Penny Tration’s Bio

Picture it - Cincinnati, Ohio - The Dock Complex - Spring 1992......A gay in his veritable youth was fortunate enough to be present for a performance by Ms. Hurricane Summers. He, in his infinite wisdom and complete lack of couth, decided to barge into the dressing room and introduce himself to the defrocked Star.

The scars have taken 17 years to heal.

Later that year, the Drag Queen Helga was hatched. Without a mother to guide this young drag queen, she molded herself after the extraordinary talents of the late Divine and the Emcee skills of Mr. Charlie Brown. While slowly honing her craft in a suburban void, she was presented with the opportunity to immigrate to New York City; Needless to say, she jumped at the chance to be in the center of all that is gay!

October 2000 - An off-chance showing at the famed Halloween Parade Costume Contest pushed this drag queen into the spotlight where she shined like a new penny. After another event that evening, hosted by the legendary Kenny Dash at SBNY (formerly Splash), and a quick re-invention, Penny Tration burst onto the New York City drag scene and never looked back.

March 2002 - Penny Tration came back to her roots in Cincinnati, Ohio and worked extensively with The Court (the local chapter of the International Court System) to raise money for HIV/AIDS charities and Breast Cancer Awareness. A year later she was offered a permanent cast position at The Dock Complex.

November 2005 -Penny hosted the Grand Opening Party at what will become one of the 50 greatest Nightclubs in the world, Adonis. Penny then embarked on an unexpected journey into local (and somewhat fickle) celebrity by becoming the Show Director and Nightly Hostess at Adonis. Hosting shows and booking performers from all over the country, Penny has been exposed to a level of talent that was totally unexpected.

October 2007 - Adonis the Night Club was named one of the Top 50 Gay Bars in the World by Out Magazine with the Cabaret aspects (Penny’s Weekly Show) prominently featured.

November 2008 - Penny was crowned Miss Ohio Gay Pride 2009 on November 15th at Axis Night Club in Columbus, Ohio.

January 2009 - Penny’s Art Show opens at Below Zero to rave reviews. Penny becomes the artist in residence at Below Zero with her art continually showing thru 2009.

April 2009 – Penny DJs for the first time at Below Zero Lounge to rave reviews and is Listed as one of the “Top 10 Things To Do” by City Beat Magazine.

September 2009 – Penny’s Art Show opens at Union Café with some amazing assistance by Nina West. The show was nearly a sell-out with 12 of 14 paintings selling by the completion of the showing.

January 2010 – Penny Tration and Jessica Dimon launch “School Night” as a monthly 18+ dance night in Cincinnati. The crowds quickly grew to capacity at Below Zero Lounge.

February 2010 - Penny's Art Show Re-Opens at Below Zero Lounge to a complete Sell out within 4 hours of opening. The complete collection of twelve pieces of contemporary art were snapped up by loving members of the GLBT (and hetro-) community and are now hanging in home throughout Ohio.

March 2010 - The Readers of CityBeat Magazine selected Penny for one of the coveted "best of Awards" Penny was chosen as The Best Of Cincinnati - Club DJ.

April 2010 - Penny rejoined the gals at Adonis as a cast-member of The Dames of Deception under the Show-Direction of Monica St. James

Today – Penny Tration keeps herself busy with her weekly Friday Night DJ gig at Below Zero Lounge, maintaining her ShowGurl duties at Adonis and the various charity events and never-ending private parties that she is asked to attend. Penny has added quite a list of talents to her repertoire of Drag Entertainment: Emcee, DJ, Show Hostess, Booking Agent, Live Vocalist, Recording Artist and All Around Funny Drag Queen!