A star of “Dragula” Season 6(66), the Philly-based horror drag artiste known as Pi is dropping endless digits of terror into New Jersey this Halloween Week. [Cover photo: @missnscene]
Thotyssey: Hi, Pi! Thanks for finding time for us in what is undoubtingly your busy season! I was wondering if your home in Philadelphia at this time of year is all decked out with Halloween decor, or do you put all of that creative energy into you drag looks. Also, is there any chance that your home might be haunted?
Pi: Oh, my home is absolutely haunted! It’s very old in a historic part of Philly. I’m sad to report that I didn’t decorate for Halloween this year because it’s been busy busy. But, we keep the house pretty Halloweeny year-round including lots of jack-o-lantern memorabilia, with the star of the show being “Snack-O-Lantern” which is a plastic wall-hanging jack-o-lantern that holds candy in its mouth. He’s kind of become a mascot now.
So they just announced the new season of The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula, and… no one from PA or NY!? But other than that, an impressive looking gaggle of goblins. Is there anyone you’re particularly excited to see?
I love this cast of ghouls! I am friends with, have worked with, or have been following a majority of the cast for a while, and it’s exciting to see them get their moment. Koochie Koochie Ku and I worked together at my first “get flown out” gig in 2023 (before either of us were on Dragula), so it’s a full circle moment to see them! I’m excited to see what Vanda does; she is a lethal performer, and one of the best costume designers I’ve met.
When you competed in the 6th Season of Dragula in 2024, you were a memorable fan favorite contestant that made it to the top half, specializing in horror looks that were scary but also leaning into camp silliness. Did you have any favorite looks you pulled off, challenges you participated in, or other favorite moments from your time on the show?
I love blending camp with horror, I started saying my aesthetic is like a WhoVille Haunted House, haha. I think I’m most proud of being able to show so much versatility on the show, where the common thread between the looks isn’t necessarily a color palette or style, but instead that twisted pi camp. I think my NYE baby harnessed all of that pretty fiercely.
Your season’s cast seemed to get along pretty well for the most part, but Dragula casts have largely come to be known for bad blood and extreme on screen antagonism! Do you think that has to do with the culture of the show (“If I lose, I might have to eat a bug tomorrow or jump out of a plane”), the background of the contestants as “outsider” performers in their respective drag scenes, or something else?
We really, truly got along for the most part, and I’m grateful to have left with a lot of real friends. A vast majority of Dragula ghouls are heavily influenced by horror in its many forms both fiction and nonfiction. There’s a certain level of emotional rawness that is required to really obsess over horror, and that bleeds into the way we navigate the world. We don’t necessarily view getting into an argument as “this person is evil,” but it’s sometimes like a therapeutic release of pent up emotions that we play hot potato with… knowing that we’re all gonna mash it and eat it together later.
Might you consider returning for a Titans season, aka the Dragula version of All-Stars?
In a heartbeat!
Were you born and raised in Philly? What sort of influences did you grown up with that inspired your own art, and how did you ultimately become Pi?
I was born and raised in South Jersey, and moved to Philly after college. Honestly, my biggest inspiration to do drag comes from amusement parks, roller coasters, dark rides, and haunted houses. There’s something so immersive about highly-themed attractions. They’re little slices of surreality, which has been a major lifeblood to my art. I started doing drag as a club kid because I wanted to bring a surreality to everyone around me, and that just continued to grow and morph into the monster I am today.
There’s a whole subculture of folks who are obsessed with memorizing the endless string of digits of pi… are you one of them?
I know the first like 30 digits or so! You know, for when I need to put down my government name.
What are the joys and challenges of Philly drag, and the nightlife scene there in general?
Philly nightlife is honestly so fierce; I love its versatility and rawness, and there is some truly world-class talent here. Challenge-wise, I think Philly is historically not as much of a destination city as places like New York and Chicago. But that has honestly been seeming to change, which is fierce!
It was sad to hear about the early demise of Marsha’s, the Philly women’s sports bar that just closed after less than a year due to some workplace controversies and this general economic shitshow we’re all living in. Do you have any observations about what went down there, and if it says something about the Philly scene in general?
Honestly, it’s a nuanced conversation that I can’t really pin down in this context. But it’s always sad to see a queer space not work out. On the flipside, Val’s is a lesbian bar around the corner from Marsha’s and it’s definitely worth checking out!
Tell us about the history of Snatcherella 3000, your famous Philly drag competition! We’ve interviewed some prior contestants of that: Allyria Everlasting and Cupid Bowe. What made you want to start Snatcherella, what has been a highlight or two for you from that competition, and when’s it coming back?
I will always be so grateful to be a part of Snatcherella 3000. I think we (the producers) thought it would be fun for the city, but were pleasantly surprised to see it become a cultural touchstone and a very specific era for the city. I think a lot of what made it special was highlighted in our All Stars season, featuring truly top-tier talent and a sense of collaboration between cast, crew, and production. #Snatcherella3000Forever
You’re making a New Brunswick, NJ appearance on Monday, October 26–guest performing for Lexie Legato’s Drag Duel viewing party at coLAB Arts! Drag Duel is a YouTube drag competition that she’s a contestant in. Do you have a connection to Drag Duel or Lexie, and what can we expect from this night?
I don’t have any direct connections to the show, so I am going into the night open-minded and excited to see more competition-style media for drag! YouTube is lowkey my favorite social media, so it’s amazing to see content like this be on my favorite platform.
What else is coming up for you as far as gigs, projects, etc.? Or is there anything else you want to say?
Onyx Ondyx and I are rotate-hosting weekly viewing parties for Dragula Season 7 every Tuesday at Strangelove’s in Philly! Beyond that, I always post my upcoming gigs on Instagram.
And to every drag ghoul out there, I’ll give the same advice I give myself: Stay Stupid! Stop overthinking! And take a shower when your brain feels bad!
Finally: with your emphasis on these highly creative, monstrous, and intricate drag looks you create all year round… is there a part of you that sometimes says, “I kinda just wanna be Britney or a sexy cat for Halloween,” lol?
Like literally yes, lol. I think with every heavy swing of the pendulum towards psycho horror monster drag, it eventually always swings back towards wanting to give something more “lemme put some cat ears on and keep it pushing.” I find it fun to see how that actually manifests itself though… because even when I go for more club-wear slutty-dress drag, I try to add a little something whacky or scary to it.
Thanks, Pi!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Pi’s upcoming appearances, and follow her on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok & LinkTree.
