A Rusical (portmanteau of "RuPaul" and "musical") is a musical theatre [1] challenge on the television series RuPaul's Drag Race and other iterations of the show within the Drag Race franchise.
The productions have been featured on the American series since season 6, and have been described by Cordu Krubally of Screen Rant as "a highly anticipated staple" of the show, 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] The Rusical in season 8 was about Joan Crawford. [17]
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 [18] | Jan |
8 | Joan: The Unauthorized Rusical | Kandy Muse [19] |
The Rusical on season 1 of RuPaul's Secret Celebrity Drag Race was about Dolly Parton and her 1980 comedy film 9 to 5 . [20]
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 . [21] 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 [22] |
4 | From Drags to Riches: The Rusical | Aurora Matrix |
The second season of Drag Race España had a Rusical based on the musical La llamada . [23] The third season had a Rusical inspired by The Wonderful Wizard of Oz setting the story during the La Movida Madrileña countercultural movement. [24]
Season | Rusical | Winner |
---|---|---|
2 | La Llamadrag | Estrella Xtravaganza |
3 | El Mago Precoz | Pitita |
Season | Rusical | Winner |
---|---|---|
2 | Le Bossu de Notre Drag | Keiona |
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. [25]
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. [26]
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 . [27]
Season | Rusical | Winner |
---|---|---|
1 | Dragapulco Shore: The Rusical | Cristian Peralta |
The second season of Drag Race Philippines had a Rusical inspired by the film The Little Mermaid . [28]
Season | Rusical | Winner |
---|---|---|
1 | OPM Divas: The Rusical | Precious Paula Nicole |
2 | Sirena: The Rusical | DeeDee Marié Holliday |
Season | Rusical | Winner |
---|---|---|
2 | Apaporn Nakornsawan: Thai Musical | Kandy Zyanide |
The Rusicals in the second and fourth seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race UK were inspired by the musicals Cats [29] [30] and Mary Poppins , [31] respectively. The Rusical in the fifth season was a pantomime. [32]
Series | Rusical | Winner |
---|---|---|
2 | Rats: The Rusical | Veronica Green [33] |
4 | Lairy Poppins: The Rusical | Danny Beard |
5 | Pant-Oh She Better Don't!: The Rusical | Ginger Johnson |
Season | Rusical | Winner(s) |
---|---|---|
1 | West End Wendys | Pangina Heals |
Janey Jacké | ||
2 | Seven!: Confessions of a Drag Queen | Marina Summers |
Tia Kofi | ||
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).
Monét X Change, is the stage name of Kevin Akeem Bertin, an 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. Monét X Change released her debut EP, Unapologetically, in 2019. Later that year, she debuted her own web talk show The X Change Rate, distributed by the BUILD Series.
"The Last Ball on Earth" is the fourth episode of the tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. It originally aired on April 12, 2018. Logan Browning and Tisha Campbell are guest judges.
"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 2020. 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 transgender winner in the Drag Race franchise and was the first trans woman to win an American series of Drag Race. 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.
Mercedes Iman Diamond is the stage name of Curran, a Kenyan-American drag performer who competed on season 11 of RuPaul's Drag Race. Originally from Mombasa, Kenya, Curran relocated to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he created the drag persona Mercedes Iman Diamond and competed in pageants. Mercedes Iman Diamond was the first Muslim contestant on Drag Race. Memes of her on the show went viral, and her lines in a parody film challenge spawned a dance remix by Adam Joseph.
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).
"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.
"Shady Politics" is the seventh episode of the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. Vivica A. Fox and Thomas Roberts are guest judges.
"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.
"Shade: The Rusical" is the fourth episode of the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, which aired on March 17, 2014.
"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 drag performer most known for competing on season 13 of RuPaul's Drag Race and season 8 of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.
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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.
"Joan: The Unauthorized Rusical" is an episode of season 8 of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, which aired in 2023. The episode has contestants record and perform a Rusical inspired by the life and career of Joan Crawford as well as the biographical film Mommie Dearest. During preparations they record vocals with music producer Leland and learn choreography from guest judge Adam Shankman.