'You have to find a way to captivate people': Where to see the best drag shows in Phoenix

Laura Latzko
Special for The Republic

Drag performers and male and female entertainers in the LGBTQ community are continually evolving their art forms to bring something new and thrilling to the stage.

During the pandemic, they were challenged to find new ways to channel their creativity and interact with audiences. As COVID-19 restrictions have lifted and bars have reopened in metro Phoenix, performers have taken to the stage to showcase their styles of illusion.

Here are some of the hottest drag shows at bars and clubs around town and what you can expect to see at the performances.

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The Barbra Seville Show

Former Miss Gay Arizona America and Miss Phoenix Pride Barbra Seville started her show 13 years ago at Forbidden in Scottsdale and moved to The Rock in central Phoenix a few years later. Now she has reimagined her show and moved to Bliss ReBAR downtown.

Seville said the new venue gives the show a different vibe.

The Barbra Seville Show started 13 years ago and recently moved to Bliss Rebar this July.

“The great part about being downtown is there is just a different energy down there, being close to campus and the arts district,” Seville said.

The venue, which doesn’t have a traditional stage, lends itself to greater engagement with crowds.

“I prefer an intimate setting and smaller performances where you can really connect with the audience,” Seville said.

Seville has kept her popular Wheel of Shots and added games and prizes, including items from her website and the bar.

Seville will continue to showcase Arizona talent while also presenting out-of-state entertainers. In the past, she has hosted national titleholders such as Kirby Kolby, Suzy Wong, Tonica Cavalli and Coti Collins; parody queen Sherry Vine and Venus D’Lite, Pandora Boxx and Chad Michaels from "RuPaul’s Drag Race."

Seville also will continue to spotlight newcomers and give them a chance to work with more established entertainers as part of her Fresh Face Showcase.

Seville has built her show around glamor, cabaret-style performances and campy humor. This style guides how she chooses her weekly guests. 

“I always want to work with the best. I want to work with people who perform at the level that I try to perform at,” Seville said. “I always try to find people who are different, but the common thread is that they are polished, and they are professional.”

Details: 10 p.m. Saturdays. Bliss ReBAR, 901 N. Fourth St., Phoenix. $5 for individual seats, $10 for tables of two, $20 for tables of four. 602-795-1792, https://www.blissrebar.com.

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The Pride

The Pride started in November at Stacy’s at Melrose and has quickly gained a diverse following. It showcases drag kings and male entertainers who have held the title of Mister Phoenix Pride.

The Pride at Stacy’s at Melrose highlights a diverse cast of local male entertainers and drag kings.

It is the only weekly show in Phoenix’s LGBTQ community to spotlight an all-male/masculine cast. Two members, Eddie Broadway and Geo, have been national titleholders as Mister USofA MI and American National Star, respectively. The cast also features Kristofer V. Lee, Carrington Hall-Dubois and Gray Matter. Along with performing, Lee acts as host and show director.

The cast is often joined by guest performers. Past guests have included Dahli from The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula and Miss Gay America Pattaya Hart.

The show started during the height of COVID-19, which meant the cast had to adhere to strict guidelines. Broadway, who also put on virtual drag shows during the pandemic, said the experience pushed him to grow as a performer.

“It helped me to be more aware of my face and my body. You have to entertain and have people interested in watching you. If you are standing on that tiny stage alone with a visor on, you have to find a way to captivate people,” Broadway said.

The cast members are all different in their looks and music choices. They are connected by their commitment to elevating male and masculine styles of performance. They try not to limit themselves as performers and do numbers by female artists.

“They aren’t going to see the stereotypical male performer or drag king that they might think of," Gray Matter said. "I think that’s because we either inspire each other or bounce off of each other and bring a heightened form. Me personally, my drag has headed more towards gender-bending or feminine looks. Being in an all-male cast, we can be whatever we want to be.”

Details: 9 p.m. Fridays. Stacy’s at Melrose, 4343 N. Seventh Ave., Phoenix. $3.81 for reserved bar seats, $10 for two-seat tables, $15 for three-seat tables, $20 for four-seat tables, $25-$40 for banquette tables for five to eight. 602-264-1700, https://stacysatmelrose.com.

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4Some Revue

At the 4Some Revue at Kobalt, audiences can see up-and-coming performers with unique styles and a common thread of being high-energy and pop-centered.

The show started at Club Volt over four years ago and moved to Kobalt two years ago.  

Most of the cast members have been doing drag for about five years. As emerging performers, they are working to make a name for themselves in Phoenix and nationally.

They perform numbers by Britney Spears, Dua Lipa, Beyonce, Whitney Houston, Madonna, Mariah Carey and Kylie Minogue. Sometimes they do Takeover nights where they present numbers by a single artist, such as Lady Gaga or Ariana Grande.

Joey Jay is a competitor on "RuPaul's Drag Race" Season 13, premiering 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 1, 2021 on VH1.

Joey Jay, one of the show’s regular cast members, appeared on season 13 of "RuPaul’s Drag Race." The show also stars three members of the DeMilo drag family, Salem, Gigi and Mynx. Drag queens Toothpick and Luna Love St. James are also part of the cast.

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From the time he started the show at Club Volt, director Andrew Dubry wanted to highlight emerging talent.

“I built a show around newer queens that were fresh out of the gate. I was just trying to create something different that Phoenix didn’t have at the time,” Dubry said.

The shows also highlight guest performers from out of state and drag queens from "RuPaul’s Drag Race." On July 9, Utica Queen from "Drag Race" made a guest appearance.

Toothpick said seeing drag performers with different styles and from other states  encourages her to evolve and grow as a performer.

“Drag is a community. You learn from the people who came before you and you learn from your peers,” Toothpick said. 

Details: 10 p.m. Fridays. Kobalt Bar, 3110 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. $15 for a table for two, $25 for a table of four, $35 for a table of six. 602-264-5307, https://www.kobaltbarphoenix.com.

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