Sasha Velour on New Coming-of-Age Play: “This is the Hardest I’ve Ever Worked”

Sasha Velour on New Coming-of-Age Play: “This is the Hardest I’ve Ever Worked”

As a fan of Sasha Velour and her inspiring journey, it’s truly heartwarming to see her stepping into the spotlight with her new play, “Velour: A Drag Spectacular,” at the La Jolla Playhouse. This isn’t just another drag performance; it’s a sweeping, coming-of-age tale intertwined with the radical history of drag and queer expression, inspired by Velour’s own extraordinary life.


We’re Here star Sasha Velour is starring in a new play at the La Jolla Playhouse.

The Show “Velour: A Spectacle of Drag” is portrayed as a “wide-ranging, journey-of-discovery story that incorporates the groundbreaking history of drag and queer self-expression,” is based on Velour’s personal experiences.

In the newest season of “We’re Here”, former contestants from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” along with their companions venture to Oklahoma and Tennessee, where they connect with the local LGBTQIA+ community and organize drag performances. This program showcases the authentic accounts of individuals who struggled with their queer identities in rural America, as Velour describes it. Moreover, she acknowledges that this narrative mirrors her own upbringing.

“Velour admits to The Hollywood Reporter that while they strive to emphasize their unique qualities and shine, their tale is essentially commonplace. Sharing such a story can have genuine power by breaking down barriers, making queer narratives more approachable and less intimidating or clouded with misinformation.”

Velour asserts that genuine political influence lies in the telling of personal human narratives. She further explains that these stories can be amplified by presenting them dramatically with a touch of sparkle, often leaving people in awe. She also suggests that there’s power in this dramatic presentation as well.

The drag artist has been putting in a lot of effort to make “Velour: A Drag Spectacular” happen. This venture appears to be an engaging test for Velour, who is accustomed to the stage but relatively new to the formal rehearsals and technical aspects that are part of a production like this one. She recalls her earlier show, “Smoke & Mirrors,” and remembers how it came together swiftly and was successful.

Sasha Velour on New Coming-of-Age Play: “This is the Hardest I’ve Ever Worked”

Velour describes it as “nine entirely fresh, highly intricate sequences of drag numbers,” followed by some deeply personal playwriting, she says. This content delves into her upbringing as a gender-fluid child, her family dynamics, and how the impactful history of drag has transformed her life in a profoundly positive manner.

Velour openly expresses her viewpoint that the play represents a significant chance for them. She clarifies, “We’re striving to bring queer narratives onto the stage, even Broadway, aiming to be the main authors of stories about us. This is still quite novel.”

“Velour expresses a sense that each current situation in various media platforms should be optimized for the best outcome. The goal is to create an opportunity for others to experience something similar.”

Velour is recognized for her innovative blend of media in performances, frequently utilizing a projector. As a former contestant on Drag Race, she humorously admits that she “can’t dance” and relies heavily on “stunning costumes and visually appealing backdrops” to compensate for the fact that she primarily just walks.

She mentions that she’s usually stuck with just a single projector due to its high cost, and then adds that she only has access to one surface and whatever clothing she’s wearing as well.

She expresses her excitement about the unique experiences she’s had with a projector, screen, and costumes, but this time, there are opportunities for things she’s long desired to explore. Specifically, she mentions her lifelong ambition to produce a mirror illusion, which she successfully accomplishes during the performance. The star of “We’re Here” explains that the process of developing this illusion has been highly technical and challenging.

Velour feels most comfortable and showcases her abilities best in this kind of performance, stating, “I’d love to be like Sasha Colby, but I’m only capable of doing what I can.” She has strived to reach her full potential.

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2024-08-21 18:54