By Kevin Ferrisi –

Meet Dom Parinyon. Dom has been officially doing drag consistently for over a year, having just celebrated his one-year drag anniversary this past April. Although he has been performing since then, his journey dipping his toes into the world of drag began much earlier. About ten years ago, while living in New York City, he was involved in sketch comedy and wrote a web series called “Dom and Tamantha”, writing the character Dom for himself. This character was part of a drag couple, a reversal of typical gender portrayals, who engaged in various comedic antics roasting wealthy socialite couples he encountered in NYC. Dom’s friends encouraged him to start doing drag, but Dom dismissed the idea, insisting he was just a writer. It wasn’t until 2021, when he participated in a drag competition organized by The Cake Boys, a drag king collective, that he truly embraced drag.

He performed as Dom Parinyon, a name he adopted during the competition, and although he initially questioned whether he would continue, by April 2023, he found himself fully immersed in the drag scene. He settled on his drag name through a mix of inspiration and humor. In his web series from 2014, the character Dom originally lacked a last name. As time went by, he joked with friends about what his drag king name might be if he ever performed. The name “Dom” stuck, but he needed a fitting last name. Eventually, “Parinyon” emerged, a playful twist on the champagne brand. The name Dom Parinyon felt perfect, as it suited his personality and allowed him to embrace a slightly pretentious, sarcastic, and fun-loving persona.

Dom began doing drag due to a combination of his background in acting and sketch comedy, and his evolving personal identity. As an actor and comedian, he had already accumulated a large collection of wigs and was accustomed to portraying a variety of characters, from a singing Lima bean to jerky finance bros. Dom’s love for sketch comedy stemmed from the unpredictability and diversity of roles he played, which kept things exciting and dynamic. Additionally, embracing his queer identity, which he fully came to terms with about five years ago, played a significant role in his decision. Drag felt like a natural extension of his artistic pursuits, allowing him to merge his skills as a visual artist, illustrator, writer, musician, actor, and comedian into one cohesive art form. It was a way to develop new characters and express himself creatively, making it a seamless progression in his artistic journey.

He described his style of drag as a unique blend of an 80s finance douche, Twin Peaks, and musical theater. This eclectic mix perfectly encapsulated his approach to drag, which defied simple categorization. His style was a reflection of his varied interests and influences, combining the slick, brash confidence of an 80s financial executive with the surreal, mysterious vibes of the American mystery serial drama television series Twin Peaks, all wrapped in the dramatic flair of musical theater. He knew exactly how to define his drag persona, showcasing a clear and confident understanding of his artistic identity.

Celebrating his one-year anniversary in drag had given him an immense boost in confidence, though he found it hard to pinpoint exactly why. He suspected it was the unique way drag allowed him to merge his backgrounds in visual art, music, acting, and comedy. Drag was the only avenue where he could combine all his experiences and interests into one cohesive performance, giving him a profound sense of fulfillment and assurance. This transformative power of drag had not only impacted his performances but also bolstered his confidence in other aspects of his life.

At 35, he felt more confident than ever, attributing much of this newfound self-assurance to his experiences in drag. Performing as a drag king allowed him to tap into masculine energy, which gave him a sense of control and power that he didn’t experience in his regular life as a cis woman. Embodying the character of Dom, he felt invincible, as if no one could mess with him when he wore a suit. This exploration of masculinity through drag enabled him to process, analyze, and even parody his experiences with men, reflecting societal conventions back to his audience. This dual perspective provided a powerful and fascinating dimension to his drag performances, making him feel more aggressive, confident, and in control than ever before.

As a drag king, Dom is faced with unique challenges and pressures that drag queens might not experience. The scarcity of drag kings meant that when he appeared on a poster for a drag show alongside multiple queens, all eyes were on him. This visibility brought an extra layer of pressure to excel, as there was little room for failure. He felt that people often expected him not to be as good as the queens, which fueled his determination to prove them wrong. This scrutiny and the need to constantly demonstrate his talent added a competitive drive, making him more passionate about his performances and committed to showing that drag kings could be just as entertaining and talented as queens.

Since he started doing drag, his proudest moment was his first official performance at Wacky Wednesday at Trevi Lounge in Fairfield. Dom marked this event as the beginning of his drag journey, and the warm reception he received from the crowd was incredibly meaningful. People approached him after the show, expressing their love for his performance and their surprise that it was his first time. This validation made him feel like he was meant to do drag all along, leaving him wondering why he hadn’t started sooner. That first Wacky Wednesday performance was a pivotal moment that opened up many possibilities for him in the drag world.

Another accomplishment he is proud of was making the top four in his first time performing at Chez Legends, the states renowned drag competition at Chez Est in Hartford. The experience was different from Wacky Wednesday due to the larger audience and more competitive atmosphere. Despite the initial intimidation, he was glad he did it because it proved to him that he could handle bigger stages and more intense performances. Overall, these experiences boosted his confidence and solidified his passion for drag.

It’s always a lively topic discussing the playful Frankie Cyanide rivalry. Dom really enjoys teasing Frankie about needing to be taken down a notch, playfully claiming that Frankie isn’t the only drag daddy of Connecticut anymore and has become too big for his britches. He proudly mentions his own drag house, Maison Brut, which includes other talented performers like Dowwe Jonez and Pwyneth Gwaltrow. They all delight in playing up this rivalry with Frankie and the House of Cyanide, injecting humor and camaraderie into the competitive spirit of the drag scene. As the drag king scene in Connecticut grows, they both relish in the emergence of multiple prominent figures, celebrating the diversity and vibrancy it brings to their community.

Beyond his current endeavors in drag, he has a lot in store for the future. He’s focusing on his sketch comedy and has an exciting solo show coming up in New York City: A Lady Gaga parody musical titled “GAGA: Portrait of A Lady.” He wrote the show himself, including seven original songs, and it’s essentially a half-hour-long Lady Gaga impression. This show will be performed at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, blending his personal actor life with his drag persona. 

The upcoming months are packed with performances that showcase his range and talent, both as a drag king and a performer in other artistic realms. In addition to his busy schedule, he’s also making waves with his parody comedy songs. One of his creations, performed as Dom Parinyon, titled “Your Pussy Made Me Cry (Godfried’s Lament),” is gaining attention with its humorous take on an emo boy’s confusion about the concept of a pussy. The song has already been featured in two drag shows, and he’s gearing up to officially release it as a music video soon.