Drag Queens Singing Live?

DRAG: The Musical Encompasses Musical Theatre, Drag, and Drama as -It Should- Delivering a Fully Rounded Performance with Powerful Vocals, a Tender Message, and Killer Wit.

A Blog View by Alejandra Enciso-Dardashti

Nick Adams, Eddie Korbich, and Alaska Thunderfuck. © Matthew Murphy

DRAG: The Musical opened Off-Broadway, on October 23rd at New World Stages. Written by RuPaul's Drag Race alumna, singer, and performer, Alaska Thunderf*ck, songwriter Tomas Costanza, and songstress Ashley Gordon, with none other than Liza Minnelli among the executive producers, the plot centers on two Drag Houses: The Fish Tank and The Cathouse. The first one is made up of Alexis Gillmore (Nick Adams), her best friend Dixie Coxworth, the "resident cisgender heterosexual AFAB (assigned female at birth) queen" (Christine Shepard in the performance I saw), Popcorn (Luxx Noir London), and Tuna Turner (Lagoona Bloo), and the second, with Kitty Galloway (Alaska Thunderf*ck), Savannah St. James (Jan Sport), The Tigress (Jujubee), and Queen newbie, Puss Puss DuBois (Nick Laughlin). Aside from great-sounding Speakeasy names, the mothers of each house, Alexis and Kitty, are and have been at odds for a while, also struggling to keep the business afloat. Alexis gets a visit from Gloria Schmidt (J. Elaine Marcos) an IRS case manager who tells Alexis through song, it is not good. Alexis calls CPA/ *entrepreneur* brother, Tom Hutchinson (Joey McIntyre) for help. Their relationship is not the best, yet Tom agrees and goes to the Fish Tank to assess the damage accompanied by his son, 10-year-old Brendan (Yair Keydar). The Cathouse gets a visit too. Rita LaRitz (J. Elaine Marcos) tells Kitty that the building is going in a different direction. No one knows the reason for Alexis and Kitty's tiff, but the future of both clubs is at stake. In an attempt to join forces via the girls, and the club's regular, Drunk Jerry (Eddie Korbich), belt battles occur, feelings come through, and truths are revealed.

Jan Sport,  Jujubee, Nick Laughlin, and Alaska Thunderfuck. © Matthew Murphy

Spencer Liff directed and choreographed the musical which has a well-woven story that makes sense and fits with the songs. DRAG' debuted in 2022 at The Bourbon Room in Los Angeles along with a studio recording. Compared with its New York version, and a couple of updates and tweaks, the songs sound better and feel rounded. One of the traits of Drag performances is lipsynching to musical hits; this piece goes beyond that tradition and showcases the performers in their full glory. The cast shines, giving wonderful performances and a darn good show.

This is not Broadway veteran Nick Adams's first Drag rodeo as he's been in La Cage Aux Folles and Priscilla Queen of the Desert. I remember seeing Nick at the San Diego Civic Theatre in the touring production of Wicked as Fiyero in 2014. 10 years passed until the next performance and it seems like time has not gone by as Adams is in great shape, his musical theatre experience shines through a clean performance with strong vocals and presence. All the queens put each of their own flavor into the roles. Alaska is fun, funny, and interacts with the audience taking her time, and hitting impressive, deep low notes. Christine Shepard is sassy as Dixie and has good chemistry with Joey McIntyre who brings balance to the piece as Tom and, if the context was not clear enough already, he lands it with the engaging and creative song "Straight Man". Luxx Noir London delivers the reading and slow-motion death drop as Popcorn, Lagoona Bloo and her Latin flare as Tuna Turner hit the stage with comedy and powerful vocals belting it out with Jan Sport as Savannah St. James, who aside from rocking a mean, long, beautiful blonde wig, sings like there is no tomorrow with a strong and impressive pitch. Jujubee as The Tigress has solid mannerisms and gestures continuously bringing the laughs along the good notes. Nick Laughlin mentioned in an interview that he came out of retirement to do the role of the naive Puss Puss DuBois, and a good thing as the Queen is sweet, with southern charm and an amazing voice. Eddie Korbich is a master of old-school comedy, hitting the marks as Drunk Jerry. J. Elaine Marcos as both Gloria and Rita, is fierce, comedic, and a good time. Yair Keydar as Brendan is a standout! Displayed a beautiful, chills-instilling strong voice that came through in the songs "It's So Pretty", and "I'm Just Brendan", this last one performed enchantingly with ensemble member Kodiak Thompson that reminded me of Billy Elliot, The Musical's, 'Dream Ballet' sequence. At this tender age, Keydar is already a stage gem. The ensemble also includes Cameron Mitchell Bell, Nicholas Kraft, and Teddy Wilson Jr., rounding out each song with mean choreography and charm.

Joey McIntyre with Tomas Costanza and Tyler Connaghan. © Matthew Murphy 

The wardrobe is stunning courtesy of Marco Marco, with sequence, leather, high heels, thigh highs, all of it. Makeup by Aurora Sexton is out of this world, especially for the eyes, with amazing shadows that bring them out and make them pop in a glamorous, colorful way. The wigs by Vanity should have their character credit in the program as each comes alive from long and smooth, to green and funky, light brown and wavy. Jason Sherwood incorporated an urban, colorful style to house both clubs allowing grand entrances and exits contoured by Adam Honoré's sexy lighting design that included pinks, yellows, and grays with Aaron Rhyne projections that made the scenes pop. A pole in Sherwood's set design could be used or played with a little more.  

Elaine Marcos, Teddy Wilson, and Nicholas Kraft. © Matthew Murphy

The musical is performed with a live band that features Andrew Orbison (conductor and keyboard), Ariel Bellvalaire (guitar), Tyler Connaghan (guitar), Jasmin Guevara (drums), and co-creator Tomas Costanza on the base. The punk-rock band adds to the high-energy musical by having some members perform alongside the Queens and cast, bringing the house down along Drew Levy's sound design that comes through crisply, using all the space while not overpowering it.  

DRAG: The Musical is a great, thought-out piece that incorporates all the elements within a well-written story that not only has a message and brings perspective, but is fun and pretty too. 

Currently playing at New World Stages. For more information please click HERE. 

Also please note Joey McIntyre will resume performances on December 9th and Alaska Thunderf*ck on January 11th.