“FreakShow” hostess Siobhan the Third could be the Number One attraction for your Brooklyn drag viewing pleasure. [Cover photo: Brandon Dean]
Thotyssey: Siobhan, hello! Thanks for chatting today, Happy July!
Siobhan the Third: I personally don’t recognize the month of July. Happy June 31st!
How was your Pride?
My Pride has been wonderful! As you know, I have a monthly show at All Night Skate called the “FreakShow,” and I like to think we launched Pride Month for the whole city with our June 5th show! It’s been nonstop excitement from there for this lesbian (except, of course, for all of the terrible things that just keep happening outside of our little bubble). I have to say that getting to perform in “Pam Who’s Pride Show Extravaganza” with so many amazing queens, kings, and things was really the cherry on top of my Pride Sundae.
Excellent! How long have you been a queen in NYC?
I’ve been performing for almost four years now! And it’s been almost three years since I started the “FreakShow” with the infinitely talented CoCo the Pup. But I was actually first put into drag by Sasha Velour (long before I started performing, and before she was on Drag Race). We were celebrating Passover together in my tiny studio apartment, and the next thing I knew I had a wig, makeup, and brassiere on!
Oh fun! What were the circumstances that brought you into her nightlifey world pre-drag?
Well, I met Sasha through church! But I’ve always just loved performing, and I’ve always wanted an excuse to force people to listen to me talk. It’s why I love hosting so much.
When I first moved to Brooklyn, I was always at Bizarre Bushwick (if you’re old enough to remember it). It’s where Sasha started “Nightgowns.” I remember seeing Sasha’s first drag show after she moved back to the city. Switch n’ Play was there too. They put on some fucked up drag! Those shows are where I first saw what drag could be. And how much better queer people are! That’s why I always say that the “FreakShow” is a celebration of Queer Excellence. We’re just better!
Where’s your original hometown by the way, and what sort of things were you into growing up?
I grew up as a theater kid in suburban Florida outside Orlando, where the Target Starbucks was the most cultured place to spend a Friday night. As soon as I could, I fled to Boston and then NYC to escape that hellscape.
How did the name “Siobhan the Third” come to you?
I’d always heard that you should pick a drag name that is easy for people to understand and spell when a host yells it from stage in a crowded bar. So I did the opposite!
But honestly, it just spoke to me. Like every Irish-Jewish polyamorous vegan southern queer kid in Florida, I wanted to be like those fabulous regal women I saw on TV. And “Siobhan” just seemed liked a take charge, take no prisoners kinda gal! And why “The Third?” Well, a gal’s gotta have some mystery to her.
How would you describe the style and performances of your drag today?
Well, I fall down a lot! I like to make numbers that play with expectations. My shows are an exploration of the surreal and the stupid. I think one of the most amazing things about lip syncing is that you take something everyone thinks they know, a song they’ve heard a million times, and force them to see it in a new light. Normally for me, a much much dumber light. My number might be a contemplation of living with a religious hot dog obsession, the relatable journey from woman to dolphin, or what happens when you drink too much Boob Growing Juice. But it’s always unforgettable and unsettling!
She runs the gamut!
I do my best!
Tell us a bit about why All Night Skate is great, and what we can expect from the next upcoming installment of “FreakShow!”
All Night Skate is such a gift to the community. The owners truly support the queer community, and uplift particularly POC and trans voices. It’s created a tight knit community of weirdos that I love with all of my heart.
The next “FreakShow” is gonna be massive! It’s on Thursday, July 3rd (the “FreakShow” is every first Thursday). The theme is “America the Boobyfull: From Teat to Shining Teat.” It’s going to be a celebration of the best thing our country has to offer: my breasts. And we have an unbelievable cast with unbelievable racks: Harriet Tugsmen, Dyonne L’Hommie, Groovy Bluez, and DiDi Opulence. You don’t want to miss it!
I also have to give a shoutout to the “FreakShow” co-producer and photographer (and my lover!), Brandon Dean, the true brains behind the boobs. And also I want to shout out our amazing DJ and my muse, Mt. Aloofa! Your life is not complete if you’re not watching us!
Okay lastly: what’s your favorite / most essential item in your drag bag, cosmetic or otherwise?
Good question! The answer is the bag itself! I would be nothing without my Bogg brand bogg and my Bogg brand bitty-bogg inside of my Bogg brand bogg. It’s perfect for the busy soccer mom on the go! It’s made of EVA foam like a Croc, so whether it gets covered in canned corn, fake blood, or hot dog juice, I can just hose it down!
Thanks, Siobhan!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Siobhan the Third’s upcoming appearances, and follow her on Instagram.
Thotyssey 