As its title suggests, “Drag: The Musical” has sass in abundance. These keen to look beneath the off-Broadway play’s sequin-studded floor, nevertheless, will discover a considerate story about household, self-acceptance and the sanctity of LGBTQ-inclusive areas.
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” veteran Alaska Thunderfuck, one of many musical’s stars and likewise a co-writer, labored with director-choreographer Spencer Liff to create a present that may supply a “sneak attack” on audiences’ feelings.
“If you love drag, it’s going to make sense to you and it’s going to speak to you. If you know nothing about drag, it’s going to make sense to you and it’s going to speak to you,” Alaska instructed HuffPost. “It’s funny and stupid, but it also has something to say, and, I hope, could possibly make you cry.”
The author-performer added: “You can bring the kids, you can bring your straight dad and you can bring your grandparents, and everybody will come away feeling like we have more in common with each other than we have differences.”
“Drag: The Musical,” which opens Monday at New World Phases in New York after two profitable runs in Los Angeles, facilities on former lovers Kitty Galloway (performed by Alaska) and Alexis Gilmore (Broadway’s Nick Adams), who now function a pair of competing drag golf equipment in the identical city.
Sadly for Kitty and Alexis, nevertheless, each golf equipment are in monetary despair as town round them is gentrifying and rents are skyrocketing. Enter Alexis’ estranged brother, Tom Hutchinson (Joey McIntyre of New Youngsters On The Block), who makes a last-ditch, if reluctant, effort to avoid wasting his youthful sibling’s enterprise.
At first, Tom’s adolescent son Brendan (Yair Keydar at a current efficiency) approaches his uncle Alexis’ love of drag with skepticism. Over time, the 2 kind a kinship that leads Brendan towards a path of self-discovery.
Alaska, whose actual identify is Justin Andrew Honard, drew closely on private expertise whereas engaged on the script and songs for “Drag: The Musical” with co-writers Tomas Costanza and Ash Gordon.
In making ready the present for its New York debut, the trio has written a brand new tune, “Straight Man,” for McIntyre that Costanza has joked is an “anthem for every dude who cracks open a cold one, swings a club, and cranks up the rock at the family barbecue.”
And earlier this month, it was introduced that none aside from Liza Minnelli had joined the musical’s inventive group as a producer. The legendary actor and singer is just not solely saluted all through the present, but in addition narrates its opening and shutting scenes.
“She’s not just a gay icon ― she’s a world icon,” Alaska mentioned of Minnelli’s involvement. “It’s unbelievable she’s a part of this, because she’s so fierce and so amazing and we all just love her and are obsessed with her.”
Bruce Glikas through Getty Photos
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Although “Drag: The Musical” isn’t an overtly political piece, the present’s portrayal of a drag queen’s bond with a teen might ruffle just a few feathers, given the current restrictions some conservative states imposing on drag performers showing at occasions the place minors are current.
Noting that the connection between Alexis and Brendan relies on “real stuff that I dealt with as a child,” Alaska mentioned it was by no means meant to replicate any trendy controversy.
“It speaks to the timeless idea of being a young person and figuring out who you are. That’s a universal thing,” the writer-performer defined. “As to the fact that we’re talking about it in the news … I guess it’s just our turn to be a scapegoat. It’s a game we’ve seen before, and it’s not new or shocking to anyone in our community. The good thing is that we, as queer people, know how to mobilize, and we know how to fight back.”
Watch a teaser for “Drag: The Musical” under.
