COMING (BACK) OUT: VARIETY SHOW KICKS OFF KEY WEST PRIDE

The cast of the 2021 Pride Follies variety show celebrates a smash show of song, dance, comedy and drag presented by the Key West Business Guild.

The 2021 Pride Follies was anything but a run-of-the-mill variety show. 

Styled after the iconic Ed Sullivan Show, the May 22 kickoff event to Key West Pride (June 2-6) at Key West Theater celebrated the island’s talented residents — and the return of live events after more than a year of COVID.

The twice-canceled show, presented by the Key West Business Guild, returned with a colorful and irreverent vengeance featuring song, dance, acrobatics, comedy and yes, drag queens.

“The variety show is infamous for having the best of our local performing arts community (and some I hope aren’t giving up their day jobs!)” said Greg Tromba of the event. “Don’t get me wrong, Key Westers love to attend professional performances, but also can’t resist a bit of humor and camp to mix it up a bit.”

Mandy Miles drops stuff, breaks things and falls down more than any adult should. An award-winning writer, reporter and columnist, she's been stringing words together in Key West since 1998. "Local news is crucial," she says. "It informs and connects a community. It prompts conversation. It gets people involved, holds people accountable. The Keys Weekly takes its responsibility seriously. Our owners are raising families in Key West & Marathon. Our writers live in the communities we cover - Key West, Marathon & the Upper Keys. We respect our readers. We question our leaders. We believe in the Florida Keys community. And we like to have a good time." Mandy's married to a saintly — and handy — fishing captain, and can't imagine living anywhere else.