Update: We just asked Heklina if it's true. "Yes, honey!" she replied. "Sometime in spring or early summer [of '08]." So...there you have it.

Similar to the club night in question here, this is shocking. On Heklina's MySpace page, she tells us that she plans on shutting down Trannyshack -- San Francisco's longest-running (alternative-y) drag show, etcetera -- soon. Very soon. Heklina says, "I need to feel challenged and no longer feel I have the focus to continue doing a weekly drag night-club much longer." And although her appearances won't stop, the Tuesday night destination for many homos and tranny-chasers will.

Her missive is as follows. Ahem:

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would be sending out an email with this subject line.

To say that Trannyshack has been a huge part of my life for the past twelve years would be a massive understatement-I have eaten, slept, and breathed Trannyshack all this time and devoted my entire life to it. I have had the most incredible experience being the promoter and MC of this extraordinary, legendary nightclub. Being the hostess of Trannyshack has given me the opportunity to work with some of the most incredible people , and has enabled me to travel and perform all over the world. I wouldn't change one second of it.

But now I feel like I must prepare to move on, and do other things. I need to feel challenged and no longer feel I have the focus to continue doing a weekly drag night-club much longer. Make no mistake about this; it takes an incredible amount of drive and determination to run a nightclub of Trannyshack's caliber weekly for this long, but now I am ready for a change.

To clarify, what will be ending will be the weekly Tuesday night club, of course I will continue to do events (Trannyshack Reno, LA, Seattle, The SS Trannyshack boat parties, Halloween, The Miss Trannyshack Pageant, etc.) under the brand name Trannyshack. I am also considering starting a monthly Trannyshack party at a larger space, who knows?

Of course I can't simply end something like Trannyshack, I have to go out with a bang.By the end of December, or the beginning of January I will be announcing the date of the big blowout, which will be a massive Miss Trannyshack Pageant/Wigstock scale farewell bash featuring Trannyshack performers past and present, as well as some special guest stars.

Between now and the end of the club (most likely Spring/early Summer of this coming year), I will be re-mounting many of my favorite themes from years past at Trannyshack, and will be asking you, the Trannyshack audience, to tell me which themes you would like to see return one more time.....Shall we have Squeaky Blonde come back to host "Porn To Rock"? Can Vinsantos be convinced to re-do "Tokyo Tea Party"? Should Peaches Christ re-stage "The Passion of the Christ"? Which Juanita More! spectacle should be dusted off and performed on our stage? All these questions and more will be answered over the coming months....not to mention the fact that we'll of course be bringing back many of my all time favorite (Bowie, Bjork, Madonna) tribute nights. Oh, and of course we'll be doing a big New Years Eve blast! Trannyshack is so special to me, and I thoroughly intend to make the next several months very special I hope you join me as I prepare to say goodbye to this weekly institution that has changed the way we look at drag in San Francisco.

Most of all, thanks go out to you, the Trannyshack audience-you have made this club what it is, and I hope you continue to stick by me as I prepare to move on to the next adventure,

Much Love,

Heklina

Is it true? A tricky media ploy? Will the Stud survive without her? More importantly, did she land a speaking part in Milk?
Stay tuned to find out!


Image credit: Heklina.com