Shequida

File:Shequida 2019.jpgGary Hall, also known as Shequida Hall or mononymously as Shequida, is a Jamaican-American classically trained opera singer, songwriter, playwright, and drag artist.

He attended Juilliard, where he studied with noted bass-baritone Simon Estes.

As the female character Shequida, he has been the USA Network's spokesperson for Latin America. From 1997 to 1998 he played Wendi Mercury on the daytime television show One Life to Live.{{Cite web |url=http://www.tv.com/gary-hall/person/242830/summary.html?tag=stars;name;200 |title=TV.com's One Life to Live site |access-date=2007-03-18 |archive-date=2007-09-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930132856/http://www.tv.com/gary-hall/person/242830/summary.html?tag=stars;name;200 |url-status=dead }} He starred in Daron Hagen's Vera of Las Vegas for its world premier in 2003.[http://daronhagen.com/vera/casts.html Vera of Las Vegas casts] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928060429/http://daronhagen.com/vera/casts.html |date=2007-09-28 }}

His off-Broadway show, Opera for Dummies, garnered a positive review in The Boston Phoenix,{{cite web|url=http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/arts/theater/documents/01788911.htm|work=The Boston Phoenix|title=Operation Offensive: OUT on the Edge is queer to the core|last=Donahue|first=Anne Marie|date=August 30, 2001|accessdate=September 29, 2014}} and was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award.

In 2008, Shequida appeared on the TV reality competition America's Got Talent, getting into the Top 40 for the third season,{{cite web|url=http://www.thebacklot.com/shequida-and-two-celebrity-impersonators-bring-the-diva-to-americas-got-talent/08/2008/ |work=The Backlot by LogoTV|title=Shequida and two celebrity impersonators bring the diva to "America's Got Talent" |last=Juergens|first=Brian|date=August 6, 2008|accessdate=September 29, 2014}} but was eliminated, later saying in an interview that the experience "was very weird."{{cite web|url=http://getoutmag.com/shequida-i-never-expected-to-be-a-woman/ |work=Get Out Magazine|title=SHEQUIDA: "I never expected to be a woman"|last=Shapiro|first= Eileen|date=June 16, 2014|accessdate=September 29, 2014}}

Shequida headlined in summer shows in Cherry Grove on Long Island in 2013 and 2014.{{cite web | url=http://www.fireislandqnews.com/2014/05/shequida/ | title=Shequida, with Guest Dancers & Crystal Demure, Begins Ice Palace Season on Memorial Day | publisher=FireIslandQnews | work=Fire Island Q News | date=June 2014 | accessdate=September 29, 2014 | last=Gelbert | first=Bruce-Michael}}{{cite web |url=http://www.grovehotel.com/common/events/eventdetail.cfm?QID=27062&clientID=1000 |work=Grove Hotel website |title=Season Opening Celebration |author=n.a. |date=May 9, 2014 |accessdate=September 29, 2014 |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006073426/http://www.grovehotel.com/common/events/eventdetail.cfm?QID=27062&clientID=1000 |url-status=dead }}