Becoming Betty Whitecastle: A Queen for the Ages

Jeffrey Mitchell was Nancy Reagan the first time I saw him. I don't mean he was dressed up as Nancy Reagan. I mean that he was Nancy Reagan. The red power suit, the pearls, the sweet, soft voice dripping with ironic disapproval...Jeffrey's portrayal of the former first lady was uncanny.

Just Say Yes to an '80s Christmas was my dad's first performance with the legendary Harrisburg Gay Men's Chorus, and between raunchy parody songs of Christmas classics and 1980s pop ballads, Nancy Reagan provided campy commentary and snappy jokes.

And oh yes, it was just as fantastic as it sounds.

"How did you like it?" my dad gleefully asked as we stood in the venue's lobby after the show.

"OMG, who was Nancy Reagan?!" I said...shrieked, actually. My voice tends to get a bit shrill when I'm fangirling.

"His name's Jeffrey Mitchell. I know, he's great. But what did you think of my part? Did you like my part?" said my poor, dejected dad.

(Note to my dad: I loved watching you in your element, and I'm just as proud of you now as I was then. How's that for schmaltzy?)

During the few years that my dad performed with the Harrisburg Gay Men's Chorus, I came to recognize Jeffrey as a versatile performer. Not only does he do campy kitsch that's reminiscent of the late, great Divine, but he also has a rich, heartbreakingly lovely tenor voice. And though I only spoke to him a handful of times in passing, I found him to be a heck of a nice guy, too.

I also became a big fan of Jeffrey's alter-ego, the incomparable Ms. Betty Whitecastle. I've been lucky enough to know some awesome drag queens in my life, but Betty...Betty is on a whole new level.

The following is the story of Betty Whitecastle, the hardest working Queen you've never heard of (but absolutely should).

"Early and prolonged exposure to Saturday morning cartoons tainted my pop art sensibilities." -Betty Whitecastle

Jeffrey Mitchell grew up in a very large extended Irish Catholic family in a very small Minnesota town. Gender roles in those days were clearly defined; boys got dirty and played rough, and girls wore pretty dresses and played house. From a young age, Jeffrey gravitated toward feminine energy.

He says:

"When I was 4 years old I remember being at my Grandmother's and she would let me play in her jewelry box and I loved draping multiple strands of her beads around my neck, and putting on her clip-on earrings, tying an apron around my waist like a skirt, and tromping around her farm in her white satin Church heels."

Jeffrey's mother entertained him by drawing pictures of Josie and the Pussycats (his favorite cartoon), which he would then turn into paper dolls. He asked for them so often that his mother taught him how to draw them himself.

Years later, Betty Whitecastle would produce her own book of paper dolls, too!

Despite being bullied mercilessly by other kids for liking "girl things", Jeffrey's seamstress grandmother fueled his interest in design by making gorgeous designer dresses and smart mini-dresses for his Barbie dolls.

Thus began a lifelong love of visual arts.

Says Jeffrey:

"I followed the path of a creative artist all through my childhood, being involved in both the visual and performing arts. I was the art star in my small graduating class of 60 students. I was also the editor of the yearbook and the lead male vocalist in my High School Show Choir. I was the lead in the school play and a State Ribbon Winner on the speech team."

Though he wanted to study performing arts in college, Jeffrey's parents didn't support his career aspirations. Instead, he settled on Cosmetology school and used the money he made as a hairdresser on voice and acting classes at both the MacPhail Center for the Performing Arts and the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis.

"What is your impact on the world? I like to challenge people's creative thinking skills." -Betty Whitecastle

Even as a kid, Jeffrey dabbled in Drag, but in those days it was mainly for Halloween stunts. As an adult, Jeffrey auditioned for roles but never quite allowed himself to embrace Drag as a career choice. It was the 1980s and the height of the AIDS crisis, so he always figured it would be an uphill battle anyway. Jeffrey did, however, land a very cool gig: for three years, Jeffrey Mitchell starred as Big Bird in the touring production of Sesame Street Live.

After having the good fortune to tour all 50 states, Canada, Singapore, and Manilla, Jeffrey decided it would be an ideal time to go back to school and get a "real job." He graduated from Maryland Institute College of Art with a Master's Degree in Art Education, Jeffrey began his career as an elementary school art teacher.

"I love teaching the Elementary students and giving them the opportunities to use their creative thinking skills. Getting to see their finished art work is the best part of my day job."

"Celebrity is cute for a minute, but talent is gorgeous forever." -Betty Whitecastle

After a decade of stable suburban life, Jeffrey longed to once again access his performance artist side. When he became president of the Harrisburg Gay Men's Chorus, Jeffrey saw an immediate need for unique, out-of-the-box fundraising activities. His best friend and fellow HGMC member Eddie Diel-aka the fabulous Lizzie Beaumont- helped Jeffrey develop Betty Whitecastle, and together, Lizzie and Betty hosted benefit cabaret shows (According to my dad they were all great, but this one was his favorite).

Lizzie and Betty had so much fun with these events that they decided to expand their act beyond their chorus duties. These days, they're busy hosting Central PA Pride at the state capitol building and a monthly Drag Brunch at a local arts venue.

Betty says:

"I am thrilled to report our first Brunch back since the pandemic hit was yesterday (June 6) and it was a SOLD OUT SUCCESS. It's good to be back live and in person! "

Betty Whitecastle also performs a monthly nightclub show, FLASHBACK FRIDAYS! The show is often themed (70s Gold, Ladies of Rock, Broadway Babies, etc) and has a rotating cast of guest Queens. She has taken her Cabaret show from Hawaii to The Blue Moon in Rehoboth Beach Delaware, and she's also a regular performer at Estella Sweet's HEAT Nightclub in Wilkes-Barre PA.

FYI, Betty is currently killin' it the NEPA Drag Race competition at Heat.

To be fair, Betty kills it in all of her performances though, because she does something that very few Drag performers attempt; Betty sings live, she puts her own unique spin on popular songs, and she often writes her own parody lyrics. She also designs and builds most of her costumes.

"Although I was inspired by my Grandmother, it was actually my friend Paul Foltz, costume designer for Theatre Harrisburg, who taught me how to sew."

Betty never let the pandemic get her down. She knew that in 2020, the performing arts were a fundamental part of society's well-being. Entertainment became essential, so at the height of the pandemic, she moved her Cabaret act online. This led to Betty Whitecastle being cast on Toronto Drag legend Elvirus's YouTube series Get Dragged!

Stop reading right now, watch the first episode of Get Dragged below, and then come on back. Trust me. It will make your day.

I mean...Betty Whitecastle is clearly the front-runner here, right?!

I was curious if Mr. Mitchell the art teacher ever ran into issues with acceptance at his elementary school. Jeff says:

"I am fortunate to work in a school district that embraces diversity. When my students discovered Betty Whitecastle on social media and "outed" my performance artist career, the school district was very supportive of the work I do outside my school responsibilities for the LGBT community."

It's difficult to end a piece when there is so much more to that deserves to be said about such a brilliant personality, so I'll let Betty do it for me in her own words:

"In a world where RuPaul's Drag Race has opened the door for Drag to be recognized as the transformative and sublimely subversive artform that it is, every young aspiring LGBTQ person wants to be a Queen. There are MANY talented Drag artists in the world today and they leave a wonderful, positive impact on their local communities.

Betty Whitecastle is a Queen for the Ages who loves to entertain and host a FABULOUS TIME! Her motto is; life's a fabulous joke, and you may as well be in on it! I love celebrating the diversity of our LGBTQ community and uplifting my audience. EVERYONE is welcome at a Betty Whitecastle show. I always hope to provide a laugh, a little reflection, and hopefully some romantic nostalgia for a song I'm singing."

Stay up-to-date on the latest Betty Whitecastle news and events! Follow her on:

Twitter: @bettywhitecastl

Instagram: @bettywhitecastle