Read our review of Drag: The Musical off Broadway, a new show co-created by RuPaul’s Drag Race star Alaska Thunderfuck, Tomas Costanza, and Ashley Gordon.
When a new musical opens with a voiceover cameo from none other than Liza Minnelli herself, chances are you’re in for something amazing. So begins Drag: The Musical, which sees two drag queens and their rival houses battle for supremacy in the way only drag queens know how.
Nick Adams shines as the earnest but not-always-on-top-of-things Alexis Gillmore, owner of the popular but financially struggling club Fish Tank. Co-creator and co-writer Alaska Thunderfuck very much plays herself as Kitty Galloway, mistress of the slightly stuck-up Cat House club across the street. Though these two ex-lovers don’t interact until what feels like halfway through the show, they are electrifying on stage together when they do.
The drag clubs are populated by a bright and colorful ensemble cast, each endearing in their own unique ways. In any drag performance, hair and makeup is of the utmost importance, executed flawlessly by Aurora Sexton. And not enough can be said about the talents of the lighting and production team, who give the Fish Tank and the Cat House their own distinct ambiences.
The story lightly touches on some of the harsher realities of a life in drag, like Alexis’s rocky relationship with her straight, cisgender brother Tom (New Kids on the Block’s Joey McIntyre) and her young nephew Brendan’s reluctance to express himself. (Don’t worry: He eventually overcomes this reluctance with a few grand musical numbers.) But ultimately, it all gets wrapped up in a big, feel-good bow that can only really happen in musical theatre.
To the most critical eye, the ending of Drag: The Musical, a kind of deus ex machina, may be unsatisfying. But really, Drag: The Musical has everything that a musical could want: big numbers, big wigs, loveable characters, and a lot of heart. And I’d be very surprised if no one walks away from the theatre with the song “Drag is Expensive” stuck in their head.
Drag: The Musical summary
Drag queens Alexis Gillmore and Kitty Galloway were once madly in love and dreamed of opening a club together. But after a contentious breakup, they each opened their own drag club right across the street from each other. Their rivalry is fierce and unrelenting, but little do they know that each is dealing with larger problems that threaten to put both drag mothers out of business for good.
The show is co-created and co-written by RuPaul’s Drag Race royalty Alaska Thunderfuck, who brought her very own coolly glamorous drag persona to the character of Kitty Galloway. (Her co-creators are Tomas Costanza and Ashley Gordon.)
What to expect at Drag: The Musical
My audience at New World Stages included a crush of people wearing sequins and/or bright colors, right on theme for this flamboyant show. As each cast member made their first appearance via musical number, the RuPaul stars got huge applause that momentarily drowned out the lyrics.
The show runs 2 hours with no intermission, which may sound daunting, but the time flies by as you get caught up in the respective dramas of the Fish Tank and the Cat House. With the script jumping from joke to joke and the songs giving the queens plenty of opportunity to showcase their impressive pipes, the laughter and applause never stops until Drag: The Musical gets its well-deserved standing ovation.
What audiences are saying about Drag: The Musical
With an 86% audience approval rating on Show-Score, Drag: The Musical has overwhelmingly positive audience reviews at the time of publication. Many raved about the songs, the talented performers, and the overall extravagance of the show.
- “This show was everything. The singing, the costumes, the set and most importantly, the cast!!!” – Show-Score user Delilah Arocho
- “Every performer was fantastic. Thoroughly enjoyed every minute.” – Show-Score user Rob & Ruth Patterson
- “Come for the Drag, the dumb funny humor, and seeing some of your RPDR faves on a stage near you!” – Show-Score user kermie2090
Who should see Drag: The Musical
- RuPaul’s Drag Race fans will not only delight in Alaska Thunderfuck making her Off-Broadway acting and writing debut, but also in getting to see other stars like Jujubee, Luxx Noir London, and Jan Sport bring the house down with their performances.
- With its upbeat performances and all-around happy ending, Drag: The Musical would appeal to any lovers of classic musicals.
- Drag: The Musical marks Liza Minnelli’s first time producing a musical, which, combined with her voiceover, makes this show a must-see for any diehard fans.