jinkx monsoon tour 2022

Jinkx Monsoon Announces 'Everything at Stake' Tour Dates

The public on-sale will take place Friday, February 24 at 9 a.m. local time.

The Queen of all Queens is ready to cast her next great spell! Two-time RuPaul's Drag Race winner and Broadway breakout star Jinkx Monsoon will launch her biggest tour to date with Jinkx Monsoon: Everything at Stake.

After Monsoon finishes up her run as Matron 'Mama' Morton in Chicago on Broadway on March 12, her summer tour will perform in 44 cities across the U.S. and Canada from June 12 - August 14.

For the first time ever, Jinkx and her musical main squeeze Major Scales will tour with a full rock band performing a decades' worth of covers and original music from her critically-acclaimed albums (The Ginger Snapped, The Inevitable Album), along with new songs from her upcoming 3-part album The Virgo Odyssey.

Known for her electric and eclectic performance style, "Everything at Stake" shows Jinkx weaving together tales from her enigmatic life in a show where music, comedy, witchy magic, and camp-fantasy collide. At a time where literally everything is at stake, get ready for a spellbinding, bombastic, and revolutionary experience straight from the heart of this "internationally tolerated" superstar.

Registration for the "Everything at Stake" Artist Presale begins at 9 a.m. PST here , and registered users will receive presale codes on Wednesday, February 22nd at 12 p.m. PST. The public on-sale will take place Friday, February 24 at 9 a.m. local time here .

Monsoon says, "It's all been building to this! 'Everything at Stake' marks my biggest concert tour ever- where I get to flex every one of my performance muscles with my musical partner in crime, Major Scales. What's most exciting is, we're coming to over 40 cities across North America, many of which will be for the FIRST TIME! I know, crazy, right? In these tumultuous times, it's important to unapologetically claim our space as queer and trans people; to celebrate the revolutionary act of drag and living one's truth. I'm getting my broom ready, I can't wait to see you soon. Mama loves you."

The tour announcement comes during a whirlwind year for Monsoon. In January, she made her Broadway debut (a lifelong goal since she began doing drag at 15) in one of the longest running shows on Broadway-Chicago-playing Matron "Mama" Morton.

She kicked off her press tour for Chicago by becoming the first RuPaul's Drag Race queen to guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers, which quickly went viral when it hit online for her celebrity impressions. She's also recently appeared on CBS Mornings, Good Morning America.

Last summer, Jinkx competed on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 7, becoming the first drag queen in Drag Race "herstory" to win the crown twice, earning the coveted title "Queen of All Queens" in a competition against previous winners. Her most recent tour was the critically-acclaimed theatrical spectacular, "The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show" (Produced by BenDeLaCreme Presents) co-starring with her best friend and fellow drag superstar, BenDeLaCreme.

The 2022 tour became their highest grossing holiday tour to date and is expected to return for its 6th year this holiday season. Jinkx also released her latest studio EP, The Virgo Odyssey: Prologue (PEG Records), spawning cult hits like "Know-It-All" and her dazzling cover of "Strange Magic" by Electric Light Orchestra.

The "Jinkx Monsoon: Everything at Stake" tour is produced by the AEG Presents Comedy Division in association with the Producer Entertainment Group (PEG).

Jinkx Monsoon Tour Dates

June 12 - Victoria, BC (Royal Theatre)

June 13 - Vancouver, BC (Orpheum Theatre)

June 16 - Calgary, AB (Southern Jubilee Auditorium)

June 18 - Edmonton, AB (Northern Jubilee Auditorium)

June 20 - Regina, SK (Conexus Art Center)

June 21 - Winnipeg, MB (Burton Cummings Theatre)

June 23 - Toronto, ON (Massey Hall)

June 24 - Kitchener, ON (Centre in the Square)

June 25 - Ottawa, ON (Southam Hall)

June 26 - Montreal, QC (Olympia De Montreal)

June 28 - Albany, NY (The Egg)

June 29 - New Haven, CT (College Street Music Hall)

June 30 - Boston, MA (Shubert Theatre)

July 1 - Brooklyn, NY (Kings Theatre)

July 5 - Durham, NC (Carolina Theatre)

July 6 - Tysons, VA (Capital One Hall)

July 7 - Glenside, PA (Keswick Theatre)

July 8 - Cleveland, OH (The Agora)

July 9 - Pittsburgh, PA (Stage AE)

July 11 - Columbus, OH (KEMBA Live!)

July 12 - Royal Oak, MI (Royal Oak Music Hall)

July 14 - Chicago, IL (Chicago Theatre)

July 15 - Milwaukee, Wi (Pabst Theater)

July 16 - St. Paul, MN (The Fitzgerald Theater)

July 18 - Newport, KY (MegaCorp Pavillion)

July 19 - Charlotte, NC (Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts)

July 20 - Atlanta, GA (The Eastern)

July 22 - Tampa, FL (Tampa Theatre)

July 23 - Orlando, FL (Hard Rock Live)

July 24 - Coral Springs, FL (Coral Springs Center)

July 26 - New Orleans, LA (The Orpheum)

July 27 - Austin, TX (Paramount Theatre)

July 28 - Dallas, TX (Majestic Theater)

July 29 - Kansas City, MO (Folly Theater)

July 30 - Midwest City, OK (Rose State College Hudiberg Chevrolet Center)

August 1 - Denver, CO (Ellie Caulkins Opera House)

August 2 - Salt Lake City, UT (Eccles Theater)

August 6 - San Diego, CA (The Balboa Theatre)

August 8 - Los Angeles, CA (The Orpheum Theatre)

August 9 - San Jose, CA (California Theatre)

August 10 - San Francisco, CA (Warfield Theatre)

August 12 - Seattle, WA (Paramount Theatre)

August 13 - Spokane, WA (Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox)

August 14 - Portland, OR (Keller Auditorium)

About Jinkx Monsoon

Two-time RuPaul's Drag Race winner and Broadway breakout star Jinkx Monsoon (she/her) is the "internationally tolerated" drag icon who's taken over the entertainment industry as an award-winning stage actress, acclaimed vocalist, stand-up comic, and theatre sensation.

Jinkx has garnered an international fan base following her win on RuPaul's Drag Race Season 5 (2013), and continued her winning streak on RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 7 (2022) where she was crowned "Queen of All Queens", competing against previous winners. In 2023, Jinkx made her highly-anticipated Broadway debut as Matron "Mama" Morton in Broadway's longest-running show, Chicago.

She has toured the world performing her original cabaret shows with music partner Major Scales, including highly-acclaimed shows like The Ginger Snapped, The Vaudevillians (which became a hit off-broadway sensation) and their most recent production, Together Again, Again (2022). As a recording artist, Jinkx has released three critically-hailed albums of original music written by Major Scales including her most recent The Virgo Odyssey (2022), The Inevitable Album and The Ginger Snapped.

In 2018, she partnered with best friend and fellow RuPaul's Drag Race star, BenDeLaCreme for their first major holiday tour To Jesus, Thanks for Everything! - Jinkx and DeLa. Jinkx and DeLa's co-written holiday productions have grown into a worldwide phenomenon, spawning the 2019 tour, All I Want for Christmas is Attention, a Hulu holiday hit, The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Special (2020), and The Return of the Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show, LIVE! (2021) which performed for sold-out audiences across the U.S., U.K. and Canada. In 2022, she and DeLa had their highest grossing international tour to date with their 5th annual The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show.

No stranger to film and TV, Jinkx has appeared on the CBS cop drama Blue Bloods, the Netflix original AJ and the Queen, and has voiced characters for such animated shows as Steven Universe, Mighty Magiswords, Bravest Warriors, as well as a few surprises that are yet to come! Jinkx has been the subject of two documentaries: Drag Becomes Him, and The Queens.

She is an award-winning stage actress, having won the Gregory Award for her portrayal of Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and most recently, The MAC Award for her show The Ginger Snapped, co-written with Major Scales.

Recommended For You

YASS Magazine

Jinkx monsoon & bendelacreme announce 2022 north american tour, “the jinkx & dela holiday show”.

This marks the duo’s fourth self-written holiday show produced and directed by BenDeLaCreme

“Sure to lift your spirits and make you howl with laughter…” – The New York Times

You better watch out, you better not cry, because global drag icons and RuPaul’s Drag Race stars, BenDeLaCreme and Jinkx Monsoon are coming back to town with the wildly successful, internationally acclaimed The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show (Produced by BenDeLaCreme Presents) . The 26-city tour will run from November 17 – December 30 across the U.K, U.S. and Canada with a new show written by Jinkx & DeLa that proves why they’re still the reigning “queens of Christmas” ( Entertainment Weekly ).

Following the massive success of three previous holiday tours, fans can expect another year of fabulous spectacle, whip-smart comedy, brand new songs, and annual favorites. Join the sugary DeLa and spicy Jinkx for an evening The New York Times says is “sure to lift your spirits and make you howl with laughter.”

BenDeLaCreme says, “ The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show is joyous, hilarious, surrealist, communal, and heartwarming. Nothing makes me feel more connected to the good in the world than the seas of people we get to celebrate the season with night after night–laughing, cheering, and being in our feelings together. I’m so lucky to get to experience that each year, and I hope you all will experience it with us.” 

Jinkx Monsoon (who’s currently slaying the competition on All Stars 7 ) adds , “ The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show will take everything you expect from a drag queen variety show, and spin it on its side. It will test the limits of stupidity, while being unexpectedly deep and reflective. We strive for entertainment while always proving that the holidays are for you to celebrate however you want to.” 

BenDeLaCreme and Jinkx Monsoon are the sole writers of their holiday shows, a major achievement for two drag artists who tour at such a large scale each year. Jinkx says , “I think it is important that the show is created BY us, so it’s decidedly FOR us, and those like us. So often, queer and drag stories are written by outsiders, and lack an authenticity that queer audiences crave. Creating the show ourselves, from the ground up, ensures that that authenticity is infused in every aspect of the production.” 

DeLa adds , “Jinkx and I LOVE writing. We are passionate and have something to say. It comes from the heart. Writing AND performing as a combo is the best way for us to express what drives us as artists and as humans and fortunately, on top of that, people just happen to think we’re very funny.”  

For the past four years, Jinkx and DeLa have owned the season with their sold-out holiday tours including To Jesus, Thanks for Everything in 2018 , All I Want for Christmas Is Attention in 2019 and The Return of the Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show, LIVE! In 2021. In 2020, BenDeLaCreme produced her first-ever film under BenDeLaCreme Presents with The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Special (Hulu / PVOD), a 60-minute variety special made for the screen. The special debuted to critical acclaim and solidified itself as a global queer holiday must-watch for years to come. 

The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show is co-written and co-created by BenDeLaCreme and Jinkx Monsoon, directed by BenDeLaCreme, and produced by BenDeLaCreme Presents, a company comprised of producers BenDeLaCreme, Kevin Heard, and Gus Lanza. For more information, and to sign up for updates, visit jinkxanddela.com .

For press inquiries and to be connected with BenDeLaCreme and Jinkx Monsoon for interviews, please contact Robbie at [email protected] and Matt at [email protected] directly.

Tour Dates:

November 17 – London, UK (London Palladium)

November 18 – Sheffield, UK (Sheffield City Hall)

November 19 – Manchester, UK (Manchester Opera House)

November 20 – Brighton, UK (Brighton Dome)

November 23 – Buffalo, NY (Riviera Theatre)

November 25 – Toronto, ON (Queen Elizabeth Theatre)

November 26 – Ottawa, ON (Algonquin Commons Theatre)

November 27 – Montreal, QC (Olympia)

November 29 – Boston, MA (Chevalier Theatre)

November 30 – Philadelphia, PA (The Fillmore)

December 2 – New York, NY (Town Hall)

December 3 – New York, NY (Town Hall)

December 4 – Washington, DC (Lincoln Theatre)

December 6 – St. Paul, MN (The Fitzgerald Theater)

December 7 – Chicago, IL (Auditorium Theatre)

December 8 – Detroit, MI (Royal Oak Music Theatre)

December 9 – Indianapolis (Murat Theatre at Old National Centre)

December 11 – Austin, TX (Paramount Theatre)

December 12 – Dallas, TX (Majestic Theatre)

December 14 – Denver, CO (Paramount Theatre)

December 16 – San Diego, CA (Balboa Theatre)

December 17 – San Francisco, CA (The Warfield)

December 18 – Los Angeles, CA (Orpheum Theatre)

December 21 – Seattle, WA (Moore Theatre)

December 22 – Seattle, WA (Moore Theatre)

December 23 – Seattle, WA (Moore Theatre)

December 24 – Seattle, WA (Moore Theatre)

December 27 – Portland, OR (Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall)

December 29 – Calgary, AB (Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium)

December 30 – Vancouver, BC (Vogue Theatre)

Additional Praise for The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show:

“Jinkx Monsoon and BenDeLaCreme are the Queens of Christmas.” 

– Entertainment Weekly

“Filled with queer Christmas cheer, these queens deliver the goodies.” 

– Film Inquiry

“A masterclass in polished, elevated drag, that plays to the special talents of its stars, this is a pairing not to be missed.”

– Glasgow Theatre

“[Jinkx & Dela] are experts at the kind of physical comedy Lucille Ball perfected in her heyday. Whether it’s with a snarl of the lip, in Jinkx’s case, or a widening of the eyes, in DeLa’s, each has the ability to make small movements speak volumes…”

– Exeunt Magazine

“A double dose of delight…One story, two queens, and an extravagantly side-splitting evening.”

– Out Front Magazine

About BenDeLaCreme

Director, Producer, Co-Creator, Co-Writer, Starring as Herself

Sweet as pie and sharp as cheddar, the Terminally Delightful BenDeLaCreme is known for combining her background in performing and visual arts with a love of spectacle, glamor, and Saturday morning cartoons.

She has dazzled crowds throughout the Americas, Europe, and Australia, premiered four critically acclaimed solo shows Off-Broadway, as well as written, directed, and produced myriad narrative works and variety spectaculars that have played to sold-out audiences for over a decade. BenDeLaCreme’s live performances have received glowing reviews: “Keeping you entertained while making you think about your place in the world is all a part of the BenDeLaCreme experience,” said Forbes and Billboard raves that her work “…soars past entertainment and into the realm of theatrical art.”

BenDeLaCreme has appeared on two seasons of the Emmy Award-winning RuPaul’s Drag Race , her first go-round securing her a spot among the show’s “15 Fan Favorites of All Time.” After being crowned “Miss Congeniality” on Season 6, she returned to compete on the third season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars on VH1 where she garnered more challenge wins than any other competitor in the show’s history, among other series records.

Continuing to break new ground by, and for, drag artists, DeLa’s production company, BenDeLaCreme Presents, produced its first national tour in 2018 with, To Jesus, Thanks for Everything! -Jinkx and DeLa , co-created and co-written by BenDeLaCreme and Jinkx Monsoon. In 2019, the queens hit the road again with a brand new holiday show titled All I Want for Christmas is Attention . That tour was a sold-out sensation and marked DeLa’s first producer credit for an international tour. In 2020, BenDeLaCreme self-produced, directed and co-wrote her debut film under BenDeLaCreme Presents, The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Special which became a critical and commercial success, leading to an exclusive licensing deal with Hulu. Her 2021 holiday tour, The Return of the Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show, LIVE! , marked the queen’s highest grossing tour under BenDeLaCreme Presents, further showcasing DeLa’s growing impact within the drag and theater industry as a producing powerhouse. In 2022, DeLa returned to her critically-hailed solo show, BenDeLaCreme is…Ready To Be Committed for her biggest international solo tour yet. 

RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon is the “internationally tolerated” cabaret icon who’s taken over the entertainment industry as an award-winning actress, acclaimed vocalist, and theatre sensation. She’s now competing on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 7 amongst a cast of all winning contestants. 

Since gaining a massive international fan base, Jinkx has toured the world performing her original cabaret shows with music partner Major Scales, including highly-acclaimed shows like The Ginger Snapped , The Vaudevillians (which became a hit off-broadway sensation) and their most recent production, Together Again, Again (2022). In 2018, she partnered with best friend and fellow RuPaul’s Drag Race star, BenDeLaCreme for their first major holiday tour To Jesus, Thanks for Everything! – Jinkx and DeLa. Jinkx and DeLa’s co-written holiday productions have grown into a worldwide phenomenon, spawning the 2019 tour, All I Want for Christmas is Attention , a Hulu holiday hit, The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Special (2020), and The Return of the Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show, LIVE! (2021) which performed for sold-out audiences across the U.S., U.K. and Canada. 

She is an award-winning stage actress, having won the Gregory Award for her portrayal of Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch , and most recently, The MAC Award for her show The Ginger Snapped , co-written with Major Scales. No stranger to film and TV, Jinkx has appeared on the CBS cop drama Blue Bloods , the Netflix original AJ and the Queen , and has voiced characters for such animated shows as Steven Universe , Mighty Magiswords , Bravest Warriors , as well as a few surprises that are yet to come! Jinkx has been the subject of two documentaries: Drag Becomes Him , and The Queens . 

Jinkx is gearing up for the release of her new EP out summer 2022, and has dropped the lead single and music video for the project, “Know-It-All” written by Major Scales. Jinkx has released two albums featuring original music by Major Scales: The Inevitable Album and The Ginger Snapped.

Jinkx has been the subject of two documentaries: Drag Becomes Him , and The Queens . She is an award winning stage actress, having won the Gregory Award for her portrayal of Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch , and most recently, The MAC Award for her show The Ginger Snapped . 

Jinkx Monsoon’s Pronouns

Share this:

Leave a comment cancel reply.

• Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
• Subscribe Subscribed
• Copy shortlink
• Report this content
• View post in Reader
• Manage subscriptions
• Collapse this bar

• Skip to content
• Accessibility
• Buy Tickets

Jinkx Monsoon: Everything at Stake

• Date July 6 , 2023
• Doors Open 7:00 PM
• Venue Main Theater
• Ticket Prices Tickets Start At $52.50
• On Sale On Sale Now

Event Details

This Show is Age Restricted – 18+

The Witch of all Witches is ready to cast her next great spell! Two-time RuPaul's Drag Race winner and Broadway breakout star Jinkx Monsoon presents her biggest concert tour to date with "Everything at Stake." For the first time ever, Jinkx and her musical main squeeze Major Scales, will tour North America with a full rock band performing a decade worth of covers and original music from her critically-acclaimed albums (The Ginger Snapped, The Inevitable Album), along with new songs from her upcoming 3-part album The Virgo Odyssey. Known for her electric and eclectic performance style, Jinkx weaves together tales from her enigmatic life in a show where music, comedy, witchy magic, and camp-fantasy collide. At a time where literally everything is at stake, get ready for a spell binding, bombastic, and revolutionary experience straight from the heart of this "internationally tolerated" superstar.

_______________

Two-time RuPaul’s Drag Race winner and Broadway breakout star Jinkx Monsoon (she/her) is the “internationally tolerated” drag icon who’s taken over the entertainment industry as an award-winning stage actress, acclaimed vocalist, stand-up comic, and theatre sensation. 

Jinkx has garnered an international fan base following her win on RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 5 (2013), and continued her winning streak on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 7 (2022) where she was crowned “Queen of All Queens”, competing against previous winners. In 2023, Jinkx made her highly-anticipated Broadway debut as Matron “Mama” Morton in Broadway’s longest-running show, Chicago. 

She has toured the world performing her original cabaret shows with music partner Major Scales , including highly-acclaimed shows like The Ginger Snapped , The Vaudevillians (which became a hit off-broadway sensation) and their most recent production, Together Again, Again (2022).  As a recording artist, Jinkx has released three critically-hailed albums of original music written by Major Scales including her most recent The Virgo Odyssey (2022) , The Inevitable Album and The Ginger Snapped. 

In 2018, she partnered with best friend and fellow RuPaul’s Drag Race star, BenDeLaCreme for their first major holiday tour To Jesus, Thanks for Everything! - Jinkx and DeLa . Jinkx and DeLa’s co-written holiday productions have grown into a worldwide phenomenon, spawning the 2019 tour, All I Want for Christmas is Attention , a Hulu holiday hit, The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Special (2020), and The Return of the Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show, LIVE! (2021) which performed for sold-out audiences across the U.S., U.K. and Canada. In 2022, she and DeLa  had their highest grossing international tour to date with their 5th annual The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show. 

No stranger to film and TV, Jinkx has appeared on the CBS cop drama Blue Bloods , the Netflix original AJ and the Queen , and has voiced characters for such animated shows as Steven Universe , Mighty Magiswords , Bravest Warriors , as well as a few surprises that are yet to come! Jinkx has been the subject of two documentaries: Drag Becomes Him , and The Queens . She is an award-winning stage actress, having won the Gregory Award for her portrayal of Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch , and most recently, The MAC Award for her show The Ginger Snapped , co-written with Major Scales

Related Links

• Jinkx Monsoon's Website
• Jinkx Monsoon on Facebook
• Jinkx Monsoon on Twitter
• Jinkx Monsoon on Instagram
• Jinkx Monsoon on TikTok
• Jinkx Monsoon on YouTube

Main Theater

Scriptswidget, join our newsletter.

BenDeLaCreme and Jinkx Monsoon Announce 2022 Tour

You better watch out, you better not cry, because global drag superstars BenDeLaCreme and Jinkx Monsoon are ready deck the halls this holiday season with a new version of their internationally acclaimed Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show .

Produced by BenDeLaCreme Presents, fans can expect another year of fabulous spectacle, whip-smart comedy, brand new songs, and annual favorites. Join the sugary DeLa and spicy Jinkx for an evening The New York Times says is “sure to lift your spirits and make you howl with laughter.”

The 30-city tour will run from November 17 – December 30 across the U.S., U.K, and Canada.

“The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show is joyous, hilarious, surrealist, communal, and heartwarming,” DeLa says in a press release. “Nothing makes me feel more connected to the good in the world than the seas of people we get to celebrate the season with night after night – laughing, cheering, and being in our feelings together. I’m so lucky to get to experience that each year, and I hope you all will experience it with us.” 

For the past four years, Jinkx and DeLa have owned the season with their sold-out holiday tours including To Jesus, Thanks for Everything in 2018, All I Want for Christmas Is Attention in 2019 and The Return of the Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show, LIVE! in 2021. Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, DeLa went on to produce her first-ever film under BenDeLaCreme Presents with The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Special (Hulu / PVOD), a 60-minute variety special made for the screen.

The special debuted to critical acclaim and solidified itself as a global queer holiday must-watch for years to come. 

DeLa and Jinkx are the sole writers of their holiday shows, a major achievement for two drag artists who tour at such a large scale each year.

“I think it is important that the show is created by us, so it’s decidedly for us, and those like us,” Jinkx says. “So often, queer and drag stories are written by outsiders, and lack an authenticity that queer audiences crave. Creating the show ourselves, from the ground up, ensures that that authenticity is infused in every aspect of the production.” 

For more information and a complete list of tour dates, visit JinkxandDeLa.com . 

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Out & About Today Nashville Channel 5

Jinkx Monsoon and BenDeLaCreme 2022 North American Tour

Jinkx Monsoon and BenDeLaCreme Holiday Show

You better watch out, you better not cry, because global drag icons and RuPaul’s Drag Race stars, BenDeLaCreme and Jinkx Monsoon are coming back to town with the wildly successful, internationally acclaimed The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show (Produced by BenDeLaCreme Presents). The 22-city North American tour will run from November 23 - December 30 across the U.S. and Canada with a new show written by Jinkx & DeLa that proves why they’re still the reigning “queens of Christmas” ( Entertainment Weekly ).

General on-sale begins July 7 at 10am PT / 11am MT / 12pm CT / 1pm ET / 6pm BT.

Following the massive success of three previous holiday tours, fans can expect another year of fabulous spectacle, whip-smart comedy, brand new songs, and annual favorites. Join the sugary DeLa and spicy Jinkx for an evening The New York Times says is “sure to lift your spirits and make you howl with laughter.”

BenDeLaCreme says, “ The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show is joyous, hilarious, surrealist, communal, and heartwarming. Nothing makes me feel more connected to the good in the world than the seas of people we get to celebrate the season with night after night--laughing, cheering, and being in our feelings together. I’m so lucky to get to experience that each year, and I hope you all will experience it with us.”

Jinkx Monsoon (who’s currently slaying the competition on All Stars 7 ) adds, “ The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show will take everything you expect from a drag queen variety show, and spin it on its side. It will test the limits of stupidity while being unexpectedly deep and reflective. We strive for entertainment while always proving that the holidays are for you to celebrate however you want to.”

BenDeLaCreme and Jinkx Monsoon are the sole writers of their holiday shows, a major achievement for two drag artists who tour at such a large scale each year. Jinkx says, “I think it is important that the show is created BY us, so it's decidedly FOR us, and those like us. So often, queer and drag stories are written by outsiders, and lack an authenticity that queer audiences crave. Creating the show ourselves, from the ground up, ensures that that authenticity is infused in every aspect of the production.”

DeLa adds, “Jinkx and I LOVE writing. We are passionate and have something to say. It comes from the heart. Writing AND performing as a combo is the best way for us to express what drives us as artists and as humans and fortunately, on top of that, people just happen to think we’re very funny.”

For the past four years, Jinkx and DeLa have owned the season with their sold-out holiday tours including To Jesus, Thanks for Everything in 2018 , All I Want for Christmas Is Attention in 2019 and The Return of the Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show, LIVE! In 2021. In 2020, BenDeLaCreme produced her first-ever film under BenDeLaCreme Presents with The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Special (Hulu / PVOD), a 60-minute variety special made for the screen. The special debuted to critical acclaim and solidified itself as a global queer holiday must-watch for years to come.

The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show is co-written and co-created by BenDeLaCreme and Jinkx Monsoon, directed by BenDeLaCreme, and produced by BenDeLaCreme Presents, a company comprised of producers BenDeLaCreme, Kevin Heard, and Gus Lanza. For more information, and to sign up for updates, visit jinkxanddela.com .

Additional dates across the UK will be announced shortly.

November 23 - Buffalo, NY (Riviera Theatre)

November 25 - Toronto, ON (Queen Elizabeth Theatre)

November 26 - Ottawa, ON (Algonquin Commons Theatre)

November 27 - Montreal, QC (Olympia)

November 29 - Boston, MA (Chevalier Theatre)

November 30 - Philadelphia, PA (The Fillmore)

December 2 - New York, NY (Town Hall)

December 3 - New York, NY (Town Hall)

December 4 - Washington, DC (Lincoln Theatre)

December 6 - St. Paul, MN (The Fitzgerald Theater)

December 7 - Chicago, IL (Auditorium Theatre)

December 8 - Detroit, MI (Royal Oak Music Theatre)

December 9 - Indianapolis (Murat Theatre at Old National Centre)

December 11 - Austin, TX (Paramount Theatre)

December 12 - Dallas, TX (Majestic Theatre)

December 14 - Denver, CO (Paramount Theatre)

December 16 - San Diego, CA (Balboa Theatre)

December 17 - San Francisco, CA (The Warfield)

December 18 - Los Angeles, CA (Orpheum Theatre)

December 21 - Seattle, WA (Moore Theatre)

December 22 - Seattle, WA (Moore Theatre)

December 23 - Seattle, WA (Moore Theatre)

December 24 - Seattle, WA (Moore Theatre)

December 27 - Portland, OR (Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall)

December 29 - Calgary, AB (Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium)

December 30 - Vancouver, BC (Vogue Theatre)

About BenDeLaCreme

BenDeLaCreme

Photo courtesy of BenDeLaCreme Presents

​ Director, Producer, Co-Creator, Co-Writer, Starring as Herself

Sweet as pie and sharp as cheddar, the Terminally Delightful BenDeLaCreme is known for combining her background in performing and visual arts with a love of spectacle, glamor, and Saturday morning cartoons.

She has dazzled crowds throughout the Americas, Europe, and Australia, premiered four critically acclaimed solo shows Off-Broadway, as well as written, directed, and produced myriad narrative works and variety spectaculars that have played to sold-out audiences for over a decade. BenDeLaCreme’s live performances have received glowing reviews: “Keeping you entertained while making you think about your place in the world is all a part of the BenDeLaCreme experience,” said Forbes and Billboard raves that her work “...soars past entertainment and into the realm of theatrical art.”

BenDeLaCreme has appeared on two seasons of the Emmy Award-winning RuPaul's Drag Race , her first go-round securing her a spot among the show’s “15 Fan Favorites of All Time.” After being crowned “Miss Congeniality” on Season 6, she returned to compete on the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars on VH1 where she garnered more challenge wins than any other competitor in the show’s history, among other series records.

Continuing to break new ground by, and for, drag artists, DeLa’s production company, BenDeLaCreme Presents, produced its first national tour in 2018 with, To Jesus, Thanks for Everything! -Jinkx and DeLa , co-created and co-written by BenDeLaCreme and Jinkx Monsoon. In 2019, the queens hit the road again with a brand new holiday show titled All I Want for Christmas is Attention . That tour was a sold-out sensation and marked DeLa’s first producer credit for an international tour. In 2020, BenDeLaCreme self-produced, directed, and co-wrote her debut film under BenDeLaCreme Presents, The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Special which became a critical and commercial success, leading to an exclusive licensing deal with Hulu. Her 2021 holiday tour, The Return of the Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show, LIVE! , marked the queen’s highest-grossing tour under BenDeLaCreme Presents, further showcasing DeLa’s growing impact within the drag and theater industry as a producing powerhouse. In 2022, DeLa returned to her critically-hailed solo show, BenDeLaCreme is…Ready To Be Committed for her biggest international solo tour yet.

About Jinx Monsoon

Jinkx Monsoon

​ Co-Creator, Co-Writer, Starring as Herself

RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon is the “internationally tolerated” cabaret icon who’s taken over the entertainment industry as an award-winning actress, acclaimed vocalist, and theatre sensation. She’s now competing on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 7 amongst a cast of all winning contestants.

Since gaining a massive international fan base, Jinkx has toured the world performing her original cabaret shows with music partner Major Scales, including highly-acclaimed shows like The Ginger Snapped , The Vaudevillians (which became a hit off-broadway sensation), and their most recent production, Together Again, Again (2022). In 2018, she partnered with best friend and fellow RuPaul’s Drag Race star, BenDeLaCreme for their first major holiday tour To Jesus, Thanks for Everything! - Jinkx and DeLa. Jinkx and DeLa’s co-written holiday productions have grown into a worldwide phenomenon, spawning the 2019 tour, All I Want for Christmas is Attention , a Hulu holiday hit, The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Special (2020), and The Return of the Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show, LIVE! (2021) which performed for sold-out audiences across the U.S., U.K., and Canada.

She is an award-winning stage actress, having won the Gregory Award for her portrayal of Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch , and most recently, The MAC Award for her show The Ginger Snapped , co-written with Major Scales. No stranger to film and TV, Jinkx has appeared on the CBS cop drama Blue Bloods , the Netflix original AJ and the Queen , and has voiced characters for such animated shows as Steven Universe , Mighty Magiswords , Bravest Warriors , as well as a few surprises that are yet to come! Jinkx has been the subject of two documentaries: Drag Becomes Him and The Queens .

Jinkx is gearing up for the release of her new EP out summer 2022 and has dropped the lead single and music video for the project, “Know-It-All” written by Major Scales. Jinkx has released two albums featuring original music by Major Scales: The Inevitable Album and The Ginger Snapped.

Jinkx has been the subject of two documentaries: Drag Becomes Him and The Queens . She is an award-winning stage actress, having won the Gregory Award for her portrayal of Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch , and most recently, The MAC Award for her show The Ginger Snapped .

• 'Drag Race' stars Ben DeLaCreme and Jinkx Monsoon on tour this ... ›
• Jinkx & DeLa ›

WhistlePig and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Wind Tunnel-Trialed Whiskey Is a Ryed You Don’t Want to Miss

SHOREHAM, VT (September 13, 2023) — WhistlePig Whiskey , the leaders in independent craft whiskey, and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake are waving the checkered flag on a legend-worthy release that’s taking whiskey to G-Force levels. The Limited Edition PiggyBack Legends Series: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is a high Rye Whiskey selected by the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake drivers, with barrels trialed in their wind tunnel to ensure a thrilling taste in every sip.

The third iteration in WhistlePig’s Single Barrel PiggyBack Legends Series, the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is bottled at 96.77 proof, a nod to Valtteri Bottas’ racing number, 77, and the precision of racing. Inspired by Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese F1 driver, this Rye Whiskey is finished with lychee and oolong tea. Herbal and floral notes of the oolong tea complement the herbaceous notes of WhistlePig’s signature PiggyBack 100% Rye, rounded out with a juicy tropical fruit finish and a touch of spice.

Like Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s signature C43 racing vehicles, trial barrels were tested in the team’s wind tunnel in Switzerland before hitting the track. Select barrels then endured varying levels of G-Forces at the WhistlePig farm and distillery for the finishing touch, accelerating the interaction between the whiskey and the wood, staying true to the physical nature of Formula 1.

“Partnering with WhistlePig has been a very exciting experience. Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake is dedicated to being the best on the track, and the crew at WhistlePig is fearless in their pursuit to create the best whiskey out there,” said Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s driver. “We’re really looking forward to fans tasting our custom Rye Whiskey and raising a glass to the rookies, veterans, legends and the exhilarating sport of F1.”

"Joining forces with WhistlePig to release a Single Barrel Rye Whiskey that represents my culture and team has been an honor,” said Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake’s driver. “Formula 1 brings together fearless, thrill-seeking motorsports professionals, and WhistlePig has a shared passion for boundary-pushing innovation. Together, we’ve selected something alarmingly good for fans to enjoy this season when the cars are not on track.”

The Limited Edition Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel will be available for purchase online starting around September 13 for $49.99 MSRP per 750ml bottle and sold in select stores across the U.S. Consumers can win VIP merchandise by scanning the QR code on the back of each bottle.

"We're taking our third Legends Series release on a ryed like never before,” said Meghan Ireland, WhistlePig Head Blender. "Our experiments with dynamic aging went full throttle during finishing trials at the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake wind tunnel, in turn inspiring new ways to expose barrels to G-forces back at the WhistlePig Farm. The herbal and floral notes of the lychee and tea barrel selected with the team create a new, podium-topping experience for PiggyBack Rye."

Fans and collectors have followed WhistlePig PiggyBack Legends Series, celebrating those who give 100% in the name of greatness, since its launch in March 2022 with Major League Baseball Hall of Famer, David Ortiz (“Big Papi”), followed by Country Music Duo Brothers Osborne in November 2022.

To learn more about WhistlePig Whiskey, visit whistlepigwhiskey.com . You can also check out WhistlePig Whiskey on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .

About WhistlePig Whiskey

Located off the grid on a 500-acre Vermont farm, WhistlePig Whiskey is crafted by a new generation of whiskey distillers and blenders driven to reinvent and unlock the flavor of Rye whiskey. Through their rebellious pursuit of experimenting and pushing boundaries in the industry, WhistlePig has become the leading independent craft whiskey brand for innovation. WhistlePig is committed to becoming the best whiskey on and for the planet, starting with its locally sourced ingredients and sustainable supply chain and distilling process. For more information, head to whistlepigwhiskey.com .

5 Things You Need to Know About Hormone Therapy From an Lgbtq+ Nurse Practitioner

Nurse Practitioner Ari Kravitz

When I started medical transition at 20 years old, it was very difficult to get the care I needed for hormone replacement therapy because there are very few providers trained in starting hormones for trans people, even though it’s very similar to the hormones that we prescribe to women in menopause or cisgender men with low testosterone.

I hope more providers get trained in LGBTQ+ healthcare , so they can support patients along their individual gender journey, and provide the info needed to make informed decisions about their body. I’ve personally seen my trans patients find hope and experience a better quality of life through hormone replacement therapy.

If you don’t have a primary care physician who specializes in LGBTQ+ care in your community, you may need to educate yourself (and your provider). But, before you seek such therapy, here are five things you should know!

• Monitor closely. At Spectrum Medical Care Center , we screen patients for certain risks before starting anyone on hormones. We frequently monitor patients in the first year to ensure there are no adverse reactions and lab results are within safe ranges. Follow-up care is also important to assess your comfort with the transition as well as the social impact and social support you’re experiencing.
• Some changes are permanent, some temporary. For transmasculine individuals going on testosterone, they’ll experience these permanent changes: deepened voice, clitoral enlargement (also known as bottom growth), more body, facial hair, and male pattern baldness. Reversible changes include cessation of menses, increased muscle mass and strength, body fat redistribution, and skin oiliness or acne. For those going on estrogen therapy, the most permanent change is breast growth. Feminizing hormone therapy can also cause atrophy (shrinkage) of the genitals and loss of erectile function that may not be reversible. Estrogen will thin body hair, soften the skin, can increase scalp hair, and decrease muscle mass and strength, all of which are reversible.
• You can’t pick and choose results. Unfortunately, you can’t pick and choose the physical changes you want, which may feel challenging. Some of my patients will say, ‘ Okay, ‘I’ve seen the permanent changes I want, and I don’t want it to go any further, ’ and so at that point, we stop therapy. Low-dose hormone therapy can slow down the rate of changes, allowing for a more gradual physical transition. We counsel patients in advance about the common changes, and it’s up to the individual as to when they’d like to scale back and determine whether some benefits are worth the potential risks.
• Be aware of risks. Like any medical treatment, there are potential risks involved. Some risks with testosterone therapy include increased red blood cell mass, acne, hypertension, sleep apnea, weight gain, and dyslipidemia (increases the chance of clogged arteries). Cardiovascular disease is likely increased with additional risk factors for testosterone and estrogen therapy. Transfeminine patients going on estrogen therapy may experience weight gain, thromboembolic disease (when a blood clot breaks off and blocks another blood vessel), and a high level of triglycerides in the blood.
• I Tried the BYOMA Skincare Line and Here's What I Thought ›
• This is Janae Kroc, a Transgender Weight Lifter ›
• How to Deal with Acne When You're Taking Hormones ›

Descanso Resort Awarded 2023 Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best

Descanso Resort swimming pool and lounge area

Descanso Resort, Palm Springs' premier destination for gay men, just received Tripadvisor's highest honor, a Travelers' Choice "Best of the Best" award for 2023. Based on guests' reviews and ratings, fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor's 8 million listings around the world receive the coveted "Best of the Best" designation. Descanso ranked 12th in the top 25 small inns and hotels category in the United States. Quite an accomplishment!

Open less than two years, Descanso Resort offers gay men a relaxing and luxurious boutique hotel experience just minutes away from Palm Springs' buzziest restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping. Descanso has quickly established itself as a top destination for sophisticated gay travelers, earning hundreds of 5-star guest reviews and consistently ranking in Trapadvisor's top positions alongside brother properties Santiago Resort and Twin Palms Resort .

"Our entire team is honored to be named Best of the Best. To be the only gay men's resort recognized in the Top 1% is incredibly humbling," said Kent Taylor, General Manager at Descanso. "We appreciate Tripadvisor and we're grateful to all our guests who gave us such high marks and reviews to help us reach this achievement."

“Ranking among the Best of the Best demonstrates that you have provided exemplary experiences to those who maZer most: your guests,” said John Boris, Chief Growth Officer at Tripadvisor. “With changing expectations, continued labor shortages, and rising costs, this is no easy feat, and I am con6nually impressed with the hospitality industry’s resilience and ability to adapt.”

Santiago Resort was once again honored by Tripadvisor with a 2023 Travelers’ Choice award, placing it among the top 10% of travelers’ top reviewed des6na6ons. Twin Palms will become eligible for ranking in 2024.

Check out all the reviews, and discover more about Descanso Resort on Tripadvisor here. We have an excellent library of resort imagery available to accompany editorial and additional resources on our press page. Please contact Descanso Resort’s General Manager, Kent Taylor, at [email protected] for further information.

About Descanso Resort

Inspired by Palm Springs’ history as a des6na6on for Hollywood stars to unwind in privacy, Descanso offers guests a casual yet modern take on the legendary style of that 6me. Created by the same hospitality team that revitalized Palm Springs’ much-loved San6ago Resort and recently launched the all-new Twin Palms Resort, the Descanso property opened in 2022 featuring 15 spacious guest rooms with custom-designed furniture, dreamy King-size beds, and luxe details. Ameni6es include continental breakfast, poolside lunch, welcome snack basket, and lots of special touches. For guests who need to stay connected, the entire property is equipped with blazing-fast Wi-Fi. Mul6-speed bikes are available for exploring the surrounding midcentury neighborhoods and public art installations. Like the Hollywood stars before them, guests at Descanso are encouraged to unwind, relax, and rest in style.

About Tripadvisor

Travelers across the globe use the Tripadvisor site and app to discover where to stay, what to do and where to eat based on guidance from those who have been there before. With more than 1 billion reviews and opinions of nearly 8 million businesses, travelers turn to Tripadvisor to find deals on accommodations, book experiences, reserve tables at delicious restaurants and discover great places nearby.

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes

Jinkx Monsoon reveals Everything at Stake tour dates inspired by iconic Drag Race burning witch dress

The shows will blend rock-concert vibes and allegorical comedy that addresses the "f---ing s--- show" of American society and "witch hunts" against LGBTQIA+ people.

Gird your loins, hold on to your heels, and prep your potions, because RuPaul's Drag Race two-time winner and Chicago Broadway star Jinkx Monsoon is hitting the road for a bewitching new show, and EW has the exclusive reveal of all the dates ahead on her biggest tour yet.

Beginning June 12 and ultimately traveling to 44 North American cities, Jinkx's Everything at Stake is the most ambitious outing of the drag superstar's career — and she tells EW's Quick Drag podcast (below) that it was all inspired by a fan-favorite moment from her run on Drag Race All Stars 7 last year.

"It was the [fan] reaction to the burning dress that motivated the motif for this tour," Jinkx explains of the dress she wore for the season's "All Glowed Up" runway, which featured her walking the Main Stage in a white gown that lit up with electric fire and appeared to burn her at the stake.

The current show is a contemporary showcase of the skill set that made her a queer legend: "Imagine stand-up comedy meets rock concert meets drag," she says of the tour's vibe. But it's also a poignant — but not soapbox-y — act of resistance as politicians propose legislation and spew discriminatory rhetoric that could limit drag artists' right to perform in their own states.

"I'm going to find the parallels between the witch hunts that existed in the olden days, when women were persecuted for taking on the patriarchy, and the parallels happening right now with the queer, trans, and LGBTQIA+ community — the witch hunt we're experiencing as we take on the patriarchy," she explains. "It's Everything at Stake because this is the most attention I've had on me in some time, and I want to show the world why I deserve that attention. That's where it started, and since coming to this title, the world continues to be a f---ing s--- show. And the title now has multiple meanings, of course, that will find its way into my work for this tour. I'm too loud-mouthed and opinionated for me not to bring what's going on in the world into my work."

Joining her in the collaborative process is her longtime creative partner, Major Scales, as well as her husband, Michael, who will accompany her on the road thanks to "a little touch of nepotism," she jokes.

The resulting production represents the breadth of excellence in her career as she explores parody, allegory, video segments, and sketch comedy devised with her Sketchy Queens series writer Liam Krug. It's all inspired by the political climate and what's happening in her everyday life.

"This show is going to be less narrative, less a plot, and more like a showcase of everything that I've got to offer," she says. That includes high-energy numbers, pre-recorded video segments, and new original music from her upcoming album. She's also bringing "new special props and set pieces made specifically for this tour" on the road, all of which are "leaning heavily" into her "witch aesthetic."

While Everything at Stake isn't meant to be a doom-and-gloom crusade, she does hope its colorful looks and unabashed queer quirks stand as a reminder that the community isn't going anywhere, even as attacks from "objectively wrong conservative assholes" increase with "lies, tactics, and manipulation" meant to oppress.

"It doesn't make me happy to stand up against that, but that's what drag has always done — that's what I've always done as an artist," she says. "And if anyone's going to do it, at least when I'm doing it, it's someone I trust."

Registration for the Everything at Stake artist presale begins at 12 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PT on Jinkx's tour site , with registered users receiving presale codes on Feb. 22 at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT. Public on-sale begins Feb. 24 at 9 a.m. local time on the star's website .

Hear Jinkx's full Quick Drag interview above, check out more of our chats with Drag Race queens in the podcast feed below, and read on for a full list of the Everything at Stake tour dates.

Jinkx Monsoon Everything at Stake tour dates

June 12: Victoria, British Columbia — Royal Theatre June 13: Vancouver — Orpheum Theatre June 16: Calgary — Southern Jubilee Auditorium June 18: Edmonton — Northern Jubilee Auditorium June 20: Regina, Saskatchewan — Conexus Art Centre June 21: Winnipeg — Burton Cummings Theatre June 23: Toronto — Massey Hall June 24: Kitchener, Ontario — Centre in the Square June 25: Ottawa — Southam Hall June 26: Montreal — Olympia De Montreal June 28: Albany, N.Y. — The Egg June 29: New Haven, Conn. — College Street Music Hall June 30: Boston, Mass. — Shubert Theatre July 1: Brooklyn, N.Y. — Kings Theatre July 5: Durham, N.C. — Carolina Theatre July 6: Tysons, Va. — Capital One Hall July 7: Glenside, Pa. — Keswick Theatre July 8: Cleveland, Ohio — The Agora July 9: Pittsburgh, Pa. — Stage AE July 11: Columbus, Ohio — KEMBA Live! July 12: Royal Oak, Mich. — Royal Oak Music Hall July 14: Chicago, Ill. — Chicago Theatre July 15: Milwaukee, Wis. — Pabst Theater July 16: St. Paul, Minn. — The Fitzgerald Theater July 18: Newport, Ky. — MegaCorp Pavilion July 19: Charlotte, N.C. — Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts July 20: Atlanta, Ga. — The Eastern July 22: Tampa, Fla. — Tampa Theatre July 23: Orlando, Fla. — Hard Rock Live July 24: Coral Springs, Fla. — Coral Springs Center July 26: New Orleans, La. — The Orpheum July 27: Austin, Texas — Paramount Theatre July 28: Dallas, Texas — Majestic Theater July 29: Midwest City, Okla. — Rose State College Hudiberg Chevrolet Center July 31: Kansas City, Mo. — Folly Theater Aug. 1: Denver, Colo. — Ellie Caulkins Opera House Aug. 2: Salt Lake City, Utah — Eccles Theater Aug. 6: San Diego, Calif. — The Balboa Theatre Aug. 8: Los Angeles, Calif. — The Orpheum Theatre Aug. 9: San Jose, Calif. — California Theatre Aug. 10: San Francisco, Calif. — Warfield Theatre Aug. 12: Seattle, Wash. — Paramount Theatre Aug. 13: Spokane, Wash. — Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox Aug. 14: Portland, Ore. — Keller Auditorium

Subscribe to EW's Quick Drag podcast for recaps of RuPaul's Drag Race , including reactions with the cast, special guests, and more.

Related content:

• Marcia Marcia Marcia says explosive RuPaul's Drag Race LaLaPaRuza has 'cast's different colors coming out'
• Aura Mayari hilariously reveals she mouthed gibberish in RuPaul's Drag Race lip-sync: 'I didn't know my f---ing words'
• RuPaul's Drag Race star Robin Fierce on looking Mama Ru 'in the eye' for 'devastating' elimination

Related Articles

She's 'filthy, raunchy': How Jinkx Monsoon gets intimate and candid in her stand-up shows

Corrections & Clarifications: Jinkx Monsoon has been sober for three years. An earlier version of this article misstated the length of time.

It’s monsoon season — in more ways than one.

In July, drag superstar Jinkx Monsoon, 34, was crowned the Queen of All Queens on Season 7 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars.” Two months after her historic win, she will be making highly anticipated appearances in Phoenix.

The “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 5 champion from 2013 won “All Stars” this summer among an all-winners cast from previous seasons — and has the scepter to prove that she is the ultimate queen in “Drag Race” “herstory.”

Suffice it to say, she’s been busy since claiming the title.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

“I have worked pretty much nonstop since the finale,” she told The Arizona Republic. “A lot of the things that got canceled for COVID have all coalesced at the same very busy moment in time for me. So it's been a lot of work, but I'm very content.”

However, she’s found time to do a handful of stand-up comedy shows before she jets off on the Jinkx and DeLa Holiday Tour.

On Thursday, Sept. 15, she will be in downtown Phoenix for two stand-up shows at Stand Up Live (the 7 p.m. slot sold out, so the venue added a second show at 9:30 p.m. ) and will make a sold-out special appearance at Kobalt Bar in Phoenix on Friday, Sept. 16.

She promises that her sets will be “filthy, raunchy, funny (and) boisterous,” so the shows are for age 18 and older.

Paying it forward: After monkeypox, this Phoenix drag queen is making care kits

What to expect at Jinkx Monsoon’s stand-up show

Jinkx believes that “RuPaul’s Drag Race” fans got to see “Jinkx the human being” on screen. In reality, however, “I’m filthy.”

“Jinkx the character is so much … filthier and unhinged,” she said.

Don’t say you haven’t been warned. Jinkx’s stand-up show is a “very intimate, candid show” full of anecdotes from her sex life, the celebrity drag queen lifestyle and the days when she used to drink. (Jinkx is three   years sober.)

“What I love about doing stand-up in drag is that I am sharing stories from my real life, but through the filter and through the lens of Jinkx Monsoon the character,” she said. “So it's all being delivered in the most filthy, raunchy, funny, boisterous, over-the-top way possible.”

However silly her material might be, Jinkx takes herself seriously as someone representing a marginalized community in the realm of comedy.

All winners: 'RuPaul's Drag Race' All Stars 7 cast spills tea on the season

Jinkx Monsoon brings 'queer representation' to stand-up comedy

Jinkx, who grew up in Portland and came out as gay at 13, grew up in a space where they felt safe coming out as a teenager. (Jinkx Monsoon is transfeminine nonbinary and uses she and they pronouns.) In an interview with Autostraddle this year , she credited Portland’s Sexual Minority Youth Resource Center  for being “involved in queer politics and queer issues” from an early age.

Growing up with support from her community and relatives has influenced Jinkx’s humor, including how she reads (also known as roasts) other drag queens.

“I really love having grown up in the queer community and learning what's funny from other queer people, because I don't think a lot of queer comics practice punching down,” she said. “I think (BenDeLaCreme) said it best, like, if you can't be funny without attacking marginalized communities, then you probably weren't that funny to begin with.”

Jinkx refuses to go for the low-hanging fruit, she said, because “true humor” comes from making jokes about someone’s personality — not their attributes, demographics or “what society places on this person.”

When it comes to stand-up, Jinkx Monsoon isn’t the only drag queen doing comedy sets at major venues. “RuPaul's Drag Race” Season 8 winner Bob the Drag Queen performed at Stand Up Live Phoenix this year, for example. Though Jinkx believes most drag queens “are already stand-up comedians just in what we do in our work,” she is among a minority in the comedy profession.

“There's no reason why drag queens shouldn't also be participating in the stand-up comedy world, which we know is dominated by cis straight men,” Jinkx said.

“So to be someone who's bringing more queer stories and queer representation to the stand-up comedy world, I feel so lucky to be at this point in my career — where I'm doing a little bit of everything and showing that drag queens are everything we claim to be.”

Phoenix's first 'Drag Race' queen: Joey Jay is a 'queen who loves to make fun of herself'

More voice acting is in Jinkx Monsoon’s future

Jinkx’s schedule mainly consists of live performances — comedic, theatrical and musical — and they will remain as her focus. She will continue to work with musical partner Major Scales and fellow “Drag Race” alumna and Pacific Northwesterner BenDeLaCreme, who’s the other half of the Jinkx and DeLa Holiday Tour.

Bu there are other avenues of entertainment that she’s continuing to explore. She’s done some voice acting in the past few years, lending her voice to animated series such as “Steven Universe” and “Helluva Boss.”

“I've been taking more trips into the studio for animated voice acting appearances, none of which I can talk about, but I can just say I am truly excited for some things that are down the line,” Jinkx said.

“I'm still very green in that realm, but I am excited that the voice acting world and the animated world has started to give me bigger moments to shine and trusted me with bigger projects recently.”

She will also continue to lend her talents to live-action productions. Jinkx’s acting credits include playing a drag queen named Em K. Ultra in Hulu’s 2020 rom-com “Happiest Season,” and her sketch comedy series, “Sketchy Queens,” will premiere on the streaming service WOW Presents Plus on Sept. 15

“From this point moving forward, I'm going to be going for a lot more auditions, because I really want my future to be in scripted acting work,” she said. “I want to be able to split my focus between doing scripted acting work as an individual and then continuing to generate original work with my collaborators.”

Whether she’s on stage, filming a movie or TV series or playing an animated character, she knows that “my entire life has led up to me doing what I do right now.”

“The one thing I've been most certain of in my entire time on this Earth is that I belong in entertainment, and that's the best way for me to create positive change within my community and within the world at large.

“If I had no voice at all I'll find a way to still get on that stage and express myself.”

September shows: The best and biggest concerts coming to metro Phoenix

Where to see Jinkx Monsoon in 2022

Her Stand Up Live appearance won't be the only opportunity to see Jinkx in Phoenix.

On Friday, Sept. 16, she will also make a special sold-out appearance  in central Phoenix at Kobalt Bar 's weekly  4Some Revue drag show , which stars Joey Jay, Toothpick, Gia DeMilo, Mynx DeMilo and Salem Vee DeMilo.

After Phoenix, Jinkx has two stand-up shows at the Punchline Comedy Club in Sacramento, California, before going on tour for the Jinkx and DeLa Holiday Show.

Here are the U.S. dates for the Jinkx and DeLa Holiday Show in 2022:

• Nov. 23: Buffalo, New York (Riviera Theatre) .
• Nov. 25: Toronto (Queen Elizabeth Theatre).
• Nov. 26: Ottawa (Algonquin Commons Theatre).
• Nov. 27: Montreal (Olympia).
• Nov. 29: Boston (Chevalier Theatre).
• Nov. 30: Philadelphia (The Fillmore).
• Dec. 2: New York City (Town Hall).
• Dec. 3: New York City (Town Hall).
• Dec. 4: Washington DC (Lincoln Theatre).
• Dec. 6: St. Paul, Minnesota (The Fitzgerald Theater).
• Dec. 7: Chicago (Auditorium Theatre).
• Dec. 8: Detroit (Royal Oak Music Theatre).
• Dec. 9: Indianapolis (Murat Theatre at Old National Centre).
• Dec. 11: Austin, Texas (Paramount Theatre)
• Dec. 12: Dallas (Majestic Theatre).
• Dec. 14: Denver (Paramount Theatre).
• Dec. 16: San Diego (Balboa Theatre).
• Dec. 17: San Francisco (The Warfield).
• Dec. 18: Los Angeles (Orpheum Theatre).
• Dec. 21-24: Seattle (Moore Theatre).
• Dec. 27: Portland, Oregon (Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall).
• Dec. 29: Calgary, Canada (Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium).
• Dec. 30: Vancouver, Canada (Vogue Theatre).

Jinkx Monsoon at Stand Up Live Phoenix

Where: Stand Up Live Phoenix, 50 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix.

When: 7 and 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15.

Admission: $35 general admission, $80 VIP (includes reserved seating and meet & greet).

Note: The show is 18 and up.

Details:  480-719-6100,  https://phoenix.standuplive.com .

Reach Entertainment Reporter KiMi Robinson at [email protected] . Follow her on Twitter @kimirobin  and Instagram @ReporterKiMi .

Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today .

• Moscow concerts Moscow concerts Moscow concerts See all Moscow concerts ( Change location ) Today · Next 7 days · Next 30 days
• Most popular artists worldwide
• Trending artists worldwide

• Tourbox for artists

Search for events or artists

• Sign up Log in

• Get the app
• Moscow concerts
• Change location
• Popular Artists
• Live streams
• Deutsch Português
• Popular artists

Jinkx Monsoon

• On tour: no
• Upcoming 2024 concerts: none

5,378 fans get concert alerts for this artist.

Join Songkick to track Jinkx Monsoon and get concert alerts when they play near you.

Find your next concert

Join 5,378 fans getting concert alerts for this artist

Past concerts

Carpenter Theatre at Dominion Energy Center

Kings Theatre

View all past concerts

Find out more about Jinkx Monsoon tour dates & tickets 2024-2025

Want to see Jinkx Monsoon in concert? Find information on all of Jinkx Monsoon’s upcoming concerts, tour dates and ticket information for 2024-2025.

Unfortunately there are no concert dates for Jinkx Monsoon scheduled in 2024.

Songkick is the first to know of new tour announcements and concert information, so if your favorite artists are not currently on tour, join Songkick to track Jinkx Monsoon and get concert alerts when they play near you, like 5378 other Jinkx Monsoon fans.

Similar artists

• Most popular charts
• Campaigns for promoters
• API information
• Brand guidelines
• Community guidelines
• Terms of use
• Privacy policy
• Cookies settings
• Cookies policy

Get your tour dates seen everywhere.

• But we really hope you love us.

JINKX MONSOON

Everything At Stake

SATURDAY, JULY 1

8:00 PM | Doors open 7:00 PM

The Witch of all Witches is ready to cast her next great spell! Two-time RuPaul's Drag Race winner and Broadway breakout star Jinkx Monsoon presents her biggest concert tour to date with "Everything at Stake."

For the first time ever, Jinkx and her musical main squeeze Major Scales, will tour North America with a full rock band performing a decade worth of covers and original music from her critically-acclaimed albums (The Ginger Snapped, The Inevitable Album), along with new songs from her upcoming 3-part album The Virgo Odyssey. Known for her electric and eclectic performance style, Jinkx weaves together tales from her enigmatic life in a show where music, comedy, witchy magic, and camp-fantasy collide. At a time where literally everything is at stake, get ready for a spellbinding, bombastic, and revolutionary experience straight from the heart of this "internationally tolerated" superstar.

Have a question? You might find your answer here.

Premium Experiences

Enjoy exclusive perks and amenities with Premium Experiences.

Hospitality

Take a look at our beverage and snack options.

Jinkx Monsoon

At the folly theater.

General Doors Open: 7:00pm Pre-Sale Tickets Begin Wednesday February 22nd General On Sale: Friday February 24th 9:00am

* *as tickets are not sold by the Folly Theater Box Office, any and all questions regarding ticket purchase should be directed  to the event organizers

PLEASE NOTE – This event is 18+, admittance will be denied to those under the limit

The Witch of all Witches is ready to cast her next great spell! Two-time RuPaul’s Drag Race winner and Broadway breakout star Jinkx Monsoon presents her biggest concert tour to date with “Everything at Stake.” For the first time ever, Jinkx and her musical main squeeze Major Scales, will tour North America with a full rock band performing a decade worth of covers and original music from her critically-acclaimed albums (The Ginger Snapped, The Inevitable Album), along with new songs from her upcoming 3-part album The Virgo Odyssey. Known for her electric and eclectic performance style, Jinkx weaves together tales from her enigmatic life in a show where music, comedy, witchy magic, and camp-fantasy collide. At a time where literally everything is at stake, get ready for a spellbinding, bombastic, and revolutionary experience straight from the heart of this “internationally tolerated” superstar.

Hi Jinkx! ♥️♥️➕ ⛈️ Award-winning actress, singer and two-time RuPaul’s Drag Race winner, @JinkxMonsoon will appear in a major role in the new series of #DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/CGiqAufHB9 — Doctor Who (@bbcdoctorwho) April 3, 2023

Bio: Two-time RuPaul’s Drag Race winner and Broadway breakout star Jinkx Monsoon(they/she) is the “internationally tolerated” drag icon who’s taken over the entertainment industry as an award-winning stage actress, acclaimed vocalist, stand-up comic, and theatre sensation.

Jinkx has garnered an international fan base following her win on RuPaul’s Drag Race Season5 (2013), and continued her winning streak on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 7 (2022) where she was crowned “Queen of All Queens”, competing against previous winners. In 2023, Jinkx made her highly-anticipated Broadway debut as Matron “Mama” Morton in Broadway’s longest-running show, Chicago.

She has toured the world performing her original cabaret shows with music partner Major Scales, including highly-acclaimed shows like The Ginger Snapped, The Vaudevillians (which became a hit off-broadway sensation) and their most recent production, Together Again, Again(2022).As a recording artist, Jinkx has released three critically-hailed albums of original music written by Major Scales including her most recent The Virgo Odyssey (2022),The Inevitable Album and The Ginger Snapped.

In 2018, she partnered with best friend and fellow RuPaul’s Drag Race star, BenDeLaCreme for their first major holiday tour To Jesus, Thanks for Everything!-Jinkx and DeLa. Jinkx and DeLa’s co-written holiday productions have grown into a worldwide phenomenon, spawning the 2019 tour, All I Want for Christmas is Attention, a Hulu holiday hit, The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Special(2020), and The Return of the Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show, LIVE!(2021) which performed for sold-out audiences across the U.S., U.K. and Canada. In 2022, she and DeLa had their highest grossing international tour to date with their 5th annual The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show.

No stranger to film and TV, Jinkx has appeared on the CBS cop drama Blue Bloods, the Netflix original AJ and the Queen, and has voiced characters for such animated shows as Steven Universe, Mighty Magiswords, Bravest Warriors, as well as a few surprises that are yet to come! Jinkx has been the subject of two documentaries: Drag Becomes Him, and The Queens. She is an award-winning stage actress, having won the Gregory Award for her portrayal of Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and most recently, The MAC Award for her show The Ginger Snapped, co-written with Major Scales

RESTRICTED ITEMS: Items NOT Permitted in the Venue

• Professional Cameras, Audio/Video Recorders, or iPads
• Laser Pointers, Glow Sticks, or Flashlights
• Knives, Tasers, Mace, or weapons of any kind
• Cans, Bottles (Glass, Aluminum, or Plastic)

PLEASE FOLLOW GUIDELINES TO PREVENT BEING EJECTED FROM THE VENUE. PATRONS WHO ARE EJECTED WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO RE-ENTER THE VENUE

**THIS SHOW REQUIRES A WAND and/or SEARCH OF ALL PATRONS

Everyone must have a ticket to enter the venue.

Saturday July 29 - 8:00 pm

Jinkx Monsoon is the “perfect Doctor Who villain” in new season

Jinkx Monsoon made their Doctor Who debut in Season 14, episode two, titled ‘The Devil’s Chord’, and drag fans are absolutely in love with their character. The newly-premiered season frames Monsoon as the whimsical and malicious Maestro.

Since Monsoon’s role was announced in April 2023, fans of the drag queen have anxiously been waiting to see them on the Doctor Who  screen. Finally, on Saturday, May 11, the wait came to an end during the Doctor Who  season 14 double premiere. 

The non-binary drag performer’s character uses they/them pronouns and has been described as “the Doctor’s most powerful enemy yet”.

The highly-anticipated character exceeded all expectations with their thrilling and terrifying performance as an absolutely captivating villain and counterpart to The Doctor.

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Doctor Who (@bbcdoctorwho)

The beloved Jinkx Monsoon joined the 14th season of Doctor Who   after being the only contestant in the Drag Race franchise to ever win the competition twice.

During Monsoon’s debut episode, the Doctor and his companion, Ruby Sunday, travel back to 1963 and realise no one is listening to The Beatles because the villainous Maestro has stolen music from all the world’s inhabitants. 

Maestro is fearless as they boldly taunt the Doctor before laughing directly in his face. Their performance is both terrifying and absolutely breathtaking. 

The line reading of “playing lovesick songs for heartbroken lesbians” changed me https://t.co/QTxqfGCONX — paul | iwtv spoilers (@paulswhtn) May 13, 2024

The  Doctor Who series has earned praise for prioritising LGBTQ+ representation in its upcoming cast. Monsoon stars alongside Sex Education’s Ncuti Gatwa, who plays the first openly gay and Black Doctor.

Both parts were created by Russell T Davies , who is famous for his work in several LGBTQ+ productions, including  Queer as Folk  and  It’s a Sin . Davies was the showrunner for Doctor Who during its hugely popular revival seasons from 2005-2010.

After the first two episodes of season 14 aired on Saturday, fans of the franchise took to social media to express just how excited they were about Jinkx Monsoon’s performance.

This lil bitch is EATINGGGGG!!!! Tears 😭 So proud of you @JinkxMonsoon !! https://t.co/R7tMmXnk71 — Detox… (@TheOnlyDetox) May 13, 2024

“My god, Jinkx Monsoon is literally the perfect #DoctorWho villain. 10/10. No notes,” wrote an X user.

“ OH MY GOD Honestly, I’m REALLY loving Jinkx Monsoon ‘s performance here – Friday/Saturday cannot come soon enough! Instant classic villain already,” another fan commented.

The show’s 14th season is now streaming in Ireland and the UK exclusively on the BBC and Disney+.

there something so “tim curry’s pennywise” about jinkx monsoon’s maestro ESPECIALLY this scene pic.twitter.com/Xzf5cBkand — Ethan (@ethandjc) May 11, 2024

The post Jinkx Monsoon is the “perfect Doctor Who villain” in new season appeared first on GCN .

Latest stories

Iconic bbc comedy series to return to screens - 36yrs after first episode.

A series of new episodes are coming later this year with the main cast all returning to their former roles in a move that has delighted the show's fanbase

Coronation Street star says 'nothing can be done' as he gives sad health update

Coronation Street actor Rob Mallard, who plays Daniel Osbourne on the cobbles, has opened up about his health on BBC's Morning Live and said 'nothing can be done'

Girls Aloud pay emotional tribute to Sarah Harding as they kick off reunion tour

The band were on stage for the first time in nine years to kick off their reunion tour

ITV Coronation Street viewers in disbelief as credits roll as they beg for warning

Fans were taken aback by the dramatic end to the episode

Britain’s Got Talent viewers all have same complaint moments into latest episode

ITV BGT viewers have all shared the same complaint just moments into the latest episode of auditions.

Rylan Clark's co-star says 'friendship has turned to love' as they walk the red carpet together

TV stars Rylan Clark and Rob Rinder attended the BAFTA Television Awards together on Sunday, just hours before the launch of their new show, Rob and Rylan's Grand Tour

Gogglebox stars' pay and how many hours they really spend filming Channel 4 show

The Gogglebox cast, who are paid for their time on the hit Channel 4 show, have lifted the lid on the filming schedule for the programme, as well as how they're paid and the perks they get

GMB fans say 'no way' as Charlotte Hawkins' hints at her age

People watching the morning programme thought she was joking at first

This Artist Creates Jaw-Dropping Depictions Of Pacific Islander Women, And You've Got To See This For Yourself

"Pasifika peoples come in all sizes, shapes, and colors, and that’s something I love exploring in my work."

King Charles 'angrier than anyone has ever seen him' at Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Nigeria trip

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's recent trip to Nigeria has reportedly left King Charles 'angrier than anyone has ever seen him' as the Royal Family are said to be 'worried'

The BBC “Evidence Gathering” After Complaints Against ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ Star Giovanni Pernice – report

It has been a rollercoaster week for the BBC’s biggest entertainment show, Strictly Come Dancing. The TV competition, which celebrated its 20th anniversary with a BAFTA award last weekend for Best Entertainment Show, is reported to be examining “serious complaints” made against one of its highest-profile dance professionals, who has this week quit the show. …

Jeremy Clarkson reacts as Clarkson’s Farm filming is unexpectedly halted

A flying interruption disrupted the making of the newest series of the Amazon Prime show starring fan favourite Kaleb Cooper

Coronation Street spoilers next week with son reveal, sad relationship news, exit teased and double villain return

There's also a shock attack in the ITV soap next week

Prince William sent Harry a message with George picture and he 'took it to heart'

The Royal Family heir to the throne and Harry have a tumultuous relationship in the wake of the latter's exit from the royals alongside wife Meghan Markle.

Golden buzzer star, 31, adored by Simon Cowell died after devastating 4 year cancer battle

Jane "Nightbirde" Marczewski, who rose to fame on America's Got Talent, was one of Simon Cowell's all-time favourite acts, and he paid tribute to the singer following her death

Baby Reindeer Has Finally Been Toppled As Netflix's Number 1 TV Show After Almost A Month

The question is... what managed to succeed Richard Gadd's hit show at the top of Netflix's most-watched list?

King Charles' Trooping The Colour plans will 'have one major change' amid cancer battle

King Charles III is expected to take part in his official 75th birthday celebrations at next month's Trooping the Colour, but it will be without one big tradition

Coronation Street's Lucy Fallon flooded with messages as she stuns fans with 'off duty' look

Fans best know the actress for playing Bethany Platt in the ITV soap

Janette Manrara's brunette baby girl Lyra is her mum's double in cute video

Strictly Come Dancing star and Strictly: It Takes Two host Janette Manrara has shared a sweet clip of her baby girl Lyra chatting – and she looks just like her mum

Fans Are Accusing Taylor Swift Of Sabotaging Billie Eilish's Album Drop

“Doing this on her album release day is so nasty,” one person wrote on X.

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes
• Entertainment

Jinkx Monsoon Gets Little Shop of Horrors Love from RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 9 Cast (Exclusive)

PEOPLE was on hand at the hit Off-Broadway revival to see the sweet moment between the 'RuPaul's Drag Race' alums

Dave Quinn is a Senior Editor for PEOPLE. He has been working at the brand since 2016, and is the author of the No. 1 New York Times best-selling book, Not All Diamonds and Rosé: The Inside Story of the Real Housewives from the People Who Lived It.

Andy Henderson

The cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars season 9 came together on Tuesday, May 7 to celebrate the Drag Race Hall of Fame's Queen of Queens!

Angeria Paris VanMicheals , Gottmik , Jorgeous , Nina West , Plastique Tiara , Roxxxy Andrews , Shannel and Vanessa Vanjie gathered together at New York City's Westside Theater to see two-time  Drag Race  champ and trans-femme actor Jinkx Monsoon's celebrated turn in the Off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors .

PEOPLE was in the audience, where former Drag Race guest judges Neil Patrick Harris  and  David Burtka were also in attendance with their 13-year-old twins, Harper Grace and Gideon Scott .

All were on their feet as they cheered on Monsoon, who is playing Skid Row sweetheart Audrey, opposite High School Musical alum Corbin Bleu as Seymour and James Carpinello as Orin.

Never miss a story — sign up for  PEOPLE's free daily newsletter  to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"I'm so proud of Jinkxy," Andrews, Monsoon's former season 5 castmate, tells PEOPLE. "We don't get to see each other often, so to come to see her in her prime and doing what she loves the most is an honor. She's just a genius at what she does. I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"It's just nice to be back together," adds Andrews, noting the two have left the tension that was famously between them on the show well in the past. "That drama is all water off a duck's back, as Jinkx would say. We love each other so much. Sharing that kind of experience like Drag Race with each other, it bonds you for life. She'll always be my sister."

For West, seeing Monsoon on stage had a richer impact. Season 11's "Miss Congeniality" recently wrapped a two year run playing Edna Turnblad in the hit national tour of Hairspray , so is intimately aware of the challenges of working a grueling eight-show a week schedule.

"This isn't easy," says West. "I know how hard it is and I know how stressful it is, especially playing a role that's so iconic in the history of musical theatre. But Jinkx is a f------ star. She's able to let that pressure go, focus on the work, and do the job. And to be able to get to watch my friend do that is just incredible."

"It's also inspiring because Jinkx is a trailblazer," says West of Monsoon, who is the first trans actor and drag queen who has been cast to play Audrey in the acclaimed Off-Broadway production. "She's opening doors up for people like me to continue to push through and do roles that we always dreamt of. No doubt she's left an indelible mark on the role and the history of this show that will be appreciated for generations to come."

Monsoon, when asked about that very topic, notes that she's part of a long legacy.

"I may be the first of my ilk in this productions, but I'm following the lead of the really talented and wonderful drag performers and trans actors who have come before me," she says. "I feel like there was a road already paved for me. I'm just adding my bricks. It's exciting to be a part of that."

The performer comes to the musical after starring at Mama Morton in Broadway's Chicago , a role Monsoon will play again this summer after her time in Little Shop comes to an end.

Getting the call for Little Shop floored Monsoon, she tells PEOPLE. "I was convinced my agent got it wrong," Monsoon says, joking. "I was like, 'Are you sure you don't mean Aubrey II, the plant?' "

"But I was very, very thrilled," the reality star adds, praising the role, which was originated by  Ellen Greene in the first 1982 production. "She's kind of a like a daisy grown in a trash heap. Everybody likes the daisy who grows in the gutter."

Little Shop of Horrors  is based on the 1960 movie of the same name. Both tell the story of a down-on-his luck florist named Seymour who helps turn his boss’ plant shop around when he discovers a rare (and voracious) plant. He names the mysterious greenery Audrey II, after his co-worker and longtime crush, Audrey.

The property was adapted for the stage in 1982 by book writer Howard Ashman, who died in March 1991 at the age of 40 from his HIV/AIDS positive diagnosis. He also wrote the lyrics to Alan Menken's score, which included memorable musical theater tunes like "Suddenly Seymour" and "Somewhere That's Green."

A 1986 film adaptation, directed by Frank Oz and starring  Rick Moranis  and Greene, came amid the musical's Off-Broadway run. It became a cult classic, and helped fuel the popularity of community theater and high school productions of  Little Shop  for decades to come.

The current Off-Broadway revival — directed by Tony-winner Michael Mayer ( Spring Awakening ) and choreographed by Ellenore Scott ( Funny Girl ) — has been widely praised, winning top honors in 2020 from the Drama League, Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk Awards.

World of Wonder

Meanwhile, season 9 of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars debuts on Paramount+ May 17.

The series is doing something different next season, bringing back eight queens to not only earn a coveted spot in the  Drag Race  Hall of Fame, but also to compete to win a supersized donation of $200,000 for a charity of their choosing.

That sum will be provided by  The Palette Fund , a private foundation that, according to a release, is "dedicated to breaking down barriers and advancing social change in communities that are under-resourced and facing significant challenges."

"It's all about giving back," says Shannel, the very first queen to ever walk into the workroom back in RuPaul's Drag Race 's initial season in 2009. "And that's what the show really has done for all of us; it's given us this incredible platform to really take our art to the next level. And we're all just fortunate to be able to use that opportunity to pay it forward to these organizations."

And Monsoon certainly gets the power of the platform, which has allowed them opportunities like Little Shop .

"This is essentially what I set out to do in drag," Monsoon says. "It's been very sweet and emotional to see people posting clips of me talking to RuPaul saying this is what I wanted to do with my career and my life and my being. And I'm doing it. And that's really exciting because I remember how important it was to me to see representation in my life, and how it inspired me and kept me going. So now that I get to be that for other people, that's a huge privilege."

Tickets for  Little Shop of Horrors  are available now at  littleshopnyc.com .

Related Articles

‘Doctor Who' Star Jinkx Monsoon Unpacks Maestro, the Series' Wackiest, Most Musical Villain Yet

"Doctor Who's" Ncuti Gatwa just faced off against the franchise's wackiest, most over-the-top villain yet. And that was before they started singing.

Enter "RuPaul's Drag Race" superstar Jinkx Monsoon as Maestro.

Those familiar with Monsoon's game wouldn't expect anything else from her: the beloved two-time "Drag Race" winner is currently taking Broadway by storm, wowing audiences as Audrey in "Little Shop of Horrors" opposite Corbin Bleu. This summer, she will return to "Chicago," reprising her role as Mama Morton after she became the cast's first drag performer in 2023.

And she's not done dreaming big - Monsoon's still got her sights set on becoming a Disney Villain one day. "I'm available! People know how to get in contact with me. I got a great laugh, and I can sing. I was raised by Ursula the sea witch," she says.

While Ursula may be her "mother," Monsoon tells Variety it was another, much happier Disney character that inspired her zany "Doctor Who" villain. Ahead of the episode's premiere, she sat down with Variety to unpack Maestro's fearsome, fabulous arc.

Maestro is larger-than-life. What was your first reaction to reading about them in the script?  

It's one of those once-in-a-show kind of characters. Maestro feels, to me, in the same realm as the Genie in "Aladdin," and just exists entirely on their plane, entirely antagonistic. They can reference anything they want. They can break the fourth wall. To be trusted with such a character, I still don't know what I did. I don't remember selling my soul to the Devil, but it sure feels like it.

Was the Devil's chord playing when you accepted this role?

No, thank God. It was all very gentle and friendly. It was a polite chat amongst friends. Showrunner

Russell T. Davies is just one of the nicest and loveliest people I know. As far as writers go, he's one of my favorites. All of his writing is so prolific and important. I know we're talking "Doctor Who," but anyone who has not seen "It's a Sin" needs to stop what they're doing and see it. Be prepared to cry, but it'll be worth it.

Maestro's episode is anchored around Ruby's (Millie Gibson) desire to see the Beatles recording in 1963. If you had a TARDIS, what would you want to witness?

I'd want to see Elaine Stritch at Liberty. I'd want to see Judy Garland at Carnegie. As for world events, they're always overrated.

Speaking of Carnegie, you're playing there next year.

I didn't mean to do that! Judy at Carnegie has been on my mind for that reason, but I promise I wasn't intentionally trying to do a humblebrag there. I'm doing Carnegie on Valentine's Day 2025. It's going to be a Jinkx/Ben DeLaCreme joint because it's co-written and directed with Ben.

Back to Maestro. The Doctor, who never hides, is terrified of them. When you first signed on, did you realize the scope of how big this villain is in this overall "Doctor Who" universe and just how fearsome they are?

I had a bit of an idea. The closer we got, and as soon as I was on set, I understood that this character is a piece of something larger, and that was very exciting. I'm a comedic actor, but if I'm gonna play a villain, if I'm gonna play a monster . I want to achieve being threatening in some way. I'm glad that there were actual scary bits to it. I love an actor who can turn on a dime and make you laugh one moment, and scare you shitless the next.

Who were your inspirations for Maestro?

I didn't have to do any Disney villain research, because that's just ingrained in me as a drag queen and queer person. So that was already there. But I will say being a fair-weather fan of "Doctor Who," I have seen enough episodes to know the aesthetic, acting style, and the level we're playing at.

I turned to Michelle Gomez as Mistress. I turned to her for so many character inspirations. She's one of my favorite actors ever, and I think she is a great example of a "Doctor Who" villain who tows that line between the heightened, stylized, almost Shakespearean elements of "Doctor Who," but also is very truthful, genuinely scary and just a very effective villain.

Ncuti Gatwa's new Doctor has unfortunately faced a barrage of racist, homophobic backlash to his casting. Do you have a message for those online trolls?

I used to try to find diplomatic ways to talk about this, and now, truly how I feel is: Who gives a fuck what bigots think? A more optimistic way and idealistic way of looking at this is that popular opinion is not on their side. They are a very loud group and they're growing louder as they grow smaller. With every way they lash out in this way, the Conservative Right has decided to take an all-out war against trans people, queer people and people of color, and claim that's not what they're doing, but that's clearly what they're doing.

Numbers are not shrinking. For every transphobic, racist, bigoted "Doctor Who" fan that we lose this season, there are going be three to five new fans who are coming in for the representation. So to those fans - who are not fans - I say, "Don't let the door hit you on the way out."

What was it like wearing, and getting into, that grand piano dress?

It was a three-person job. My assistant would prep me in the undergarments, and then I would go out and they had to load on the coat, and I freaking loved it. It felt like being in an opera or something. The costume, makeup and wig and special effects makeup do not get utilized outside of the realm of fantasy and sci-fi very often. This design team was so incredible. They included me in the conversations very early on, wanting to make sure that I felt well-represented and comfortable in my costumes. They had everything planned out for this character and it was so beautifully conceived. All I did was just add another layer to the way I perceived the costumes. The piano coat and that overall look is a mash-up of Liberace, Beethoven or Mozart, and it's all in there. The second look is a nod to Adele.  And the third look is Sergeant Pepper.

But rather than thinking of it as, "Maestro took inspiration from these people," let's think of it as, "These people took inspiration from Maestro." Maestro visited famous musicians throughout time and affected their place in history. In my mind, Maestro is the beginning and end of all music.  There is no music without Maestro, so these people really all owe it to me!

If you'll indulge us in one "Drag Race" question: What did you think of Nymphia Wind's win and that lip sync finale?

I believed in them from an early point on in the season, and I think the top three were really great. It's really wonderful when the top three are all cool people, and you could feel happy for any of them winning. But I really saw something very special in Nymphia, and unique because her personality doesn't fit the same kind of personality we're used to from so many drag queens. It's so uniquely hers, and she's so convicted to her mission as an artist and I really admire that. I think that in the lip sync, it was very obvious that she was saying, "I'm going to win this lip sync fighting hook for nail if I have to."

After your second "Drag Race" win, you kicked into high gear, going on tour, starring on Broadway and becoming a "Doctor Who" villain. How does it feel?

There was a time, going to acting school, when I thought I had to give up drag to be an actor, and it turns out that wasn't true. And then I thought I had given up my chances of being an actor because I had so firmly planted my flag in the world of drag, and that ended up not being true. And now here I am, marrying the two art forms that get me out of bed in the morning, and I get to do them both at the same time. It feels surreal.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

More from Variety

• How to Watch 'Doctor Who' Season 14 Online
• How 'Young Sheldon' Finally Got to That Heartbreaking Moment: 'Endings Are Always Really Difficult'

• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My watchlist
• Stock market
• Biden economy
• Personal finance
• Stocks: most active
• Stocks: gainers
• Stocks: losers
• Trending tickers
• World indices
• US Treasury bonds
• Top mutual funds
• Highest open interest
• Highest implied volatility
• Currency converter
• Basic materials
• Communication services
• Consumer cyclical
• Consumer defensive
• Financial services
• Industrials
• Real estate
• Mutual funds
• Credit cards
• Balance transfer cards
• Cash back cards
• Rewards cards
• Travel cards
• Online checking
• High-yield savings
• Money market
• Home equity loan
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Options pit
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing
• Newsletters

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

Jinkx Monsoon on Bringing Big Drag Energy to Doctor Who

• Oops! Something went wrong. Please try again later. More content below

The post Jinkx Monsoon on Bringing Big Drag Energy to Doctor Who appeared first on Consequence .

While the name “Maestro” might feel like a reference to another iconic Doctor Who villain, there’s something quite singular about the character played by Jinkx Monsoon in the show’s return this May. Literally climbing out of a piano before consuming all of the music in the world, Maestro turns out to be one of The Doctor ( Ncuti Gatwa )’s most formidable opponents, overshadowing the time-traveling alien’s first encounter with The Beatles in “The Devil’s Chord.”

The RuPaul’s Drag Race champion and Broadway star says that Maestro was a “dream role,” a character that represents “where science fiction meets Greek mythology — you could look at them as a god or as a demon, but what they are at the end of the day is an extremely powerful embodiment of music. And as a musical person, I felt very ready for the challenge.”

In terms of the casting, showrunner Russell T Davies wasn’t thinking about Monsoon specifically while working on the script, but as soon as he was finished, he knew she was the obvious choice. “And we booked Jinkx very far in advance, I remember, because when you’re dealing with a drag queen of that stature, they’re booked months and months and months ahead of us,” he tells Consequence . “I’m delighted that worked out. It was brilliant.”

Monsoon and Davies first met through a longtime friend of Davies named Michael, who Monsoon would eventually marry. Says Davies, “I was literally texting [Michael] on the night he said ‘I’m off on a date,’ which turned out to be with Jinkx Monsoon, which is amazing. I phoned around sort of saying, ‘What do you know about Jinkx? Is Michael gonna be alright?’ And every single person said [Monsoon] could not be a nicer partner.”

And, Davies continues, “the next thing you know, he said, ‘I’m leaving Manchester, I’m going to travel the world with Jinkx.’ That’s sort of a showbiz tale that you don’t expect to happen.” The couple is now divorcing, which Davies says “is very sad, but it’s very amicable. They’re both moving on to different parts of their life.”

In “The Devil’s Chord,” Maestro literally fights The Doctor in a full-fledged “music battle” — musical notes flying around the screen like bullets — though, Monsoon’s favorite musical moment from the episode was getting to use her voice “as a weapon. My friends have joked for years that if I became some kind of superhero or supervillain, it would be that I had some kind of supersonic screech, because the people who live with me know that I only sing at a hundred percent. So the fact that I was able to short-circuit the sonic screwdriver with my voice — that felt very cool. I was really excited for that moment.”

Behind the scenes of Doctor Who, courtesy of Disney+

Davies makes a point of establishing Maestro’s pronouns in their first scene (they/them, in case you didn’t catch it). He also notes that it’s not a pure drag queen performance, as Maestro wears some masculine looks, and “It’s Jinkx as an actor playing [the role].”

Monsoon was able to consult on Maestro’s incredible costumes throughout the episode — though not much consulting was needed. “They did want me to feel very comfortable and well represented as a trans performer, as a drag performer. But I didn’t have much to add other than ‘I love this, and I think this is brilliant,'” she says. “Every designer just had such a clear vision for this character. I could tell that the designers were having a blast working on this character, and it was an honor to get to just say ‘yes, and’ to their designs.”

While Maestro as a character has a lot of depth and mystery, part of the thrill around Monsoon’s performance comes from the thrill of seeing Big Drag Energy on screen in this context. “Honestly, I’ve been saying for a while that drag queens are especially suited for these types of roles,” Monsoon says. “You know, we are larger than life, so when you’ve got a role that’s like a vampire or a demon or a God, it’s like, ‘Go to the people who already exist in the larger-than-life realm.'”

In the past, drag queen tropes have often been incorporated into screen villains, with the most famous example perhaps being the character of Ursula from The Little Mermaid (who was directly inspired by Divine ). Maestro captures a similar spirit, but unfiltered, something I mention to Monsoon.

“It’s great that you bring up Ursula,” Monsoon says, because she’s had a few recent encounters with Melissa McCarthy, who took on the role for the 2023 live-action remake . “We got to have a conversation about how Ursula was always inspired by drag queens, so Melissa went back to Divine for inspiration for her Ursula. And then to see Melissa McCarthy have everyone’s attention on her and pay so much reverence to Divine and the drag community and mention us so much… She didn’t have to, but she did. She brought up drag queens every step of the way.”

And now, Monsoon continues, “I get to take inspiration from that and put it into my performance. It’s just this circle — it’s surreal, but it’s beautiful and it makes sense.”

In the past, Monsoon adds, “There were lots of times when trans people or people were depicted as the villains or someone evil — you think of Silence of the Lambs and Ace Ventura , there’s lots of examples of it. And recently, we’ve had a lot of very genuine, authentic representation, stories written by queer people performed by queer performers — and because we’ve gotten that far, we get to go back to playing villains.

“But now,” Monsoon continues with a laugh, “we get to play really powerful, cool villains, instead of the villains that you’re conditioned to not like. That’s progress, baby!”

“The Devil’s Chord” is streaming now on Disney+. New episodes of Doctor Who premiere Fridays.

Jinkx Monsoon on Bringing Big Drag Energy to Doctor Who Liz Shannon Miller

Popular Posts

Student Walk Out on Jerry Seinfeld's Duke Commencement Speech

Steve Albini Dead at 61 of Heart Attack

Apple Destroys Vintage Instruments in Tone-Deaf New Commercial for iPad Pro

AC/DC Unveil Photo of New Band Lineup Ahead of First Tour in Eight Years

Who's the Dumbass Who Brought Their Baby in the Pit of Taylor Swift's Concert?

Kate Hudson Covers Stone Temple Pilots' "Vasoline" Ahead of Debut Album: Watch

Subscribe to Consequence’s email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox.

Recommended Stories

'doctor who' star ncuti gatwa ushers in a 'wilder, madder and funner' era of the series, showrunner says.

“There isn’t a show like ‘Doctor Who’ out there and there’s not a show out there that has themes that ‘Doctor Who’ has," Ncuti Gatwa told Yahoo in a new interview.

Doctor Who: The Devil’s Chord review: Is this madness?

'The Devil's Chord' is a mess, but it's probably an intentional mess.

How to watch the new ‘Doctor Who’ tonight — where to stream the third Season One of the sci-fi series

It's getting all 'wibbly wobbly, timey wimey' in the newest season of 'Doctor Who.'

The 27 best Walmart deals to shop this weekend — save up to 75% on early Memorial Day sales, summer essentials and more

Ready for your pre-summer perusal: A massive patio umbrella for over half off, a 65-inch Hisense smart TV for under $500 and a Keurig hot/iced coffeemaker for nearly $70 off.

PGA Championship Round 4 tee times: Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele tied atop packed leaderboard at Valhalla

Tee times for the final round of the PGA Championship in Louisville are here.

Top candidates emerge for Detroit Pistons president of basketball operations role

Trajan Langdon, Scott Perry, Dennis Lindsey and John Hammond have impressed in interviews and are front-runners to meet with Pistons owner Tom Gores.

PGA Championship: Logjam atop the leaderboard sets up fantastic Sunday

Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele are tied for the lead in the 2024 PGA Championship heading into Sunday's final round.

Preakness Stakes 2024: Seize the Grey wins in Baltimore, ending Mystik Dan's Triple Crown hopes

The Triple Crown is no longer in play.

Q&A with Andrew J. Scott: How to 'mix it up' for a longer life

Author focuses on a new reality of longer lifespans and what it means for our careers.

The coming Social Security fight could be 1983 all over again

To figure out how Social Security's insolvency debate may play out in the years ahead, it helps to consider what transpired in 1983.