Connect with us

Arts & Entertainment

‘Drag Race’ live!

Vets from Logo smash join forces in first-ever ‘Battle of the Seasons’

Published

on

Manila Luzon, Pandora Boxx, RuPaul's Drag Race, gay news, Washington Blade
Manila Luzon, Pandora Boxx, RuPaul's Drag Race, gay news, Washington Blade

Pandora Boxx and Manila Luzon, two ‘Drag Race’ vets on the current tour. (Pandora photo by Jose A. Guzman; Manila photo by Kate McLaren; courtesy Producer Entertainment Group, LLC)

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race: Battle of the Seasons’

Tuesday at 9 p.m.

9:30 Club

815 Vine St., N.W.

930.com

$30

“RuPaul’s Drag Race,” the popular Logo television show, swaps entertaining on the small screen for performing on the local stage on its tour, “RuPaul’s Drag Race: Battle of the Seasons.”

It’s the first tour to feature so many fan favorite contestants in a theater venue. Among those slated to appear are Sharon Needles, Manila Luzon, Pandora Boxx, Alaska Thunderfuck, Ivy Winters, Carmen Carrera, Mimi Imfurst, Michelle Visage and Phi Phi O’Hara. The tour comes to Washington Tuesday night at the 9:30 club.

The tour showcases the talents of each performer and includes lip-syncing, dancing, comedy and more. There was a previous tour, the “Absolut Drag Race Tour,” but this tour only featured the season winner and runners-up. “Battle of the Seasons” is the first tour to include so many popular “Drag Race” alums.

The show — as one would expect — has been enormously helpful in terms of visibility for those involved.

Pandora Boxx, real name Michael Steck, was a contestant on the second season of “Drag Race” who came in fifth. Since the show, the New York native has been touring the world, started doing stand-up comedy and starred in his own off-Broadway show “Lick This Boxx!”

“’RuPaul’s Drag Race’ was an amazing platform to get things started,” Boxx says. “It’s fun to see men dress up. Everyone loves Halloween.”

Her drag persona was formed before the show but the show’s influence on her career has been significant. She says she learned more about comedy from the experience.

“It took me from a small town queen to something bigger,” Boxx says.

Manila Luzon, real name Karl Westerberg, was the runner-up on the third season. Since the show, Luzon has left her long-time home New York and moved to Los Angeles. She has been touring the world and performing her own original music. Her drag persona was also fully formed before the show.

“Manila Luzon is an extension of Karl,” Luzon says.” I wear a wig and sparkly heels and thought I might as well perform my own music.”

She thinks the show’s success is due to its diverse audience and is excited to see that reflected on the tour.

“A lot of us have performed in gay nightclubs that have a certain demographic,” Luzon says. “But the show demographic is much bigger than just gays. There are mothers and daughters, families and straight couples who watch. I’m so used to seeing 21-year-old gay boys in nightclubs so this will be different on tour.”

Luzon also thinks the show caters to different popular reality show types.

“It’s like ‘American’s Top Model,’ ‘Real Housewives’ and ‘Basketball Wives’ all in one.”

Boxx and Luzon admit the confines of a reality show can be hard. Boxx likens it to a prison with no contact allowed to the outside world during filming. Luzon is excited to connect with fans now that the show is over. She says once reality shows end, it can be hard for fans to keep up with contestants. The tour allows fans the chance to reconnect with their favorites right in their neighborhood.

The driving force behind the show has been RuPaul. She has become a legendary drag performer and her influence has helped to shape the contestant’s careers and inspire them.

Boxx says RuPaul is friendly and fun but maintains professionalism. She tries to have limited contact with contestants during filming of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” because she’s judging. However, she remained backstage much more during “RuPaul’s Drag U,” the show that gives drag makeovers to three women, where both Boxx and Luzon served as “drag professors.”

“RuPaul is very hands-on with the show. You can really see his influence. He’s inspiring as a person and as a drag queen. I was able to see what a drag queen can have,” Luzon says.

Another facet to the show is Sharon Needles, perhaps the most famous of all “Drag Race” vets. Needles has made a name for herself by being known as the punk rock party girl. Boxx and Luzon say Needles is just as outrageous in real life as on the show. They say her interesting antics, such as being carried out in a coffin, are a big part of her allure.

One trait these “Drag Race” contestants share is that they aren’t from the District. In the show’s history only one drag performer, Tatiana from Falls Church, Va., has been from the local area. Boxx and Luzon believe the reason is a combination of interest and audition tapes.

“It certainly isn’t for a lack of talent. San Francisco has never had any performers on the show either. You really need an amazing audition tape,” Boxx says.

Luzon said the show isn’t a goal for a lot of drag performers.

“Every drag queen in America isn’t thinking ‘Maybe I should be on ‘Drag Race.’ There are also so many girls who don’t get picked. But they have to keep trying and audition again.”

Now that the show is over, the competition has shifted for the contestants. Boxx says there is less pressure because no one is getting eliminated, but there is still a friendly competition. She believes it pushes each performer to give her best effort.

As the tour continues, Boxx says the real story of the tour is what happens off stage. Once while on tour, their bus broke down and they filmed the debacle for YouTube. Boxx says the after-show antics can be just as shocking as the performance itself.

“Put all of us on a bus and that’s the real entertainment,” she says. “The real show is behind the scenes.”

Advertisement
FUND LGBTQ JOURNALISM
SIGN UP FOR E-BLAST

Photos

PHOTOS: Victory Fund National Champagne Brunch

LGBTQ politicians gather for annual event

Published

on

Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.) speaks at the 2025 Victory Fund National Champagne Brunch. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The Victory Fund held its National Champagne Brunch at the Ritz-Carlton on Sunday, April 27. Speakers included Tim Gunn, Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Gov. Wes Moore (D-Md.), Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.), Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) and Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.).

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

Continue Reading

Music & Concerts

Tom Goss returns with ‘Bear Friends Furever Tour’

Out singer/songwriter to perform at Red Bear Brewing Co.

Published

on

Singer Tom Goss is back. (Photo by Dusti Cunningham)

Singer Tom Goss will bring his “Bear Friends Furever Tour” to D.C. on Sunday, June 8 at 8 p.m. at Red Bear Brewing Co. 

Among the songs he will perform will be “Bear Soup,” the fourth installment in his beloved bear song anthology series. Following fan favorites like “Bears,” “Round in All the Right Places,” and “Nerdy Bear,” this high-energy, bass-thumping banger celebrates body positivity, joyful indulgence, and the vibrant spirit of the bear subculture.

For more details, visit Tom Goss’s website.

Continue Reading

Calendar

Calendar: May 2-8

LGBTQ events in the days to come

Published

on

Friday, May 2

“Center Aging Friday Tea Time” will be at 2 p.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected]

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Social in the City” at 7 p.m. at P.F. Chang’s. This event is ideal for making new friends, professional networking, idea-sharing, and community building. This event is free and more details are available on Eventbrite

Saturday, May 3

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ community, including allies, together for delicious food and conversation. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

LGBTQ People of Color Support Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This peer support group is an outlet for LGBTQ People of Color to come together and talk about anything affecting them in a space that strives to be safe and judgment free. There are all sorts of activities like watching movies, poetry events, storytelling, and just hanging out with others. For more information and events for LGBTQ People of Color, visit thedccenter.org/poc or facebook.com/centerpoc

Sunday, May 4

“The Chateau Drag Brunch” will be at 12 p.m. at Chicatana. Enjoy fabulous Mexican food and cocktails while being entertained by a rotating cast of the DMV’s best drag performers. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased on Eventbrite

“The Bubble: Queer Brooklyn Comics in DC” will be at 5 p.m. at As You Are. Queer comedians Charlie Flynn, Evan Lazarus and Keara Sullivan are coming down from NYC for a night of fun as they split an hour of standup comedy. For more details, visit Eventbrite

Monday, May 5

“Center Aging Monday Coffee & Conversation” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more details, email [email protected]

Tuesday, May 6

Universal Pride Meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This group seeks to support, educate, empower, and create change for people with disabilities. For more details, email [email protected]

Wednesday, May 7

Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.

Center Aging Women’s Social and Discussion Group will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom. This group is a place where older queer women can meet and socialize with one another. We will have discussion, activities, and a chance for you to share what you want future events to include. For more details, email [email protected]

Thursday, May 8

The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. To be fair with who is receiving boxes, the program is moving to a lottery system. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5 p.m. if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245. 

Virtual Yoga with Sarah M. will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a free weekly class focusing on yoga, breath work, and meditation. For more details, visit the DC Center for the LGBT Community’s website.

South Asian Support Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. The peer support group is an outlet for South Asian-identified LGBTQ individuals to come and talk about anything affecting them. It’s a secure, judgment-free environment to discuss relationships, sexuality, health, well-being, identity, culture, religion, or anything that is on your mind. For more details, email [email protected]

Continue Reading

Popular