Alaska 5000’s Drag: The Musical Shines with Sequins, Sass, and Heartfelt Moments

RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Alaska Thunderfuck is taking the New York stage by storm with her new production, Drag: The Musical. This off-Broadway show is packed with glamour and sparkle, but it also dives deep into themes of family, identity, and the importance of LGBTQ-friendly spaces. Alaska, who not only stars in the show but also co-wrote it alongside director-choreographer Spencer Liff, aims to hit audiences right in the feels.

If you appreciate drag culture, you’ll be able to resonate with the show’s message. And if you’re a newcomer to the world of drag, fear not — Alaska assures that the story will still connect with you. With a blend of humor and heartfelt moments, she hopes the musical will evoke laughter and perhaps even tears. “You can bring the kids, your straight dad, or even your grandparents, and everyone will leave realizing we have more in common than our differences,” she explained.

Drag: The Musical, commencing its run at New World Stages in New York after enjoying success in Los Angeles, follows the dynamics between ex-lovers Kitty Galloway, played by Alaska, and Alexis Gilmore, who is portrayed by Broadway’s Nick Adams. The two now run rival drag clubs as gentrification threatens their livelihoods. The plot thickens with the arrival of Alexis’ estranged brother, Tom Hutchinson, played by Joey McIntyre from New Kids On The Block, who is reluctantly trying to help his brother save the club from financial ruin. Initially skeptical of the drag scene, Tom’s teenage son Brendan, portrayed by Yair Keydar, eventually seeks to understand and form a bond with his uncle Alexis.

Alaska draws from her own experiences in shaping the script and songs for the show with co-writers Tomas Costanza and Ash Gordon. As the show preps for its New York debut, a new song titled “Straight Man” has been added for McIntyre, humorously described as an anthem for the typical barbecue guy. In a significant addition, legendary performer Liza Minnelli has joined the production as a producer, lending her voice as the narrator for the opening and closing scenes — a collaboration that Alaska describes as “unbelievable.”

While Drag: The Musical doesn’t explicitly tackle political issues, the relationship between a drag queen and a young boy may stir some controversy, especially given current restrictions in certain conservative states regarding minors at drag events. Alaska suggests that the production addresses the universal journey of self-discovery, emphasizing a core message that resonates with everyone. “It reflects real experiences I faced as a child, but the intent was never to engage with current controversies,” she noted. “It simply speaks to the universal struggle of figuring out who you are.”

Alaska believes that the LGBTQ community, well-versed in the art of mobilizing and advocating for its rights, will continue to resist such challenges in the face of adversity.