DRAG: THE MUSICAL Brings The Glitter To New World — Review

Two drag houses. Both alike in their lack of dignity. In fair New World Stages where we lay our scene. That’s right! Move over R+J and & Juliet, we have new starcrossed-dressers in town and they’re fierce as hell. 

Hot on the heels of an encore run Los Angeles, Drag: The Musical has made its way to the big apple. It’s only fitting that the glitzy musical about rival drag clubs battling it out for supremacy lands in New York City (cue the snapping). West Side Story is far from the sole source of inspiration for Drag: The Musical. During the two-hour runtime, I counted nods to, among many, Kinky Boots, Rock of Ages, Rent, Billy Elliott, Priscilla, &Juliet, and even Cats. 

All of this creates a kaleidoscope of plotlines, songs, and performances of varying success. 

The naming of a drag queen a la the Jellicle Ball? Hilarious. A whole song about how wigs are important to drag queens? Okay, sure. A family friendly plotline about a straight, widowed father (New Kids On The Block’s Joey McIntyre, no less) accepting his 10-year old son’s inclination for drag? Wait, who is this show for?

Featuring direction and choreography by Spencer Liff with book, music, and lyrics by Tomas Costanza, Ashley Gordon, and Justin Andrew Honard (aka Alaska ThunderF*ck), Drag: The Musical is a fun night out but unfortunately too concerned in convincing the audience that they are watching a Great Musical instead of giving the audience what they really want to see: Great Drag. 

That’s not to say the drag isn’t great. It’s spectacular! Costume Designer Maro Marco and Makeup Designer Aurora Sexton consistently hit 10s. Jason Sherwood’s scenic design and Adam Honoré’s lighting design transform the theatre into a fantastical, neon club with runway and cabaret seating to boot. Of course, the creative design is greatly aided by the killer lineup of mainstay NYC drag queens, familiar theatre faces, and former RuPau’s Drag Race contestants tearing up the stage as the rival drag families. Jujubee, Jan Sport, and Nick Laughlin sizzle and slink as Cathouse girls while Luxx Noir London, Lagoona Bloo, and Liisi LaFontaine bubble and bitch as the Fish Tank girls. 

The biggest success of the show, no surprise to RPDR fans, is star and co-writer Alaska Thunderf*ck. Alaska, a Drag Race All Stars winner and fan favorite, is the glamourpuss Miss Kitty who owns The Cathouse. Decked out in devilish red looks and hair to the sky, every time Alaska saunters across the stage, the oxygen in the room vanishes. One of the funniest moments of the show features Alaska coming center stage, taking a deep breath to sing, and… walking back to a chair and sitting down. 

Rivaling Miss Kitty, is Nick Adams as Alexis Gillmore, owner of the rival drag club the Fish Tank. Alexis and Miss Kitty are former lovers turned enemies both facing the same fate: eviction. Unlike Alaska who gets to play the admittedly more fun, enigmatic anti-hero, Adams is tasked with being the classic musical theatre Sandra Dee protagonist. Adams, an experienced Broadway triple threat, shines in a standout performance and carries the heart of the show well (in his very buff arms). However, there’s only so much heavy-lifting he can do with a very dreary family subplot.

Somewhere between the raunchy jokes, sequins, and wink-wink fan service, a 10-year old child appears. After Alexis calls upon her financial expert and widowed brother Tom, he arrives begrudgingly with his son Brendan (Yair Keydar, at the performance I attended, with a voice like an angel). Tom’s uncomfortability around drag leads us to a song about how straight women can be drag queens, a song about his son feeling shame, and a song literally titled “Straight Man” about things straight men like. It’s my suspicion that most people coming to see Drag: The Musical are familiar with drag. Which leads me back to my original question - who is the show for? 

The good news is, even with the after school special plot maneuvers and a bizarre performance by Eddie Korbich as gay bar creep Drunk Jerry, it’s still fun. Seeing Alaska chewing scenery or, my personal favorite, Jujubee delivering the weirdest line readings is worth the ticket alone. Special kudos must be given to J. Elaine Marcos, a born-to-be-star who delivers a wildly memorable, zany performance in each of her three roles.

While the show takes itself far too seriously, it also is serious fun. At one point, Alaska, as Miss Kitty, says “Could you imagine? A musical about drag queens. Who would be dumb enough to buy a ticket to see that?” Many people, I am sure. 

Drag: The Musical is now in performance at New World Stages. For tickets and more information, visit here.