A Rusical (portmanteau of "RuPaul" and "musical") is a musical theatre [1] challenge recurring across the Drag Race television franchise. Rusical productions began in 2014 during the sixth season of the American series, and have subsequently become "a highly anticipated staple" of the reality competition, allowing contestants to showcase their talents. [2]
Season nine's Rusical ( Kardashians: The Musical ) was inspired by the musical Hamilton . [3] The American series has also seen Rusicals about Cher, Donald Trump, and Madonna. Seasons fourteen and fifteen had parodies of the films Moulin Rouge! and Footloose respectively. Season sixteen's Rusical was a parody of the musical The Sound of Music and its film adaptation.
The Rusical in season 2 of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars depicted historical women. Alaska Thunderfuck, Alyssa Edwards, Detox, and Ginger Minj portrayed a Britney Spears-inspired Eve, [10] Annie Oakley, Marie Antoinette, and Catherine the Great, respectively. [11] Katya and Phi Phi O'Hara portrayed Princess Diana and Helen of Troy, respectively. [12] [13] On season 3 ("Divas Lip Sync Live"), Aja performed as Amy Winehouse, BeBe Zahara Benet as Diana Ross, BenDeLaCreme as Julie Andrews, Chi Chi DeVayne as Patti LaBelle, Kennedy Davenport as Janet Jackson, Milk as Celine Dion, Shangela as Mariah Carey, Trixie Mattel as Dolly Parton, and Thorgy Thor as Stevie Nicks. [14] [15] Season six's Rusical (episode "Halftime Headliners") was based on Super Bowl's halftime show performances. [16] Season eight's Rusical was based on the life of Joan Crawford. [17] Season nine's Rusical was inspired by the film Rosemary's Baby . [18]
| Season | Rusical | Winner(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | HERstory of the World | Alyssa Edwards |
| Detox | ||
| 3 | Divas Lip Sync Live | BenDeLaCreme |
| Shangela | ||
| 6 | All Stars 6 Hall of Fame Halftime Show [19] | Jan |
| 8 | Joan: The Unauthorized Rusical | Kandy Muse [20] |
| 9 | Rosemarie's Baby Shower: The Rusical | Jorgeous |
| Shannel |
The Rusical on season 1 of RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race was about Dolly Parton and her 1980 comedy film 9 to 5 . [21]
| Season | Rusical | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Twerking 5 to 9: The Rusical | — |
The clown-themed Rusical of season 2 was inspired by the 1938 film Under the Big Top . [22] On season 4, the Rusical was about the life of host Brooke Lynn Hytes.
| Season | Rusical | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Under the Big Top | Pythia |
| 3 | Squirrels Trip: The Rusical | Vivian Vanderpuss [23] |
| 4 | From Drags to Riches: The Rusical | Aurora Matrix |
The second season of Canada's Drag Race: Canada vs. the World had a Rusical about the Snatch Game.
| Season | Rusical | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Snatch Game: The Rusical | Lemon |
The second season of Drag Race España had a Rusical based on the musical La llamada . [24] The third season had a Rusical inspired by The Wonderful Wizard of Oz setting the story during the La Movida Madrileña countercultural movement. [25] The fourth season's Rusical was an homage to Spanish musical artists across the last century.
| Season | Rusical | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | La Llamadrag | Estrella Xtravaganza |
| 3 | El Mago Precoz | Pitita |
| 4 | Eternas | Vampirashian |
| Season | Rusical | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Le Bossu de Notre Drag | Keiona |
| 3 | Céline Dion: The Rusical | Leona Winter |
| Season | Rusical | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dragort: The Rusical | Metamorkid |
The Rusical for the second season of Drag Race Holland was based on the story of Cinderella. [26]
| Season | Rusical | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Máxima: The Rusical | Janey Jacké |
| 2 | CindeRulla: The Rusical | My Little Puny |
The second season of Drag Race Italia had a Rusical dedicated to Lady Gaga. [27]
| Season | Rusical | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carrà: The Rusical | Divinity |
| 2 | Lady Gaga: The Unauthorised Rusical | La Petite Noire |
| 3 | Paola & Chiara: An Unauthorised Fairytale Rusical | Sypario |
The first season of Drag Race México had a Rusical based on Acapulco Shore , the Mexican spin-off series of Jersey Shore . [28] The Rusical in the second season was inspired by three telenovelas starring Thalía: María Mercedes , Marimar , and María la del Barrio . [29]
| Season | Rusical | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dragapulco Shore: The Rusical | Cristian Peralta |
| 2 | The Three Marías: The Rusical | Jenary Bloom |
The second season of Drag Race Philippines had a Rusical inspired by the film The Little Mermaid . [30] The Rusical in the third season was inspired by Wicked .[ citation needed ]
| Season | Rusical | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | OPM Divas: The Rusical | Precious Paula Nicole |
| 2 | Sirena: The Rusical | DeeDee Marié Holliday |
| 3 | AaWicked Kita: The Rusical | Zymba Ding |
| Season | Rusical | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Apaporn Nakornsawan: Thai Musical | Kandy Zyanide |
| 3 | Kraitong: The Rusical | Gawdland |
The Rusicals in the second and fourth seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race UK were inspired by the musicals Cats [31] [32] and Mary Poppins , [33] respectively. The Rusical in the fifth season was a pantomime. [34]
| Series | Rusical | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Rats: The Rusical | Veronica Green [35] |
| 4 | Lairy Poppins: The Rusical | Danny Beard |
| 5 | Pant-Oh She Better Don't!: The Rusical | Ginger Johnson |
| 6 | Pop of the Tops - Live: The Rusical | La Voix |
| Season | Rusical | Winner(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | West End Wendys | Janey Jacké |
| Pangina Heals | ||
| 2 | Seven!: Confessions of a Drag Queen | Marina Summers |
| Tia Kofi | ||
Greg Meyer, better known by the stage name Darienne Lake, is a drag queen and television personality. Lake began performing in drag in 1990 in Rochester, New York before rising to prominence after competing on the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, placing fourth. After appearing on the reality television show, Darienne Lake toured internationally, released a comedy album, and performed in film, television, and numerous web series.
Joshua Allen Eads, better known by the stage name Ginger Minj, is an American drag queen, actor, singer-songwriter, and reality television personality. After achieving recognition for placing as the runner-up on the seventh season of the reality television competition series RuPaul's Drag Race, Minj returned to compete on the second and sixth seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. Minj has acted in three Netflix productions—the comedy feature film Dumplin' (2018), the animated series Super Drags, and RuPaul's fictional series AJ and the Queen, and has acted in numerous theatrical productions. Minj appeared in the 2022 film Hocus Pocus 2, the sequel to Hocus Pocus. Minj has released three studio albums—Sweet T (2016), Gummy Bear (2021), and Double Wide Diva (2021).
Naomi Smalls is the stage name of Davis M. Heppenstall, an American drag queen and reality television personality, best known as one of the runners-up on the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race as well as RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars season 4.
James Andrew Leyva, better known by the stage name Valentina, is an American drag performer, actor, television personality and singer who came to international fame as a contestant on the ninth season of RuPaul's Drag Race and the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. In 2023, she was announced as the co-host of season one of Drag Race México alongside Lolita Banana.
Monét X Change is the stage name of Kevin Akeem Bertin, a Saint Lucian-American drag queen, singer, podcaster, and reality television personality. She is known for competing on the tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race (2018), on which she placed sixth and was crowned the season's Miss Congeniality, and for winning the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (2018–2019) alongside Trinity the Tuck. She returned to compete in the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, an all-winners season, where she placed runner-up.
"The Unauthorized Rusical" is the eighth episode of the tenth season of the American reality competition television series RuPaul's Drag Race, which aired on VH1 on May 10, 2018. The episode has contestants attempt to get RuPaul to fake slap them for the mini challenge, and sing live a musical about Cher for the main challenge. Billy Eichner and Andrew Rannells serve as guest judges, alongside regular panelists RuPaul, Michelle Visage, and Carson Kressley.
Kylie Sonique Love, formerly known as Sonique, is an American entertainer, singer, dancer, model and reality television personality. She rose to prominence as a contestant on the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2009, and achieved further popularity by winning the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars eleven years later in 2021. Love was the first person to ever come out as transgender on any reality TV show. Upon winning All Stars 6, Love became the second trans woman to win an installment of the Drag Race franchise, and was the first to win an American series. Additionally, in 2020, she co-hosted Translation Season 1, the first talk show on a major network hosted by an all-trans cast. Her first single, "Santa, Please Come Home", was released in 2018.
Scarlet Envy, is the stage name of Jacob James Grady, an American drag queen, reality television personality, singer, and performer who is best known for competing on the eleventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race (2019), the sixth season of its spin-off, RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (2021), and the second series of RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World (2024).
Silky Nutmeg Ganache is an American drag performer most known for competing on the eleventh season (2019) of RuPaul's Drag Race and on the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars in 2021. She has also been involved in numerous Drag Race spin-offs, including RuPaul's Drag Race: Vegas Revue (2020) and RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race (2022). She also competed in the first Canadian-based international All Stars spin-off series, Canada's Drag Race: Canada vs. the World in 2022, finishing as a runner-up.
"Bitch Perfect" is the second episode of the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. The episode's main challenge is a Rusical inspired by Pitch Perfect. Ester Dean and Lucian Piane are guest judges, and Jamal Sims is the guest choreographer.
"Divine Inspiration" is the ninth episode of the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race. Directed by Nick Murray, the episode originally aired on April 27, 2015. Demi Lovato and John Waters are guest judges. Lucian Piane and Our Lady J also make guest appearances, helping the contestants during rehearsals.
"Madonna: The Unauthorized Rusical" is the seventh episode of the twelfth season of the American reality competition television series RuPaul's Drag Race, which aired on VH1 on April 10, 2020. The episode has contestants perform a musical about Madonna for the main challenge. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Winnie Harlow serve as guest judges, alongside regular panelists RuPaul, Michelle Visage, and Carson Kressley.
Kahmora Hall is the stage name of Paul Tran, a drag performer most known for competing on season 13 of RuPaul's Drag Race.
LaLa Ri is the stage name of LaRico Demetrius Potts, an American musician and retired drag performer most known for competing on season 13 of RuPaul's Drag Race and season 8 of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.
Daya Betty is the stage name of Trenton Clarke, an American drag performer who competed on the fourteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.
"Moulin Ru: The Rusical" is the twelfth episode of the fourteenth season of the American reality competition television series RuPaul's Drag Race, which aired on VH1 on March 25, 2022.
Anetra is the stage name of Isaiah Padua, an American drag queen who was runner-up on the 15th season of RuPaul's Drag Race.
Salina EsTitties is the stage name of Jason De Puy, an American drag queen who competed on the fifteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race.
"HERstory of the World" is the third episode of season 2 of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, which aired in 2016 and features a musical theatre challenge.
Girl groups have been featured across the Drag Race franchise. Many Drag Race series have hosted challenges requiring girl groups to compete against one another. The challenge started with the second season of the American spin-off series RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. In 2022, Sam Brooks of The Spinoff said the girl group challenge has become a "classic" and a season highlight because "it tests the contestant's ability to write a verse, choreograph a dance routine, remember that choreography, and most crucially, work with others in a team".