George Not-Strait September 15, 2026

Life & Work with George Not-Strait of Denver

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to George Not-Strait.

Hi George, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
StageFluid started in March 2022 as a monthly open stage drag show, and is a community for performers to feel safe trying things they never have before – like a new performance style or testing out concepts, or roles in the show like emceeing, kittening, DJing, etc. When we started, we had small but mighty crowds, but we now often see crowds of 100+. Today, we call it “more than a drag show” because of how much this community has grown. StageFluid is still a free monthly show, mainly focused on drag but open to all art forms. We are currently at Woods Boss Brewing in Denver monthly (18+), and at the 40 West Art Gallery in Lakewood quarterly for our all ages/youth-focused show!

George Not-Strait (he/they) and Prince Zaddy (he/they) started StageFluid as a way to give back and create a space for new and seasoned performers alike, because they were given wonderful opportunities when they were starting out as drag kings. In 2019, they became friends through an open stage held at a now-closed bar called Pride & Swagger and their “Rise of Kings” nights held by Manifest Drag Troupe (now disbanded also).

Know before you go:
✨there is never a theme, and we love to have new performers! We believe that anyone can do drag, and that every expression of drag and performance art is important!
✨TO PERFORM IN STAGEFLUID: please reach out to one of the producers, George or Zaddy, ahead of time or email notstraitgeorge@gmail.com (you can also reach out through our individual socials, or our e-newsletter). If the next date of the show works for you and there is still room, you’re in! No experience necessary, we just ask to book folks in advance as there are lots of moving parts we plan for, and we listen to music beforehand!
✨performers have the chance to try different roles like emcee, stagehand/kitten, and DJ! This is so performers can gain experience and bring that to other shows!
✨this is a free show!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Being a producer is no small job, even split between two people. We’ve learned so much and continue to try to improve our production over the years. We have even sent out audience and performer surveys, started a newsletter, and moved venues multiple times.

It has taken us a lot of hard work and patience over the years to grow the following we have now.

We do our best to listen to our community, create a safe space, and navigate difficult conversations as they arise.

Despite any struggles, we’re so grateful to have been producing for over four years, to have met so many amazing people and to have created a platform for so much queer art. StageFluid is truly a beautiful garden and wouldn’t exist without the support and heart of everyone involved from performers to audience members to venue staff. <3

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
George & Zaddy have been performing as drag kings all over Colorado for more than 6 years. George Not-Strait won the Mx Berry competition in Denver in 2023; he’s known for his authentic and campy cowboy numbers, playing with gender, and exploring emotion and life through their art. Prince Zaddy won the Lord of the Kings competition in Colorado Springs in 2025; he’s known for his dancing and being a king that can “do it all” – camp, horror, gender bending, storytelling, Celtic folklore, comedy, singing, you name it. They both usually perform in StageFluid in addition to producing it and use it as a space to push their art, create new numbers, and express themselves.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Patience

Contact Info:

Two people smiling and posing with arms around each other in front of a black curtain, wearing tie-dye shirts with text.

Three people in costumes pose in front of a shiny curtain, two with cowgirl outfits and one in black attire.

Two smiling women with colorful hair stand close together against a black curtain background.

Three people standing on stage holding a colorful sign, with a plain background and a decorated poster in front.

Two women sitting in front of a large screen displaying event details for StageFluid, a drag show, with a white background and colorful text.

Two people in costumes stand together on stage with a wooden backdrop and purple lighting.

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