Michael CooperThe success of RuPaul’s Drag Race has helped the art of drag become more mainstream than ever before. Between local LGBTQ clubs, social media and reality television, the drag queen market has been saturated with talent. It isn’t hard to stumble somewhere and find a decent drag show in a city like LA, but if you really want to see the cream of the crop, look no further than Voss Events’ Werq The World Tour, the official RuPaul’s Drag Race World Tour.
Werq the World last stopped in L.A. for RuPaul’s DragCon in May, but it’s back this week with a whole new cast and tour. “Mission leader,” aka hostess, with the mostess Asia O’Hara “is on a journey to save the universe with the help of her intergalactic queens” — including Kameron Michaels, Kim Chi, Naomi Smalls, Plastique Tiara, Vanessa “Vanjie” Mateo and season 11 winner Yvie Oddly, plus some other possible surprise guests at the Orpheum Theatre downtown on September 18 (line-up subject to change). With planned choreography, dancers, LED screens and elaborate costumes, Werq The World is considered by many to be the height of a drag show, elevating it beyond just a simple club performance.
(Courtesy of Voss Events)
“The Werq The World Tour is the first and only tour I have been a part of that the production actually cares about the quality of the show,” says season 8 and All Stars 4 queen Naomi Smalls. “Putting effort into the quality of the show makes everyone feel good, which reflects on stage. There is no greater setting than to see all of your favorite queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race able to present the fully realized concept and performance fans love.” In fact, Naomi is so proud of the show and of where she is in her career that she wants everyone she knows to come and see it. “This is the first show that I’ve really gone out of my way to invite my whole family and group of friends because I’m so proud with where I’m at,” she says. “I’ve realized it’s really inspiring to see someone living their best life on stage, I’m really happy I can be that person for an audience.”
(Courtesy of Voss Events)
Werq The World has been immortalized to an even greater degree with the Werq The World docuseries that launched earlier this year on WOW Plus, the streaming platform belonging to the production company behind RuPaul’s Drag Race, World of Wonder. Each episode spotlights a different queen on the tour as it made its way through Europe last year, giving fans a rare and fascinating behind-the-scenes look at what tour life is really like for these queens. It was announced recently that the series was picked up for a second season, meaning we may soon get to have an all-access pass for this new iteration of the show. “The Werq The World docuseries has done a really good job showcasing the reality of what’s going on behind the scenes of the biggest drag show in the world. It feels like an accurate presentation of life on the road showcasing so many different personalities with amazing talents. I’m super excited to work with Jasper Rischen on season 2,” says Naomi Smalls.
Even the Werq The World show itself will be a bit bigger than the one showcased in season one. “I am one of the newer queens in comparison to queens who have been on Werq The World for years like Kim, Violet, Kameron, etc,” says Naomi. “The Werq The World docuseries season 1 showcased the tour a couple years ago when the tour was a lot smaller with less production. The new queens like Plastique, Vanjie and Yvie will be very exciting to tour with and get to know.” If you’re a fan of RuPaul’s Drag Race, or just of drag in general, then Werq The World is a definite must see.
For tickets and more info, please visit vossevents.com/events/werq-the-world/.
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