GET TO THIS MUSICAL
ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE TO DRAG YOURSELF
It’s campy. It’s trashy. It’s WAAAAY over-the-top. It’s ridiculous. It’s stunning. I’s funny. It’s moving. It’s touching. It’s corny. It’s absurd. It’s heart-warming. It’s loaded with talent. And it’s got original voice-overs from Liza Minnelli (also a producer). In a word, it’s Drag: The Musical (ok, that’s more than one). Dragging and musicalizing its way over at New World Stages, where Drag opened last night, this original musical with book, music and lyrics by Tomas Costanza, Justin Andrew Honard and Ashley Gordon has a whole bunch of songs and glitter and wigs and choreography — but also makes some moving and important points about self-acceptance and the need for more tolerance in society. So, amidst all the fun, there’s some lessons to be learned. But not too many. Because a show with this many drag queens (some are also recognizable drag performers) can’t be serious for too long. With a mix of song genres but primarily rock & roll, this Rocky Horror Show meets RuPaul’s Drag Race meets an Afterschool Special delivers on all fronts. It’s everything AND the kitchen sink; and it’s one very fun ride.
Alaska Thunderfuck and the cast
Turns out that once upon a time there were two drag queens, Kitty Galloway and Alexis Gilmore. These two were also a romantic couple and dreamed of together opening the best drag club in the city. But for reasons that are verboten to know, they broke up before their dream became a reality. And the now mortal enemies opened rival drag clubs across the street from each other, each with its own dedicated assortment of drag performers. While both clubs struggle, Alexis’s club is doing slightly worse. Well, maybe not so slightly because the administratively challenged Alexis has not paid taxes in years and now the club may be shut down! One of the more level-headed queens in the club encourages Alexis to call his straight, square, accountant, older brother for help. Alexis scoffs at this idea as his brother never understood or supported him. But something has to be done. And how long can the queens stick around if there’s no club to stick around in?
Alaska Thunderfuck, Jujubee, Jan Sport and Nick Laughlin
That’s the basic gist but there’s a lot more to Drag. And that “more” is both the downfall and the joy of the show. It’s a downfall because the piece could really use some editing and shaping. This is most evident in the first third or so. But the show’s multiple elements really seem to gel after that. The joy is how can there be a show like this unless it’s all over the place? Jason Sherwood’s scenic design takes this point to heart and delivers a single set that is well, everything, including a catwalk and a back alley. But there are many surprises in the piece so perhaps a more pointed concept would not be as malleable.
Joey McIntyre with Tomas Costanza and Tyler Connaghan
As Alexis Gilmore, Broadway performer Nick Adams shines. His Alexis is not quite as polished as the other queens but she makes up for it with guts and determination. As Kitty Galloway, Alaska Thunderfuck steals the show (not easy with this multi-talented cast). But Ms. Thunderfuck so understands this particular performance genre and has so mastered that thin line between camp, acting and reality – that a simple look or tossed off phrase brings down the house. She’s magnificent. All others in the cast do great as well, including Nick Laughlin, a naïve Southern peach queen and Liisi Lafontaine — a cis-woman who is also a drag queen (and this woman can sang!). Not to be outdone in the singing department, original New Kids on the Block member Joey McIntyre does a memorable turn as Alexis’s straight-laced older brother. He also kills in a heavy metal-ish song about being a straight man. (You have to be there.) [Beginning December 11, 2024, Adam Pascal joins the cast as straight man Tom Hutchinson.]
Jujubee, Jan Sport, Alaska Thunderfuck and Nick Laughlin
And what would a drag show be without costumes and the multitude of amazing costumes onstage deserve a show of their own. From Alaska’s impressive ensembles to the individual looks of each queen to the chorus’s many changes to uniquely dressing the non-drag characters, the costumes by Marco Marco are awesome and never cease to surprise. The crying emoji skirt that one of the queens wears to a funeral is hilarious. The band is good under Andrew Orbison’s musical direction, but maybe the sound levels should be checked? There was a tendency for the music to compete with or sometimes drown out the singers.
Nick Adams, Eddie Korbich and Alaska Thunderfuck
Yes, there’s too many songs and the book is thin and could use some trimming to make it a stronger show, but who cares? Drag: The Musical is super fun and funny just as it is. It’s got super-talented performers and super-amazing costumes and wigs galore and more than a few moments of high camp. And it has a sincere heart that it wears firmly on its bedazzled sleeve. What could be better?
Nick Adams
photos © Matthew Murphy @MurphyMade
Nick Adams and Alaska Thunderfuck
with Nicholas Kraft, Kodiak Thompson and Teddy Wilson Jr
Drag: The Musical
New World Stages, 340 West 50th St
on sale through March, 2025
100 minutes, no intermission
for tickets (starting at $47), call 212.239.6200 or visit Drag: The Musical or Telecharge
for group tickets, visit Broadway Plus
listen to Drag: The Musical (The Studio Recording) here
