Drag: The Musical

Drag: The Musical
Off-Broadway promotional poster
MusicTomas Costanza
Justin Andrew Honard
Ash Gordon
LyricsTomas Costanza
Justin Andrew Honard
Ash Gordon
BookTomas Costanza
Justin Andrew Honard
Ash Gordon
Premiere23 September 2022: The Bourbon Room, Los Angeles
Productions2022 Los Angeles
2024 Off-Broadway
Awards2024 Queerty Award for Live Theater

Drag: The Musical is an Off-Broadway musical with music, lyrics and book by Tomas Costanza, Ash Gordon, and former RuPaul's Drag Race contestant Alaska Thunderfuck.[1][2][3]

Background

Drag: The Musical was originally released as a concept album written by Alaska Thunderfuck, Tomas Costanza, and Ash Gordon.[4] In May 2022, Drag: The Musical (Studio Cast Recording) was released, and featured Alaska Thunderfuck, Bob the Drag Queen, Divina de Campo, Ginger Minj, Jujubee, Lagoona Bloo, Peppermint, Monét X Change, Margaret Cho, Fortune Feimster, Michelle Visage, Max von Essen, and Nick Adams.[5][6]

Productions

Los Angeles (2022–2024)

A workshop version of the show was held in June 2022.[7] The first official run started at the Bourbon Room on Hollywood Boulevard in September 2022, concluding the following month.[8][9] In March 2024, they returned for a two-week run.[10]

Off-Broadway (2024–present)

On October 21, 2024, Drag: The Musical debuted Off-Broadway at the New World Stages.[11] Liza Minnelli was announced as a producer ahead of the premiere, and was featured in an audio prologue.[12][13] While the show generally received positive reviews from the critics, TheWrap and New York Theater Guide noted that the ending was unsatisfying, and that the show could trim the fluff.[14][15]

Casts

Character Los Angeles 2022[16] Off-Broadway 2024[17]
Kitty Galloway Alaska Thunderfuck Jimbo
Alexis Gillmore Nick Adams
Tom Hutchinson Joey McIntyre Adam Pascal
Drunk Jerry Jamie Torcellini Eddie Korbich
Gloria Schmidt J. Elaine Marcos
Rita LaRitz
Savannah St. James Jan Sport
The Tigress Jujubee
Tuna Turner Lagoona Bloo
Dixie Coxworth Alysha Deslorieux Britney Campbell Bre Jackson Liisi LaFontaine
Popcorn Jackie Cox Manila Luzon Luxx Noir London
Puss Puss DuBois Nick Laughlin
Brendan Hutchinson Kayden Koshelev Remi Tuckman & Yair Keydar
Swings — Kodiak Thompson and Cameron Mitchell Bell
Ensemble — Teddy Wilson Jr, Christine Shepard, Kodiak Thompson, Nicholas Kraft

Studio cast recording (2022)

DRAG: The Musical (Studio Cast Recording)
Studio album by
Alaska Thunderfuck and the original studio cast of Drag: The Musical
ReleasedMay 13, 2022
Length63:32
Label
ProducerTomas Costanza
Alaska Thunderfuck and the original studio cast of Drag: The Musical chronology
Vagina
(2019) 		DRAG: The Musical (Studio Cast Recording)
(2022) 		Red 4 Filth
(2022)
Singles from Drag: The Musical
  1. "Drag Is Expensive"
    Released: May 5, 2022

Drag: The Musical (Studio Cast Recording) is a concept album written by Alaska Thunderfuck, Ash Gordon, and Tomas Costanza, and is the source material for Drag: The Musical.[18] It was released on May 13, 2022, by PEG Records, Killingsworth Recording Company, Craft Recordings, and Concord Theatricals. The album features a large ensemble cast including Alaska Thunderfuck, Bob the Drag Queen, Divina de Campo, Ginger Minj, Jujubee, Lagoona Bloo, Peppermint, Monét X Change, Margaret Cho, Fortune Feimster, Michelle Visage, Max von Essen, and Nick Adams. "Drag Is Expensive" was released as a single on May 5, 2022.[19]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Alaska Thunderfuck, Ash Gordon, and Tomas Costanza

Drag: The Musical (Studio Cast Recording)
No.TitlePerformer(s)Length
1."Welcome to the Fishtank"
4:02
2."She's All That"Adams2:09
3."Cathouse Fever"
2:57
4."Queen Kitty"
2:49
5."The Accounting Song"Max von Essen2:44
6."Drag Is Expensive"
  • De Campo
  • Bloo
  • Von Essen
  • X Change
  • Adams
3:56
7."Wigs"
  • Minj
  • Jujubee
  • Peppermint
1:52
8."Gay as Hell"Jamie Torcellini1:31
9."Gloria Schmidt"
1:52
10."Out of Your League"Thunderfuck2:41
11."Miriam Mintz"
1:00
12."She's Such a Bitch"
  • Thunderfuck
  • De Campo
  • Minj
  • Jujubee
  • Bloo
  • X Change
  • Adams
  • Peppermint
5:50
13."It's So Pretty"
  • Adams
  • Jack Rodman
2:45
14."I'm Just Brendan"Rodman1:58
15."We Need Money"
  • De Campo
  • Bloo
  • Von Essen
  • Visage
  • X Change
  • Adams
2:33
16."I Don't Like You But I Like You"
  • Visage
  • Von Essen
3:11
17."Girls Like Us"Peppermint2:51
18."Jerry's Dead"
  • De Campo
  • Rodman
  • Bloo
  • Von Essen
  • Visage
  • Nick Adams
2:22
19."Two Bitches are Better Than One"
  • Thunderfuck
  • Adams
3:02
20."Real Queens"
  • X Change
  • Thunderfuck
2:14
21."Welcome to the Catfish"
  • Bob the Drag Queen
  • De Campo
  • Minj
  • Jujubee
  • Bloo
  • Peppermint
3:28
22."Brendan Is His Name"
  • Rodman
  • Jujubee
  • De Campo
  • Peppermint
  • Bloo
  • Minj
2:20
23."Get It Together"
  • Thunderfuck
  • De Campo
  • Minj
  • Rodman
  • Jujubee
  • Bloo
  • Visage
  • X Change
  • Adams
  • Peppermint
3:25
Total length:63:32

Awards and nominations

Los Angeles production

Year Award Category Result
2023 Queerty Award Live Theater[20] Won

References

  1. ^ Malkin, Marc (February 8, 2024). "New Kids on the Block's Joey McIntyre Returns to 'Drag: The Musical' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on July 6, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  2. ^ "DRAG: The Musical". Broadway.com. Archived from the original on November 20, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  3. ^ "This New Musical About Drag Queens Has Lots Of Sequins And Sass. It Might Make You Cry, Too". HuffPost. October 21, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  4. ^ Patrick, Bobby. "Album Review: From Page To Stage In 6 Inch Heels DRAG: THE MUSICAL (STUDIO RECORDING) Offers Up Real Treats From Some Drag Tricks". BroadwayWorld. Archived from the original on September 30, 2023. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  5. ^ Daw, Stephen (April 12, 2022). "'Drag Race' Alum Alaska Is Bringing Theatrics to the Studio With 'Drag: The Musical' Album". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 12, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  6. ^ Margaret, Hall (April 13, 2022). "Peppermint, Nick Adams, Max Von Essen, More Featured on Drag: The Musical Studio Album". Playbill. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  7. ^ Urban, Sasha (June 8, 2022). "Alaska 5000, Trixie Mattel, Monét X Change to Perform at the Bourbon Room for L.A. Pride 2022". Variety. Archived from the original on June 28, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  8. ^ Culwell-Block, Logan (August 17, 2022). "Drag Race Star Alaska's DRAG: The Musical Sets World Premiere at Hollywood's Bourbon Room". Playbill. Archived from the original on December 1, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  9. ^ ""Scene in LA" October 2022 by Steve Zall and Sid Fish – All Beverly Hills". Archived from the original on October 1, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  10. ^ Daw, Stephen (December 13, 2023). "Alaska's 'DRAG: The Musical' Is Returning to Hollywood This Spring". Billboard. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  11. ^ "'Drag: The Musical' ready for NYC after slaying audiences in LA". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on December 1, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  12. ^ Wratten, Marcus (October 2, 2024). "Liza Minnelli to produce Drag Race star's musical". PinkNews. Archived from the original on October 4, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  13. ^ "Review: Drag: The Musical Is an Explosion of Feathers and Sequins Off-Broadway - TheaterMania.com". October 22, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  14. ^ Hofler, Robert (October 22, 2024). "'Drag: The Musical' Off Broadway Review: When Boys Just Want to Have Fun". TheWrap. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  15. ^ Fimmano, Austin (October 21, 2024). "'Drag: The Musical' review — long live the drag queens". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  16. ^ Wiltbank, Michael (October 6, 2022). "Get a First Look at Joey McIntyre, Alaska, Nick Adams, More in DRAG: The Musical". Playbill. Archived from the original on July 17, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  17. ^ "CAST". Drag the Musical. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  18. ^ Hall, Margaret (April 13, 2022). "Peppermint, Nick Adams, Max Von Essen, More Featured on Drag: The Musical Studio Album". Playbill. Archived from the original on June 19, 2024. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  19. ^ Kile, Meredith B. (May 5, 2022). "Alaska Thunderf*ck Debuts First Track from 'DRAG: The Musical' (Exclusive)". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 12, 2022. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  20. ^ "Live Theater Award Winners - Queerties 2023". The Queerties. Archived from the original on August 23, 2024. Retrieved October 26, 2024.