Okay! So what do elder statewoman of drag Fantasy Grandma, one third of the “boy band” Earls 2 Girls Y2KALEB, and king on rise Bob Voyage all have in common? They’re all characters portrayed by multi-faceted performer Francis (but don’t tell them that)! Here we speak to “all” of them… plus, another Earls 2 Girls member chimes in! We’ll break it down, don’t worry!
Thotyssey: Hello All! How is this rainy March weekday treating you so far?
Francis: Hi Jim! I like rain! March I’m ok with… weekdays are the least preferable type of day.
It’s perfect drag weather! You do a lot of things and have a number of characters, but rather than have me describe you, why don’t you tell us who and what you are as a performer and a general human?
Francis: I am just someone who likes to make people laugh due to my (so far lifelong) insecurity and people pleasing streak! Also, Y2KALEB is because of Joey from New Kids on the Block. I used to pretend I was his fellow boyband member, and we made out in the locker room after rehearsal. And Fantasy Grandma is because we need radical acceptance. And Bob Voyage is because the world is fucked, and just like that floating door didn’t keep Leo from being eaten by a shark, our possessions will not save us. I mean I assume Leo was eaten by a shark at the end of Titanic, but maybe they should release that scene as a DVD extra. We are in Disaster land! Hyper Aware! Super Scared! Self-Involved!
I also write fun disgusting murder mysteries for my friends, and I’m working on a sex advice sketch show / podcast called Come Inside with Shannon Sennot and Jules Rosskam.
Y2KALEB: Yo, it’s me Y2KALEB! I just want to weigh in on the NKOTB allegations. I have no memory of that, but I admit that according to the backstory I memorized when I joined Earls2Gearls I was cryogenically frozen then… so IDK. But I respect the legacy of all the boybands that came before E2G… 4 sure 4 eva.
Fantasy Grandma: That’s my grandbaby. So respectful!
Francis, what is your origin story if I may ask? Where are you from originally, and how did you begin as a performer / artist?
Francis: I started performing in school plays. And I was in a Jesus children’s choir! We were called Jubilation, and we traveled around singing about the Lord doing box steps and jazz hands. So, originally from Tennessee and Kentucky.
That must’ve been quite formative! How did you come to find yourself among the heathens of NYC nightlife?
Francis: I come from beautiful places–many trees, but low ranking as far as rights go!
And not great for entertainment, unless you want to be a country singer or involved with Christian television. So I left and came to New York!
Fantasy Grandma: And it was in New York where I was born: half grandmother, half clown–spirit of love and perversion.
Y2KALEB: I wasn’t born that I remember… just unthawed with my boys Justan and Donnie and together we were E2G.
Grandma, how did you fit in amongst the nightlifers and what were your first gigs like?
Fantasy Grandma: There used to be another Fantasy Grandma but she mysteriously disappeared… but didn’t die, because a Fantasy Grandma never dies. One time we performed in the Lower East Side for Apple Day, and another time we were onstage with Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones. One time we were just hired to dance around at a jam band show and pass out Magic Hat beers.
What’s your act like, Grandma… and your wardrobe?
Fantasy Grandma: Sequins or nothin’! Sometimes nothing! I call that “old face young body.” Trademarked! I sing songs to glorify aging queerly.
Who can tell me how the boy band Earls 2 Gearls members Y2KALEB, Justan and Donnie Pearl came together? [Dear readers: Justan and Donnie are portrayed by different humans, who are in the group chat with myself, Francis and “company.”]
Justan: Hey gearl, This is Justan! Earls 2 Gearls (E2G) is just two brothers and a much older guy from a weird part of Florida who became a boy band sensation… when we all passed out from heat exhaustion in our 1999 Mickey Mouse Club auditions, and woke up in the future. Our manager Larry had his hands full with other, more established boybands, so he had us cryogenically frozen to save us for later.
Unfortunately, he left us in a deep freeze that got sold at a yard sale, and that’s where Fantasy Grandma picked us up. Now that we’ve mostly thawed, we’re making a fresh comeback just for u, Gearl. Our music is like if 98 Degrees was exposed to *NSYNC brand strawberry yogurt pops on a counter for a few days. U can catch us and Grandma at Joe’s Pub this September 19th as part of Unprofessional Variety Show or u can find us anytime you let the internet into your heart.
Bob Voyage: Justan, if you’re with Y2 let him know that I see him, I understand, and I’m not trying to be his father. I just want him to remember to stop going barefoot outside. He’s 35 years old. Hookworm is not a good look.
Fantasy Grandma: Bob, I don’t think the boys are listening.
Bob, who exactly are you in relation to these folks and how do you come into the picture?
I grew like a mushroom from a pile of dirty laundry in the boys’ influencer house. I’m part man, part businessman, hundred percent hope. I’ve dabbled in a lot of different industries, but at this point, I’m ready to burn LinkedIn to the ground and get across some basic principles: customer service is a rage vacuum, your dreams are not trapped inside you but live in the souls of the ones you love, and you’re gonna wanna Face 69 as many people as you possibly can. I don’t have a book to sell or a MLM to get you into. Those days are done. All I want is for you to consider how hyper local travel could transform your life.
My butt is large and my feet are small and my mustache is never quite safe looking, but I know a thing or two about making friends with a stranger simply based on the fact that I found their sock in the gym three weeks ago and I’m here to return it to them and THAT is how you LIVE RIGHT.
Bon, you’ll be part of the cast of Miz Jade’s epic stage production “Synthesis” at Triskelion Arts on March 27 and 28th!
Bob Voyage: I’m ready to ride, Jim. Bob is ready to ride.
What’s coming up for everyone?
Fantasy Grandma: Bob is at “Synthesis,” E2G and I will be at Joe’s Pub on September 19th, and all of us will be part of the new show Francis is building with Shannon and Jules called Come Inside. You know what to do if you want any of us at your birthday party.
Okay last question: what’s for dinner tonight?
Y2KALEB: We’re cartoons. We don’t need to eat or go to the bathroom.
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for the upcoming appearances of Francis, Fantasy Grandma, Bob Voyage, Y2Kaleb and Earls2Gearls and follow them on Instagram: Francis, Fantasy Grandma, Bob Voyage and Earls2Gearls‘ Y2Kaleb, Justan and Donnie Pearl.
Thotyssey 