RuPaulâs Drag Race Live! just celebrated its 1,000th performance, and five years in, the Las Vegas revue is more important and needed now more than ever, according to its creators.
PEOPLE caught up with World of Wonder cofounders and RuPaulâs Drag Race executive producers Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey ahead of the milestone show at The Flamingo on Saturday, March 15 to reflect on its past, present and future.
âWe are super excited and grateful,â Barbato said of the milestone. âI think weâre grateful of all the casts that have been in it over the years. We started before COVID, so itâs been quite tough to nurture a hit on the Vegas strip, but weâre here!â
âIf you can make it in Vegas, itâs a good omen,â added Bailey.
Saturdayâs show included performances from the current cast â Ginger Minj, Asia OâHara, Jaida Essence Hall, Mophine Dion Love and Plane Jane, along with the muscled Pit Crew â and an appearance and special message from RuPaul himself.
âThis is an amazing feat and we are so proud of this show,â RuPaul told the audience. âThis has been a dream of all of ours for so many years. Itâs such a legendary stage. It is such an honor that you are all here tonight because you are our secret weapon. You keep coming back show after show, year after year, and for that, I thank you.â
The fact that a show with predominantly LGBTQ+ creators, cast and crew is thriving in the middle of The Strip in the oldest, most iconic property isnât lost on Barbato and Bailey, especially in the current political climate where anti-gay and anti-trans rhetoric is being launched.
âWhen you come here to Vegas and you see all the different people from all over the country, different countries, many different backgrounds, many different beliefs on every side of the political spectrum â for [Drag Race Live!] to work and be here for 1,000 shows, that says something!â Bailey explained. âI think that a lot of the rhetoric is just that â rhetoric. Itâs baiting.â
âFor the first time, this show puts drag queen celebrities on residency. It really has become such a visibility for drag queens. Weâre on billboards, weâre on ad campaigns, weâre on taxis, weâre at the airport. Itâs amazing to see these TV personalities come to life on a Las Vegas stage,â said performer Derrick Barry, an original cast member who has appeared in around 900 of the 1,000 shows.
âThis show is monumental because itâs opened peopleâs eyes to drag,â added Asia OâHara, who is only second to Barry in number of performances. âTo be in a drag show on the Las Vegas Strip, in the entertainment capital of the world, is incredible in its own. But to last 1,000 shows is a true testament to what the world really needs right now, which is love, laughter and light.â
âDrag Race Live in Vegas and also RuPaulâs Drag Race on MTV are more important now than ever,â Barbato echoed. âJust our presence is political, our ability to provide people with joy and laughter and diversity at a time when all those things are hard to find, itâs our mission now and weâre even more committed than ever.â
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To keep the show diverse and fresh, new talent is brought in. Morphine Love Dion and Plane Jane, who appeared on the most recently completed season of Drag Race, brought their signature high energy and humor, respectively. Jaida Essence Hall and Asian OâHara are seasoned showgirls, and Ginger Minj delivered a Wicked number that would make two-time Drag Race guest judge Ariana Grande proud.
Season 17âs top 6 â Jewels Sparkles, Lana JaâRae, Lexi Love, Onya Nurve, Sam Star and Suzie Toot â also joined the festivities. Some of them may be gracing the Flamingo stage soon.
As for the future of the show, Barbato and Bailey say anything is possible, including a potential second show and a Broadway expansion.
âWe have so many talented queens who we canât wait to get on the stage. Maybe we need two drag race and two different casts in two different venues,â Barbato teased.
Legendary Vegas female impersonator Hot Chocolate summed it up best. âIâve lived and performed in Vegas for 40 years. To see the art of drag actually become so mainstream that they have 1,000 shows, thatâs just amazing.â
RuPaulâs Drag Race Live! 1000th show is available to stream on WoW Presents Plus and season 17 of RuPaulâs Drag Race is currently airing on MTV.
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