Musical theater and the art of drag go hand in hand — both involve costumes, wigs, make-up and occasionally over-the-top performances. So this is not surprising RuPaul's Drag Race he struck gold when he learned to mash the two together.
For nearly a decade, Rusical's challenge transcended its humble origins, becoming a mainstay almost every season. Beginning with “Shade: The Rusical” in season six, the theatrical exercise asked the queens to deliver their best musical caricature performances. Whether you're singing live or lip-syncing along to a pre-recorded track, the goal remains the same: sell your part to the judges.
As season 15 contestant Loosey LaDuca explained Advertising sign Last year, the Rusical challenge works best because it is just that: a challenge. “You can't just skate at Rusical — you can't just go, 'Oh, I hope I get through and be safe.' You have to make an impact,” he said. “It's a tough challenge. You're putting on a pretty extensive show and you have to learn it and execute it very quickly.”
The challenge itself may still be intact, but the artifice surrounding Rusical has changed a lot. During the numerous variations of the challenge, the plot structures used for each Rusical differed – some seasons used completely original creations, while others adapted the life stories of pop divas, historical figures, politicians and TV stars to create a musical narrative.
But in recent seasons, Drag Race seems to have found a formula that works — taking existing Broadway musicals and retrofitting them into a 12-minute easel of hysteria. Forgery properties like Moulin Rouge, Cats and more recently The sound of musicthe Rusical form has blossomed into a ripe opportunity to poke fun at the art form itself.
So, which classic musical theater productions deserve to be given the Russicle treatment? Below, Advertising sign presents five ideas for the future based on favorite Broadway shows:
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Witch, Please: The Russian
RuPaul is known to be obsessed The Wizard of Oz — even dedicated a Season 8 makeover challenge to the beloved story. What better way to show that love than through a Drag Race version of the beloved Broadway musical, Bad? The basis is already there for an easy parody called Witch, please — with a misunderstood lead, a handsome (if somewhat silly) supporting cast, a rogue love interest, a malevolently magical villain, and enough memorable supporting characters to round out a solid cast, Bad presents a perfect opportunity to lovingly poke fun at a legendary show, showcase one of Ru's favorite stories, and give the queens a good story to play with! We could even have Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth back on the judging panel! With the film adaptation coming out soon, there's no better time for one Bad Ruzik.
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West Side StoRu: The Rusical
One thing we've never seen on a Rusical is the art of stage fighting — the program likes to save the verbal punches for episodes Unstuck. But with one West Side Story parody, we could finally see these sparring matches become over-the-top dance battles. What happens when two rival drag houses declare war on each other? Or when two queens on each side start a forbidden affair? If “Something's Coming,” we sure hope it's a repeat of that classic tragedy.
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My Fair Shady: The Russian
“Wouldn't It Be Loverly” if we got a Rusical version of this Broadway classic? A classic story of a woman who transforms from street urchin to high society socialite, the plot of My beautiful lady it's practically perfect in every way (to name another Julie Andrews character) for a short, sweet parody. Maybe this version's Eliza Doolittle is just a broken baby queen who falls under the wing of an established star to elevate her appeal to win a pageant. her enunciation doesn't need work, but her lip syncing skills might! Just the image of a main stage full of queens doing the impossible in loud, ridiculous British accents makes us want to dance the night away.
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ChicaGurl: The Rusical
If you are looking for a Rusical with a bit of “Razzle Dazzle” then a Chicago parody seems like an obvious choice. The story of two merry murderers who try to use the media circus surrounding their trials to become famous already has the makings of an over-the-top farce. Additionally, the iconic choreography gives Ru an excuse to give the queens some Fosse-style sequences to try and dance, making the challenge that much more difficult. After her run as Matron Mama Morton on Broadway, season five and All stars 7 Winner Jinkx Monsoon could even return to offer the queens some helpful tips on how to infuse “All That Jazz” into their performances.
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Little Shop of HorrRus: The Rusical
The central tenet of any acting challenge Drag Race is the definition of camp, and there is arguably no more campy Broadway musical Little Shop of Horrors. Throw in a few cosmetic changes – perhaps Audrey II is a murderous wig instead of a man-eating plant, and Seymour works as a hapless hairdresser rather than a botanist – and you've got a killing challenge on your hands (in the most literal sense). Fans who have been asking the show's producers to “Feed Me” would be left fat and happy with this delightful Rusical.
