This bearded beauty is bringing Broadway to the West Village: all hail Queen David!
Thotyssey: Hello Queen, thanks for chatting tonight! Hey, did you see the epic lip sync battle on the last Drag Race?
Queen David: Hey there! My pleasure. I certainly did see it, and I have a few thoughts. First off, I think the queens overall did a very good job. It’s hard enough putting all that energy into one lip sync, but doing up to three and the pressure of being on national television!? All the props to them! I was definitely cheering on my NYC sister, Miss Lana Ja’Rae–she did absolutely amazing, and I’m happy the world got to see her.
Now if I had to say anything negative, I’d say the song selections this year were a little questionable compared to last year’s. I think there was a bit too much importance put on very new songs, when I love the classics that we already know are timeless. Well okay, “Liza with a Z” was definitely an exception this season. But that’s more a matter of personal taste, I suppose.
Agreed across the board! How might you describe your own drag these days, as far as looks and numbers go?
Well, I’m one of those elusive facial hair queens they occasionally talk about. Honestly when it comes to my look in and out of drag, I like having a signature look that screams “Queen David,” and I couldn’t tell you a single other drag queen with a handlebar mustache and 19th century mutton chops. And I think the facial hair and they way I choose to paint myself actually says a lot about how I see my drag. There’s a fierce elegance I’m definitely going for in the face. But when there’s a twirly ‘stache above that glossy lip, it still has a visual indicator of “Oh yeah, we’re gonna have some fun here.”
And that’s why I feel my look connects so well with my numbers. I want to surprise, I want to shock, I want people to say “I’ve never even considered that being done by a drag queen,” all while laughing hysterically. It would explain why my two biggest crowd favorite numbers are “I am the Very Model of a Modern Major General,” a patter song from the late 1800s sung by an older man, and my Autism mix, where I lip sync to an offensive PSA from a certain “charity” and reclaim the harm it’s done to the way people see the community I’m a part of. I thrive off making people gasp into laughter. And if I wanna get serious, I’ll throw on a gown and sing a ballad. Why not? But I’m rambling at this point.
Where are you from originally, and how did drag come into your life?
Well, I was born and raised in the small-ish college town of Mt. Pleasant, MI. Now, I always had a lot of support from my parents when it came to expressing my creative side. It started with dance classes at age three, theatre at nine, choir at twelve… so I was thee performing arts boy growing up. Now I’m definitely a Rocky Horror drag baby. The theatre fraternity that I would later be a part of, Alpha Psi Omega, puts on Rocky Horror Picture Show shadowcasts every year where people go out in lingerie, costumes, and yes, drag. I went my first time my junior year of high school, bought my first pair of heels for the occasion–yes, I still wear them.
Then my senior year came along, and to make a long story short, I suddenly found myself doing drag for three shows in a row: La Cage aux Folles, Junie B Jones: The Musical, and finally, Disney’s The Little Mermaid as Ursula. I knew by that point that drag had barged its way into my life and I was going to keep on doing it for a long time.
And that was 2017, which is crazy to think that the world felt more supportive of that type of expression compared to today.
That is crazy. Would you feel intimidated to do drag again back home nowadays?
Honestly, no. Michigan is kind of a haven for the LGBTQ+ community. I always felt safe in my hometown considering the university setting–and then I’ve also had the pleasure of performing in Grand Rapids, where some of the best performers in Michigan can be found.
Now that being said, would I walk around in drag in the small villages surrounding my hometown? Well, only if you pay me a hefty amount, cash upfront. But also, I’m not sure about my hometown anymore because so much has changed since I’ve been back there in terms of the political climate. Luckily I know no matter what, I’ve got a great group of people that’ll stand up for me and my community.
Many drag fans discovered you when you partook in this past year’s Mx. Rockbar… you made it all the way to the finals! What made you want to do that pageant, and how did you like that whole experience?
Ah yes, good ol’ Mx. Rockbar. And yes, she is a lovely Top 6 girlie, thank you for that. Well, I’ve always had a great love for Rockbar as an establishment; I think they’re one of the best bars in NYC in terms of celebrating all different kinds of drag: bearded drag, horror drag, kings, things… it’s all welcome at Rockbar. Not to mention, I felt a lot of kinship in the performers that were already there. That’s why I wanted to compete in Mx. Rockbar; I really felt the most seen for my artistic vision of my drag, and every single competitor is highlighted for what makes them a unique performer. Competing in Mx. Rockbar is also a total friend factory. Many of my competitors and I have maintained close professional / personal relationships since the competition, and I feel so fortunate for that alone.
The powers that be at Rockbar were impressed enough with your turn at the pageant to grant you a monthly show of your own: “Musical Mondays” returns this week with your special guest Jess And! What can we expect from this show?
Yes! We have “Musical Mondays” every second Monday of the month at 9pm at Rockbar. Now what you can expect from the show I lots of live singing, lip syncing, maybe a dance number if you’re lucky, but most importantly, you get to see us act the fool with that Broadway twist. Always weaponize that BFA. Jess And will be serving some of my favorite Broadway numbers of all time, and we’ve even prepared a little duet for you all!
Speaking of Jess And, there’s a friend I made through Mx. Rockbar. It really is the gift that keeps on giving. But I’ve got even more guests lined up for the upcoming months, and who knows? I may or may not have some special themed editions of “Musical Mondays” in the making coming up! So yes, please come to Rockbar this Monday, April 14th at 9. There’s no such thing as too big a crowd!
Is there anything else you wanna mention?
I’ve recently announced that at the suggestion of some larger names in the community, I make mixes for performers, so I guess that’s a little side hustle that I’d love my fellow queens and kings to know about! I also do birthday parties and Bat mitzvahs.
She is mixing it up all over town! Okay, lastly: what your most essential item in your drag bag, cosmetic or otherwise?
My drag bag is not complete without my Got2B Spray; it holds five different uses to help hold together. It’s used in my eyebrow covering routine, it’s hairspray for my wigs, it glues down my lace, I style my mustache with it, and I even set my face with it. Now, should I be spraying Got2B all over my face? Probably not… so do as I say and not as I do, kids.
Thanks, QD!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Queen David’s upcoming appearances, and follow her on Instagram.
Thotyssey 