Bella Santarella will host Pride Night at Berkshire Busk! on July 15 on behalf of Berkshire Pride

June is a busy time to be one of the Berkshire’s hottest drag queens, but Bella Santarella has miles to go before she takes off her heels. The performer is hot off of shows at Berkshire Pride, Sheffield Pride, The Barn, Dottie’s, and more. But on July 15, she will take up the mic again as an emcee for Pride Night at Berkshire Busk!.

Bella, otherwise known as Josh Williams when off-stage, describes her persona as “a love child of Bette Midler, Rapunzel, and Sandra Bullock. Just a good ol’ theater gal with a love for fairytales.” She performs at a variety of events, from late night shows to family-friendly drag queen story hours.

When asked about her start, Bella recalled: “When I was a wee 20-something in the late 1900s, I fell in love with the world of theater. I found a local venue that had Drag performances and was approached about being a performer. I dove in, heels first into the world of this campy, beautiful performance art, winning my first competition, my first pageant, and continuing to travel around upstate New York, leaving a trail of glitter wherever I went.”

Like any other street performer or stage actor, Bella knows finding a way to connect with her audience is key—even if they are a crowd that is unfamiliar with the world of drag. “Performing at a club at 10 p.m. draws a different crowd than a 10 a.m. story hour,” she explained. “Every performance art is not for everyone. I will always believe in spreading love. If it’s not for you, you have two choices: quietly move along or stick around for a couple minutes and you just might enjoy yourself. We’re all here to bring just a little more sunshine into your life.”

Bella’s presence in LGBTQ+ spaces in the Berkshires is impossible to miss: She is a consistent presence at local drag brunches, Pride nights, and recently hosted FAQ — The Fabulous and Queer Variety show at The Egremont Barn. She is hosting Pride Night at Berkshire Busk! on behalf of Berkshire Pride, who has partnered with the festival for the first time this year.

When she gets onstage, Bella’s main goal is to spread joy: “Drag was born out of the necessity for men to play female roles on stage. I think of it as an opportunity to draw attention to our societal norms, current events, and just have a fun time. I love a good theme and spend too many hours creating the perfect look.”

You can find Bella Santarella strutting the Berkshire Busk! Main Stage on Railroad Street on Saturday, July 15 starting at 6:30 p.m.