D.R.E.D.

"When one allows one's truth to shine…" (DRED
Gerestant)

Mildred Gerestant, an American of Haitian background,
known as DRED is performer, singer, activist, actress, lecturer and
poet. She is renowned for drag appearances, as the queen of disguise that mimes
men's roles and looks for masculinity in women.
Using theatre, dance, film, cultural history, LOTS of humor, DRED breaks down
racial and gender stereotypes, and conventional gender roles created in society
hoping to create a better understanding and acceptance of the beauty of the
expression of one's individual truth. Her performances are travesties of male
icons such as Superfly, Shaft, p. Diddy, Isaac Hayes, Sly Stone and others.
Although she has been called the female version of Eddie Murphy/John Leguziamo,
and the black version of Tracy Ullman, DRED is in a league all her own. She has
appeared in numerous television programs (Sex2K, Sex in the City, The Maury
Povich Show, Ricki Lake …). She is working on two feature films and this summer
also worked with Steven Spielberg on Terminal where she sings a Haitian Creole
hymn she wrote. She has recently created a new performance DRED! The GoD/Dess
in Me - Scary Beautiful and Drunk on Self-Love (2004).
Through her performances she draws attention to how society domesticates us
into our preconceived notions of sexuality, race, gender, life, humanity, and
spirituality, and she tries to bring us a bit closer to recognising and getting
rid of learned constraints, prejudices and stereotypes we daily meet.
Suzana Tratnik

Organisation: ŠKUC - Monokel in ŽmreŽa
In co-operation with: City of Women, Menza pri koritu, AKC Metelkova mesto