Alaska Celebrates Lesbian Summer Hits Ahead of 'DRAG: the Musical's' New York Run

Alaska Thunderfuck 5000's name in lights on Broadway? Such a prospect would likely ruffle some feathers. But of course, she could easily shorten her name to Alaska as she has done in the past to shut up critics. But the idea isn't so far-fetched – think "Hail, Mary!" and the success of Jinkx Monsoon. For now, though, we'll have to settle for off-Broadway when in September Alaska stars in a musical close to her heart: "DRAG: the Musical," in which she not only appears, but co-wrote under her non-drag moniker Justin Andrew Honard, collaborating with Tomas Costanza and Ashley Gordon on the book and score. Directed and choreographed by Spencer Liff, the show features Broadway hottie Nick Adams, drag superstars Lagoona Bloo, Jujubee, Jan Sport, and J. Elaine Marcos, plus Joey McIntyre (from New Kids on the Block). For more on "DRAG: the Musical," visit its website. Could "DRAG: the Musical" make it to Broadway? Stay tuned.

But prior to heading to New York for the show's rehearsals, Alaska is on a mini-tour of gay resorts and another locale known for something completely different: Fire Island (8/17), Provincetown (8/21-22), and Salt Lake City (8/24). Joining her in the show is her accomplished musical director and collaborator Jeremy Mark Mikush. (For ticket information for these appearances, follow this link.)

It has been more than a decade since Alaska was first on "RuPaul's Drag Race." That was Season 5 in 2013, where she finished second. Three years later she was crowned "Queen of Queens" for winning the second season of "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars." Since then she has toured with RuPaul shows, released four chart-topping albums (including "Anus," "Poundcake," "Vagina," and, most recently "Red 4 Filth"), published an autobiography ("My Name's Yours, What's Alaska?"), joined the drag girl group the AAA Girls (with Courtney Act and Willam Belli), appeared in "The Alaska Thunderfuck Extra Special Comedy Special" for OUTtv, partnered with Belli on the podcast "Race Chaser" that dishes on the franchise that made them famous, and wrote and starred in various iterations of "DRAG: the Musical," most recently last March in Los Angeles. When it premiered in 2022, it won best new play or musical at the 2022 Broadway World Los Angeles Awards and the 2023 Queerties Award for Live Theater.

Alaska has 1.8 million followers on Instagram and 612,000 on X (formerly Twitter). In 2019 she placed seventh on Vulture's list of the Most Powerful Drag Queens in America. When she toured last winter with her holiday show, EDGE wrote: "With her stunning retro look (she appears to be the love child of Jayne Mansfield and Cher), a sophisticated hauteur that would give Miranda Priestly a run for her money, and a powerful belt that would be right at home on Broadway, Alaska confirmed her drag superstar status."

Alaska spoke in her characteristic 'vocal fry' style from Los Angeles recently about her tour, "DRAG," and if she would return to a "Drag Race" franchise.

EDGE: You're in LA right now, then coming East for a tour and "DRAG: the Musical?"

Alaska Thunderfuck 5000: Yeah, this summer I'm just doing a few shows here and there. I'm hitting the gay spots. I'm doing Fire Island. I'm doing Ptown.

EDGE: What can we expect with the show?

Alaska Thunderfuck 5000: Basically, I like to sing songs with my best friend Jeremy playing the piano. (Jeremy Mark Mikush is Alaska's musical director and collaborator). We're really into lesbian music at the moment. I've deemed this the summer of the lesbian and so we're really into lesbian songs. But basically we just sing songs that we love and and have a good time.

EDGE: When you say lesbian songs, such as...?

Alaska Thunderfuck 5000: Well, both. I mean, you have, of course, Chappell Roan, who is... writing songs about dating women and and she's just like exploding all over the world. So, I'm really excited to sing a song by her. And of course, the Song of the Summer is "Karma" by JoJo Siwa, who is also a lesbian. So this is, I mean, the biggest summer for lesbians since the Lilith Fair.

EDGE: What do you think of Chappell Roan?

Alaska Thunderfuck 5000: She's really talented and really cool, and she, you know, she puts her money where her mouth is. I mean, she does do drag but she's also, like, a huge supporter of drag queens and and really knows her shit.

EDGE: Why isn't there a drag queen Top 40 star?

Alaska Thunderfuck 5000:There are some in other countries, just not here. So I guess America has a problem.

EDGE: America is having a serious problem with drag, don't you think?

Alaska Thunderfuck 5000: Yeah, In pop music and entertainment in general, drag queens are put into a separate category. People say, 'Oh, that's just drag music.' And don't take it seriously. If you look worldwide, drag artists are really killing it in the music world. So hopefully America will catch up.

EDGE: Having seen your Christmas show, you are a remarkable performance artist...

Alaska Thunderfuck 5000: Thanks, I love being called a performance artist because that's what I feel like I am. When I come into the country or go to another country, and they ask me on the forum what my occupation is, I write, "artist." And I am not a typical drag queen, whatever that may be, so I welcome being called a performance artist. I'm certainly not a comedian. I think of myself as a singer, a singer who is funny sometimes.

EDGE: And after your tour is over, you head to New York City for "DRAG: the Musical?"

Alaska Thunderfuck 5000: This is a show that we've been working on for eight years now, which is pretty wild. And over that time, it's really changed a lot. Every time we sort of put it on its feet, it evolves and morphs and gets more streamlined. It gets funnier and gets better. So, this run we're about to do off Broadway in New York is going to be the best version of it yet, and I'm really excited.

EDGE: The show is about a battle between two drag houses?

Alaska Thunderfuck 5000: Yeah, that's the starting point of the story. But I don't want to give too much away, except to say "DRAG: the Musical" is not a rusical. We don't lip synch. We sing. It's an actual musical. You will laugh. You will cry. And experience some really good fucking music performed by really brilliant vocalists. I'm really, really proud of it.

EDGE: If you hadn't had success as a drag performer, would you have stayed an actor? Turned to only writing? Where would Alaska be today if there wasn't an Alaska?

Alaska Thunderfuck 5000: I'm not really sure where I would have ended up, but I did always really enjoy being in the theater. So in whatever capacity that means I probably would have ended up in the theater in some way. But also I would still be doing drag, like, if "Drag Race" hadn't happened, or whatever, I'd still be doing drag, because I think It's my calling.

EDGE: Would you go back for another "Drag Race" season?

Alaska Thunderfuck 5000: Of course. Tell RuPaul to call me. I'd be happy to go back anytime [and] play in that fucking crazy pink room. Being there has brought me some of the most joyous moments I've had being a drag queen. So any chance I get to go back, I would absolutely do so.

EDGE: With the recent success of drag on Broadway ("Oh, Mary!"; Jinkx Monsoon in "Chicago" and "Little Shop of Horrors"), is there a chance we'll be seeing Alaska Thunderfuck 5000 there as well?

Alaska Thunderfuck 5000: Well, that would be great. I'm certainly open to that. I'm open to wherever the musical goes, because I think it's really great, and really special. It really means something to a lot of people. I'm totally open to that.

EDGE: And you have some awesome talent in the cast – Nick Adams, Jujubee, Lagoona Bloo, Jan Sport, and J. Elaine Marcos, and ex-New Kid Joey McIntyre. How did he get involved?

Alaska Thunderfuck 5000: I'm not sure how we got him into it, but he's great. And over several years, he's helped us really bring this character of Tom to life. I can't really imagine it without [him].

Alaska Thunderfuck 5000 sings "Sweatpants" at Seattle Pride.

EDGE: In the show I saw over the holidays, you did this great medley of songs taken from titles suggested by the audience. Will you be doing that in your latest show?

Alaska Thunderfuck 5000: Absolutely, that's our favorite part of the show. We've been doing it at the end of the show quite regularly. Our feeling is that we've done all the songs we wanted to do, now it is time to let the audience decide what they want to hear.

EDGE: Is it difficult to make all the connections and put it together in the moment for Jeremy and you?

Alaska Thunderfuck 5000: Funny, it's actually not that difficult. It's just really fun. Fun. And if it goes off the rails and completely falls apart, it's even more fun.

EDGE: Were you happy with your edit on your two seasons of "Drag Race?"

Alaska Thunderfuck 5000: I mean, who could ask for anything more? I think I got a pretty good deal.

EDGE: Is "DRAG" a limited run or open-ended?

Alaska Thunderfuck 5000: As of right now we're going into next year. And this is the biggest, fiercest version of it we've ever done. Previews start on September 30 at New World Stages.

For ticket information about Alaska Thunderfuck 5000's August dates in Fire Island, Provincetown, and Salt Lake City, follow this link.

For more on "DRAG: the Musical," follow this link.