Winning house will be crowned at grand finale in
Toronto on May 9
TORONTO, Feb. 15,
2024 /CNW/ - Absolut®, a brand Born to Mix, is
excited to announce the return of Absolut Empire's Ball, the
largest house-based drag competition in Canada.
Founded by Scarlett BoBo, Absolut
Empire's Ball celebrates the dazzling artistry and creativity of
drag in all its fabulous forms! Now in its fifth season, Absolut
Empires Ball will have nine lucky houses compete from March through
May, judged by some of the best in the business,
including Manny Dingo, Lizzie Renaud, Alyssin
Chaynes and Mojo Toronto.
This competition offers drag houses the chance of a lifetime to
mesmerize large audiences with top-notch, professional productions.
From breathtaking stage setups to stunning lighting and sound,
Absolut Empire's Ball creates an unforgettable experience for both
performers and spectators.
"Diversity is at the heart of Absolut Empire's Ball. We embrace
and celebrate all forms of drag, from classic drag queens and kings
to gender-bending, non-binary, and genderqueer performers," said
Scarlett BoBo.
"Absolut is proud to present Absolut Empire's Ball for the fifth
annual year and welcomes all types of drag performers to compete in
a safe and inclusive space with their chosen houses," said
Bethan Hamilton, Absolut's Senior
Brand Manager at Corby Spirit and Wine. "Absolut is a brand born to
mix and we're so proud with how Absolut Empire's Ball has grown
into an annual event in Toronto,
offering a platform for drag performers to express themselves. Each
drag artist brings their own flair, authenticity, and individuality
to the stage, creating stories that dazzle and inspire".
Absolut Empire's Ball preliminaries begin on March 6-7, 2024 at The Drake Underground with the
top six houses moving onto the semi-finals on April 4, 2024 at El Mocambo. The program
culminates in the grand finale on May 9,
2024 at The Great Hall where one house will be crowned
Canada's Next Drag Empire.
Ivory Towers and Helena Poison will
co-host the program with Lizzie
Renaud, Manny Dingo, Mojo Toronto, and Allysin Chaynes as
judges with special guests at every event. Each evening will be as
entertaining as the next, showcasing some of the best drag
performers, with the live audience having their say and being able
to vote for their favourite house.
The Absolut Empire's Ball houses competing in 2024 are:
- Bath Haus (Toronto):
Bath Haus is composed of four of Toronto's fiercest, funniest, and stuntiest
gaggle of flops: Angëll Mörana, Mirana, Logan The Queen, and Haus
Mother Rosie.
- House of Dare (Toronto): The House of Dare, a vibrant
drag collective, a unique blend of five artists, four drag queens
and one drag bean: Ava Dia, Penny
Martini, Bobby Jupiter,
Elle Dare, and Styla Artois.
- DreamHaus (Ottawa):
Founded in our nation's capital, DreamHaus consists of four of the
fiercest drag artists Canada has
to offer: Bae Root, BJ Stroker, Ruby
Foxglove, and Shea D. Ladie.
- Frat Haus (Toronto):
Their original drag styles are all connected by one common theme:
satirical toxic masculinity. Stefan Fetamean, Andy Fetamean,
Devery Bess, Coyote Ugly, and Archie
Called.
- House of Melanin (Toronto): House of Melanin is out here to
celebrate queer, POC joy. Each member has a different cultural
background which means they can turn it all around the world. Ocean
La'Vodka Giovanni, Tygr Willy, Kuya
Atay, and The Noise Witch
- Ni Haus (Toronto): Ni
Haus decided it was their mission to represent Season 5 as the
first ever all Asian Drag Haus to dominate the competition. Phoenix
Black, Destiny Doll, Star, and
Lena.
- O-Town Packers (Ottawa): The O-Town Packers consist of
four local Kings who share many years of experience and have been
performing together for a year after making their smashing debut at
Capital Pride. Miles Zinya, Ben
Dover, Sir Racha and Jak Ammer
- House of UTI (Uniquely Talented Individuals): With the
renowned dancing diva Makayla
Couture, the sweatiest clown in Toronto Rosacea Cheeks, returning Empire's
Ball Champion Jelly, international club kid Bleu and a face so
white you'll need to wear sunglasses Twinklet!
- House of Venom (Toronto): The House of Venom isn't just a
name; it's a symbol of their collective poison, injecting the drag
scene with a potent blend of innovation, wit, and unapologetic
fabulousness. Nasty, Vyper, Zi, and Midas.
For more details and tickets to Absolut Empire's Ball events,
please visit absolutempiresball.com.
About Absolut Vodka
Since the early 1980s, Absolut has been proud to stand behind
the 2SLGBTQ+ community, championing equal love for all. We have a
strong belief that mixing people and perspectives creates
connections that can change the world. From collaborating with
well-known artists such as Andy
Warhol, Keith Haring, and
David LaChapelle, to proudly
featuring Gilbert Baker's iconic
rainbow flag on our bottle since 2008, this long-standing legacy
brings to life Absolut's core belief that a colourful, diverse, and
equal world is something to strive and work for.
About Corby Spirit and
Wine
Corby Spirit and Wine Limited is a leading Canadian
manufacturer, marketer and distributor of spirits, wines and
ready-to-drink (RTD). Corby's portfolio of owned-brands includes
some of the most renowned brands in Canada, including J.P. Wiser's®,
Lot 40®, and Pike Creek® Canadian whiskies,
Lamb's® rum, Polar Ice® vodka,
McGuinness® liqueurs, Ungava® gin, Cabot
Trail® liqueur, Chic Choc® Spiced rum, The
Foreign Affair® wines, and Ace Beverage Group's Cottage
Springs®, Cabana Coast®, Liberty Village®, and Good
Vines®. Through its affiliation with Pernod Ricard S.A.,
a global leader in the spirits and wine industry, Corby also
represents leading international brands such as ABSOLUT®
vodka, Chivas Regal®, The
Glenlivet® and Ballantine's® Scotch whiskies,
Skrewball® whiskey, Jameson® Irish whiskey,
Código 1530® and Olmeca Altos® tequilas,
Beefeater® gin, Malibu® rum,
Kahlúa® liqueur, Mumm® champagne; and Jacob's
Creek®, Wyndham Estate®,
Stoneleigh®, Campo
Viejo®, and Kenwood® wines. Corby is a
publicly traded company based in Toronto,
Ontario, and listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the
trading symbols CSW.A and CSW.B. For further information, please
visit our website or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, or
X.
SOURCE Corby Spirit and Wine Communications