Incorporating hypergeek cosplay, gloomy glam dyke drag and “edutainment” into their stage numbers and productions, the co-creator of Cringe Compilation and They Blinded Me With Science Maude Addams has got all your Halloween vibes this season. [Cover photo: Robyn Gravees]
Thotyssey: Maude, hello! So ComicCon Weekend has come to a close, did you partake at all?
Maude Addams: I actually skipped ComicCon! More importantly, a little blue hedgehog was celebrating his 35th birthday that same Friday… so I was at Club Chaos–which was so fun, as someone who’s been a big fan of Sonic since I was a kid. I went as Rouge the Bat with a good friend of mine as Eggman, and we ended up in a cosplay showcase for the actual Sega staff!
Oh, that’s really fun! Clearly what you do in a nightlife space combines the worlds of drag and cosplay. But how might you describe what Maude is and does in general, as far aesthetics and performance and overall vibes?
Maude Addams is The Prettiest Corpse in the morgue, a failed Hollywood New Wave and Exploitation horror actor who died before they got their first big role. Now they’re obsessed with getting to play out the roles they never could. I use them to both showcase my love of movies, as well as navigate whatever is plaguing my psyche at the time. I’d like to credit House of Psychotic Women (a book I highly recommend for any fan of women in horror) in helping me navigate birthing Maude.
Can you share your own origin story with us? Where’s your original hometown, and how did you begin as an artist / performer?
I’m originally from Broward County, Florida. When I was in my late teens and early twenties, I did a lot of panels and party hosting at conventions. I used to do these DIY “Furby Cult” parties, where we would just tell a bunch of strangers with Furbies to come meet us at our hotel room for a surprise hotel room party. Once we got enough of the people we wanted there (and everyone introduced their Furbies or whatever toy they brought), we would improv an outrageous skit: Furby Wedding, Furby Live Birth, Furby Baptism, just whatever we thought was gonna be fun and silly.
My first ever time actually doing drag and not just hosting a party was here in New York. And I only just realized this connection: my number was “Furby Cult,” inspired for a toy themed drag show.
What brought you here to NYC, and what have your experiences been like navigating the drag / nightlife scene here in general?
Around 2021 I needed a place to live, and my friends needed a roommate. So I drained all my money, put everything I could in a rental car, and a good friend of mine drove us all the way up here in two days… and I’ve been here ever since! I didn’t exactly come here with the plan to start in nightlife; I kinda just fell into it.
Most of my stuff has had a very DIY vibe, working with my friends to do fun projects and bring people joy with mutual interests. The first show I ever produced was “Seance!,” a horror movie watch party and drag brunch, which I did every other month at The Flying Fox in 2023-24.
Do you ever look into your own interests and fandoms when planning a show and think, Hmm, maybe this is too niche? Or is there an audience for everything?
What I’ve learned from this is, even if you think the reference is too niche or cringe, there will always be someone out there who goes “wait I love that thing! I cant believe we get to see a drag show about it!” That being said… if anyone wants us to do a Higurashi show–let us know!
You co-created a production company called They Blinded Me With Science that serves funny, weird and informative shows at the Caveat theater. Tell us more!
TBMWS is a drag edutainment show I do with my friend Nic Comparato, who is an ecologist who specializes in bats! We’re actually about to do a show at the Caveat on the 17th, talking about the bats of New York City!
Bats are awesome!
Then I’d love to also plug the Urban Bat Project! If you have any interest in the other half of nighttime wildlife, we’d love to see you at one of our Bat Walks in spring!
You’re other production brand with Sour Somethings called Cringe Compilation is serving a show at your home base Wonderville on October 19 called “Into the Unknown!” This is a tribute to the cult animated limited series Over the Garden Wall, which is fondly regarded for its autumnal and turn of the century vintage vibes! Tell us more about the show, and what makes its source material so special.
Sour and I have been doing “Into the Unknown” for about three years now, though this is our first time presenting it under the Cringe Comp label. Probably one of the greatest pieces of animated storytelling of all time, every rewatch Over the Garden Wall I find a new detail I miss. The story personally really resonates with me as an older sibling who often had to navigate both being annoyed with, and also being protective of, my younger brothers. And I think anyone who watches it can find a character they feel connected to. It’s also a perfect Halloween movie for all ages. It doesn’t pull its punches, and has some very heartfelt moments. I still cry during the last two episodes!
Spooky and sentimental good times! Okay, lastly: who is your favorite horror monster / killer?
John Kramer from Saw! That’s Peepaw to me.
Great choice! Thanks, Maude!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Maude Addams’ upcoming appearances, and follow them on Instagram and TikTok.
