DRAG: The Musical

The authors of the book for DRAG: The Musical – Alaska (Justin Andrew Honard), Ashley Gordon, and Tomas Costanza have come up with a seemingly simple story: two drag queens – Kitty Galloway (Alaska Thunderfuck) and Alexis Gillmore (Nick Adams) – the warring rivals, who share a romantic past. Each heads her own nightclub: Alexis – "The Fish Tank", Kitty - "The Cathouse." It doesn't come as a surprise, that the drag artists of "The Fish Tank" (Lagoona Bloo, Luxx Noir London, Liisi LaFontaine), and those who work at "The Cathouse" (Jan Sport, Jujubee, Nick Laughlin) are hostile towards each other. The storylines are structured so that the competing companies perform the musical numbers alternately. Financial hardships force Alexis and Kitty to team up to survive. The intrigue, invented by Drunk Jerry (Eddie Korbich) for the sake of saving the common cause, manages to be pulled off: and that is how a new drag cabaret opens its doors under the name of - "Catfish."

If Nick Adams is not a newcomer to Broadway drag, then Alaska graced the big theatre stage for the first time. Nevertheless, their duet is a match made in heaven. Alaska honestly states that she decided to write the book for the musical because she wanted to create a story happening "on the drag queens' turf" and to play the leading role of Kitty, the owner of the drag club. Alaska was directly involved in the creation of the musical material along with Tomas Costanza and Ashley Gordon. The three duets of Alaska and Nick sparkle like bright diamonds in the show: "It's a Drag", "The Showdown", and "Two Bitches Are Better Than One". It is impossible not to admire their voices and their ability to "live through" the musical material. In DRAG: The Musical, in addition to the relationship between the two drag queens, and members of their creative teams, an important place is occupied by the storyline of Alexis' straight brother Tom (Joey McIntyre) and his teenage son who come to help Alexis save the business. Their solo songs are part of the narrative, from which an understanding of their feelings, experiences, and emotional perception of what is happening, is born.

A discovery that the creators are most proud of was the participation of Liza Minnelli in the project. Alaska mentioned that originally, they planned for a "recognizable" voice-over that would voice the prologue. However, Liza not only happily agreed to take part in the project, but also asked to expand her role.

If one had to describe DRAG: The Musical in one word, it would be "harmony." The show, which lasts one hour and forty minutes with no intermission, features twenty musical numbers in various styles (pop, rock, disco). Each song is part of the plot which moves the drama of the show forward. Dialogues allow the spectators to take a breather from the intense action and laugh at good jokes.

The costumes are exquisitely attractive and look "expensive", as stated in the song "Drag is Expensive". The set and lighting designs work in conjunction with projection design: thematic installations periodically appear on the backdrop, created in the same style as the show. In the lighting design of the show, we discover fun individual moments, such as the scene illuminated only by flashlights, as the electricity is turned off for non-payment of bills, which adds to the "realism" of the drag world.

Drag: The Musical, unlike other projects that involve drag queens (such as "The Big Gay Jamboree", "Oh, Mary!"), which can be seen in NYC, is not only a bright dynamic performance with numerous ensemble numbers, but also a holistic dramatic piece, told with all the expressive means of classic musical theatre. Despite the seriousness and relevance of the questions posed, there is a lot of humor in the play, although some jokes can only be understood by those who are immersed in the drag culture.

Today, those interested can listen to the Studio Cast Recording. In 2023 Drag: The Musical won a Queerty Award. And for those who have the opportunity, it is best to see the show live! Even several times – there's much to see!

Photo Credit by Genevieve Marie Adams