“RuPaul’s Drag Race: Battle of the Seasons Tour” is making a pit stop in Philly, bringing local fans their favorites from the hit TV show’s history, including Bendelacreme, Ivy Winters, Jinkx Monsoon, Ginger Minj, Violet Chachki, Sharon Needles, Phi Phi O’hara and Katya.
“Drag Race” judge and singer Michelle Visage is hosting the festivities and talked to PGN about this year’s tour and what the show’s growing legion of fans can expect.
PGN: What are the queens going to do live to set themselves apart from the other performers on the tour?
MV: We don’t have an agenda to do such a thing. We are a troupe that performs together, not individuals trying to outshine one another.
PGN: With all the different queens on the tour, is there going to be the same level of drama and cattiness live as there is on the TV show?
MV: Not at all. This is not a live reenactment of the TV show; this is a group of artists showing the crowds what they do best. On the show you only get to see a taste of what they can do. Live you see more.
PGN: Did being on “Drag Race” make you want to push yourself and step up your game as a live entertainer?
MV: No. I’ve always been a live performer and entertainer so it’s up to me to push myself and I do my best to do that everyday. The only one pushing me is me.
PGN: Is the tour drawing a lot of fans from outside the gay community and do you think that is a good thing?
MV: Yes and yes. Raising awareness to LGBTQ+ issues is always a good thing until there are generalized human rights for all. We, as a queer group of performers, will never be accepted completely mainstream and that is OK too. Our audiences are mostly community but there is a larger hereto factor as time goes on. And those are the folks like me who feel or felt that they never had a place where they belonged. This is where they belong. No questions asked. Ever.
PGN: How is this show different from what fans would experience if they saw any of the queens at a club?
MV: Completely different. There’s no lip-syncing; it’s all live, choreographed numbers with video elements, etc. I promise you this will be the best, most evolved drag show you’ll ever see.
“RuPaul’s Drag Race Battle of the Seasons” comes to town 9 p.m. May 31 at The Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St. For more information or tickets, visit www.rupaulbots.com or call 215-627-1332.