Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthony Plogger.
Hi Anthony, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Nclusion Plus was born out of a challenge that many in the entertainment industry faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to 2020, a group of friends and community members regularly gathered at a local drag venue in Columbia, Missouri. When the venue announced its closure at the onset of the pandemic, we recognized that our local entertainers had lost not only a stage, but also a vital source of income and community connection.
Determined to keep the art form alive, we pooled together the money we would normally spend at the bar each week, partnered with local drag entertainers, and began producing digital drag shows streamed through Facebook Live. What started as a grassroots effort quickly gained momentum. Our very first show attracted more than 15,000 views within a week, demonstrating that audiences were eager to support and engage with live entertainment in new ways.
As restrictions eased, Nclusion Plus evolved from virtual productions to in-person events. Today, six years later, we have produced more than 900 events throughout Missouri, Kansas, and Illinois. Our programming includes family-friendly, 18+, and 21+ events, allowing us to serve a diverse range of audiences and communities.
Beyond our entertainment productions, Nclusion Plus has become an advocate for LGBTQIA+ visibility and community-building through Pride celebrations in underserved areas. Since June 2021, we have produced Warrensburg Pride, also known as Burg Pride, in Warrensburg, Missouri, creating a visible and affirming space for LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies in west-central Missouri. In 2026, we expanded that commitment by launching and producing the inaugural Jefferson City PrideFest, which held its first-ever event on June 6. As the owners and operators of both Pride celebrations, we are dedicated to ensuring that LGBTQIA+ individuals living in rural and underserved communities have opportunities to gather, celebrate, and connect in safe and welcoming environments.
Over time, our mission expanded beyond event production. Through our talent agency division, we represent nationally recognized entertainers from franchises such as RuPaul’s Drag Race and The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula. Our talent agency has also enabled us to become a recognized producer of drag pageantry. Nclusion Plus currently produces Miss Gay Mid-Missouri America, an official city preliminary to the prestigious Miss Gay Missouri America and Miss Gay America systems. We have also produced in the past Missouri All American Goddess, Gent, & Goddess at Large (AAG) under the national All American Pageantry system and Sinister Shadows under the National Monster Xtreme system. As our organization continues to grow, we are actively exploring opportunities to partner with additional nationally recognized pageant systems, creating more pathways for entertainers to showcase their talents and advance their careers.
In addition to pageantry, we have broadened our entertainment offerings to include burlesque, pole artists, magicians, vocalists, musicians, and other specialty performers. From the beginning, our vision was to be more than a drag show producer. We wanted to invest in talent, create educational and professional development opportunities, and help entertainers build sustainable careers through media training, branding support, and performance opportunities. We believe that when performers succeed, entire communities benefit.
At its core, Nclusion Plus is more than a production company—it is a chosen family. Our organization is built on collaboration, mentorship, and community engagement. Through strategic partnerships and local outreach, we strive to create inclusive entertainment experiences while supporting both the artists we represent and the communities we serve. Over the years, what began as a small group of friends determined to support local entertainers has grown into one of the Midwest’s most active LGBTQIA+ entertainment organizations, creating opportunities for performers while fostering connection, visibility, and celebration throughout the communities we serve.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it certainly has not been a smooth road. Like many organizations and businesses that center LGBTQIA+ visibility, we have faced our share of challenges over the years. One of the most significant has been navigating an increasingly difficult political climate. Each year, we closely follow legislation proposed in Jefferson City that directly impacts transgender individuals, drag performers, and the broader LGBTQIA+ community. While our primary mission is entertainment and community-building, there have been times when we have found ourselves advocating for our performers, our audiences, and our right to simply exist and celebrate openly.
On a local level, we have also encountered homophobia and misinformation within some of the communities we serve. We have experienced venues distancing themselves from LGBTQIA+ events due to political pressure, community backlash, or concerns about controversy. Losing venues means losing stages, opportunities, and sources of income for our entertainers, many of whom rely on these performances to supplement their livelihoods and express their art.
There have certainly been moments where it felt like we had been knocked down. Whether it was losing an event space, facing public criticism, or watching legislation target members of our community, those moments can be discouraging. However, one thing that has remained constant is the resilience of our entertainers, volunteers, and supporters. Every challenge has reinforced why this work matters.
What we have learned is that visibility itself is powerful. Every show, every Pride event, every pageant, and every partnership creates opportunities for people to feel seen, welcomed, and celebrated. While the road has not always been easy, those challenges have strengthened our commitment to our mission. We may get knocked down from time to time, but we always get back up, adapt, and continue creating spaces where people can gather, express themselves, and find community.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At its core, Nclusion Plus is an entertainment production and talent development company dedicated to creating inclusive, high-quality experiences while investing in the people who make those experiences possible. We produce a wide variety of events across Missouri, Kansas, and Illinois, including drag shows, burlesque performances, Pride celebrations, pageantry, brunches, fundraisers, corporate events, and community festivals. Through our talent agency, we also represent local, regional, and nationally recognized entertainers, including performers from RuPaul’s Drag Race and The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula.
What we specialize in is building opportunities. While many organizations focus solely on booking entertainment, our goal has always been to help entertainers grow. We provide performers with stages, professional development, media exposure, networking opportunities, and mentorship that can help them expand their brands and careers. Whether someone is stepping onto a stage for the first time or headlining a major event, we want to create an environment where they can succeed.
We are perhaps best known for our ability to bring LGBTQIA+ entertainment and visibility to communities that have historically had limited access to those opportunities. Through recurring events, pageantry systems, Warrensburg Pride (Burg Pride), and the newly established Jefferson City PrideFest, we have worked to create welcoming spaces where people can celebrate authenticity, build connections, and experience community.
What we are most proud of is not the number of shows we’ve produced or the audiences we’ve reached—although producing more than 900 events in six years is certainly an accomplishment. We are most proud of the performers who have grown with us, the friendships that have been formed, and the communities that have found a sense of belonging through our events. We have watched entertainers develop from local newcomers into award-winning titleholders, business owners, and nationally recognized performers.
What sets Nclusion Plus apart is that we have never viewed ourselves as simply event producers. We are relationship builders, mentors, advocates, and community organizers. We believe entertainment can be both fun and meaningful. Every show, festival, and pageant is an opportunity not only to entertain but also to create visibility, support local talent, and strengthen the communities we serve. At the end of the day, our greatest success is seeing people leave our events feeling seen, celebrated, and connected.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
One thing that surprises many people is that Nclusion Plus is not actually our full-time job. Because of the number of events we produce and the visibility of our brand, many assume this is what we do every day. In reality, Nclusion Plus is something we have built and continue to grow alongside our professional careers. One of our owners manages a marketing agency, another serves as an administrator in healthcare, and I am a teacher by day.
In many ways, Nclusion Plus is our creative outlet. I often joke that our regular careers are our “Bruce Wayne” jobs, while Nclusion Plus is our “Batman” job. It’s where we get to dream big, be creative, solve problems, and build experiences that bring people together. While our professional careers are incredibly important to us, Nclusion allows us to express a different side of ourselves and use our unique skills in service of the LGBTQIA+ community.
What makes it special is that it rarely feels like work. Yes, there are long hours, logistical challenges, and countless moving parts behind every event, but the reward comes from seeing the impact. Whether it’s helping a performer achieve a career milestone, watching someone attend their first Pride event, or seeing friendships formed within our community, those moments make the effort worthwhile.
At the end of the day, Nclusion Plus is fueled by passion rather than obligation. We do it because we genuinely love creating opportunities, making memories, and building spaces where people feel welcomed, celebrated, and connected. That’s what keeps us coming back for the next show, the next festival, and the next challenge.
Pricing:
- Merchandise
- Private Events
- Local Events
- Booking Celebrities
- Sponsoring Pridefests
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nclusionplus.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nclusionplus/
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/nclusionplus
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nclusionplus/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@NclusionPlus
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/user/31yhkoxe3z5j6xyctkw44jwd2f2q?si=ac297852d38347ea
