This conservatory trained musical performer and spooky-kooky Jersey Girl is returning to 54 Below this weekend for an epic holiday show: Holly Harkness! [Cover photo: @hotdamnitssuditi]
Thotyssey: Holly, hello! How is the holiday season treating you so far?
Holly Harkness: Pretty good! Had a lot of good food this weekend, hung out with family… it was great! A good excuse to turn my brain off.
No doubt it’s a busy brain! How would you describe Holly as a performer and an aesthetic, generally speaking?
I describe Holly as a cross between Agatha Harkness, Sarah Sanderson and Samantha Jones. My shows and numbers are always very silly and suggestive humor through the lens of a spooky showgirl. As an artist, I am very inspired by witches and the power in femininity.
Do you have a favorite number to perform?
“Love Shack” is my go-to; I could do that number in my sleep. I also have a Poison Ivy mix that I love, and “I Put a Spell On You” is also one of my go-tos. Also I do “I Drove All Night” by Celine Dion.
Where’s you’re original hometown, how did you begin as an overall performer, and when did drag come into your life?
I’m from Scotch Plains, New Jersey and I started performing at The Pineda Conservatory when I was 8 years old doing musicals there. The conservatory was run by the Pineda family, and the whole family would put on a variety holiday spectacular every year; that’s kind of what inspired me to do the Holiday show. I started drag because during Covid my mom said that since we had so much time on our hands, everyone in the house had to learn a new skill. I said I wanted to do drag, and she bought me makeup and a few wigs and I started practicing.
I notice you do mostly special production shows in specific venues… do you have any interest in being a weekly bar girl somewhere, in Jersey or NYC?
I’d love to be a weekly bar girl in NYC. I used to do monthly shows at Henrietta Hudson and those were awesome. I loved the audience and the performers. Once I finish school, I think I’ll be more available to establish a relationship with more nightlife venues.
You’ve performed at Manhattan’s prestigious 54 Below before… how did you become associated with that venue?
I wanted to do a cabaret, so I emailed them with a pitch and they gave me a date. 54 is great at working with artists, and nothing is super difficult with them. So I just kept asking to do shows, and they kept saying yes.
You’ll return to 54 this Sunday to host / produce A Gay Holiday Spectacular! The show’s got a great cast of both live singers and drag performers. What can you tell us about how you assembled this cast, and what the show’s gonna be like?
The performers are people that I’ve worked with before, either at school or through drag gigs in the past. Most of the drag performers I met through Henrietta Hudson or the Act Out Diva play festival I did over the summer. The show is gonna be a holiday cabaret with a loose storyline and a mix of lip syncers and live singers, both drag queen and non-drag queen.
What else is coming up for you?
Nothing other than promoting queer artists in the NJ / NY area that I really admire. Drag itself is political, and I think the more queer and trans joy in the world the better. I love all the people in this show, and I’m excited to have a fun night with them. Nothing else coming up; I’ve been so busy, I need to fuck off for a month or so after this.
Deserved! Okay lastly, Mariah’s “All I Want for Christmas” — Never Gets Old, or It’s Tiiiiiime for a Break, lol?
Never Gets Old… and will possibly be featured in the show.
Thanks, Holly!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Holly Harkness’ upcoming appearances, and follow her on Instagram and TikTok.
Thotyssey 