Heklina
Heklina is the stage name of Stefan Grygelko, who founded Mother formerly Trannyshack (1996),[1] is an American actor, drag queen, and entrepreneur in San Francisco. Heklina is half-Icelandic and named herself after the Icelandic volcano Hekla.[2]
I think that drag queens are still the eunuch clown that’s safe to laugh at. It’s definitively not shocking anymore. So I don't know if America’s really embraced it. The early 90s was when RuPaul and it was the first time any drag queen had mainstream exposure. I don’t really see a drag queen breaking out like that [again].”
Career
Mother (formerly Trannyshack)
It has several meanings; the new "Mothership" of drag in SF, something warm and comforting, nurturing even. And it also ties into the "drag mother" thing. This will be a place for all drag mothers to bring their children, to hone their craft."— Heklina in SFist article [1]
Heklina co-founded Trannyshack, and has hosted the show from its inception in 1996 at the Stud bar and continues to host the special events throughout San Francisco and in other - mainly California - cities.[4] Trannyshack is the longest running drag event series in San Francisco. On January 17, 2015 at The Oasis, Trannyshack was rebranded as Mother, evolving from a monthly to a weekly event series.
She also co-produces and co-hosts the Miss Trannyshack Pageant widely considered the premiere annual drag event in San Francisco that has sold out every year since inception.[5][6][7]
Theater and community actitivites
Heklina also acts in local theater productions, most notably the S.F. Golden Girls productions (as Dorothy Zbornak) and emcees a variety of community and charitable events including the Folsom Street Fair (along with Sister Roma) and San Francisco Pride.[8] She was voted Community Grand Marshal of the 2004 San Francisco GLBTQ Pride Parade.,[9] and won the 2009 Pride Creativity Award for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to the LGBT Community. She was sainted by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.[10] Heklina co-stars in a series of short films, the "Tran-ilogy of Terror", drag queen horror spoofs written and directed by long-time collaborator Peaches Christ.,[11] and also starred in the film "Baby Jane?".
The Oasis
The Oasis, a theater and cabaret nightclub located in San Francisco’s SOMA district,[12] hosted a grand opening event on New Year’s Eve day 2014. Heklina and three business partners, D’Arcy Drollinger, Geoff Benjamin, and Jason Beebout, signed a deal to purchase the former Oasis nightclub in October 2014. The nightclub's diverse programming features drag stars, cabaret and performing artists, live musical acts, and DJs.
Filmography
- Filthy Gorgeous: The Trannyshack Story (2005) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468563/
- The House of Venus Show" (2006)
- Spin the Bottle (2005)
- Season of the Troll (2001)
- A Nightmare on Castro Street (2002) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0418957/
- Whatever Happened to Peaches Christ? (2004)
- "Baby Jane?"
Television
- "The Cho Show" with Margaret Cho http://www.logotv.com/video/episode-7-cho-place-like-home/1651948/playlist.jhtml
- "Trauma" (2009) http://www.imdb.com/video/hulu/vi935265561/
- "The Daily Show"
- "Playing It Straight"
- The Ricki Lake Show
- Jerry Springer
References
- 1 2 Barmann, Jay (16 December 2014). "Heklina Talks About Mother, The New Incarnation Of Trannyshack At The Oasis". SFist.
- ↑ Swan, Rachel, "Kiss That Stud Goodbye", East Bay Express, August 13, 2008. Retrieved 20 September 2009.
- ↑ "FOF #419 - Tricks, Treats and Trannies - 10.31.06", Feast of Fools, October 31, 2006. Retrieved 20 September 2009.
- ↑ Del Mar, Pollo, "Reigning Miss Trannyshack Reflects on Legendary Club", San Francisco Bay Times, August 14, 2008. Retrieved 4 October 2009.
- ↑ Buck, Jenn, "Queens vie for the Trannyshack crown: Miss Trannyshack Pageant 2005 is set for this Saturday night", Bay Area Reporter, 17 November 2005. Retrieved 20 September 2009.
- ↑ "The MISS TRANNYSHACK PAGEANT 2006" announcement, 2006. Retrieved 20 September 2009.
- ↑ Eccentric California: The Bradt Travel Guide (2005) ; Jan Friedman, ISBN 1-84162-126-9, ISBN 978-1-84162-126-5.
- ↑ Vaziri, Aidin, "On the Town with Heklina: All the city's a stage for this drag queen", SFGate (part of San Francisco Chronicle), October 22, 2006. Retrieved 20 September 2009.
- ↑ San Francisco Pride 2003 Event List, from the SFPride website. Retrieved 20 September 2009.
- ↑ Sister Dana Van Iquity, "Saints Alive! Heklina and Peaches Christ Join Mother Teresa" (interview), San Francisco Bay Times, July 26, 2007. Retrieved 20 September 2009.
- ↑ Sister Dana Van Iquity, "Peaches Christ Puts Out Fierce DVD", San Francisco Bay Times, July 13, 2006. Retrieved 20 September 2009.
- ↑ "SF Oasis : The Club". SF Oasis.
External links
- Trannyshack website
- Heklina's Official Facebook Page
- Heklina's YouTube video channel
- videos of Heklina's performances and Filthy Gorgeous, The Trannyshack Story
- SF Oasis : The Club
- Heklina Talks About Mother, The New Incarnation Of Trannyshack At The Oasis