housing and emergency financial assistance for those facing eviction and homelessness with HIV/AIDs.
In a statement, Bailey and Barbato said: “Long before ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race,’ ‘The Best in Drag Show’ has been a Los Angeles institution. We’re excited to spotlight the story and legacy of this iconic yearly event, premiering the moving documentary directed by John Carlos Frey on WOW Presents Plus and supporting the vital work of APLA Health with this benefit screening.”
Salina Estitties is set to MC the screening benefit, which will include donation opportunities and raffles for premium packages.
The acquired film will join WOW Presents Plus’ catalog of World of Wonder-produced documentary films, including “The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” “Party Monster”,” Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures” and more.