Alaska Celebrates Lesbian Summer Hits Ahead of 'DRAG: the Musical's' New York Run

Alaska Thunderfuck 5000's name in lights on Broadway? Such a prospect would likely ruffle some feathers. But of course, she could easily shorten her name to Alaska as she has done in the past to shut up critics. But the idea isn't so far-fetched – think "Hail, Mary!" and the success of Jinkx Monsoon. For now, though, we'll have to settle for off-Broadway when in September Alaska stars in a musical close to her heart: "DRAG: the Musical," in which she not only appears, but co-wrote under her non-drag moniker Justin Andrew Honard, collaborating with Tomas Costanza and Ashley Gordon on the book and score. Directed and choreographed by Spencer Liff, the show features Broadway hottie Nick Adams, drag superstars Lagoona Bloo, Jujubee, Jan Sport, and J. Elaine Marcos, plus Joey McIntyre (from New Kids on the Block). For more on "DRAG: the Musical," visit its website. Could "DRAG: the Musical" make it to Broadway? Stay tuned.

But prior to heading to New York for the show's rehearsals, Alaska is on a mini-tour of gay resorts and another locale known for something completely different: Fire Island (8/17), Provincetown (8/21-22), and Salt Lake City (8/24). Joining her in the show is her accomplished musical director and collaborator Jeremy Mark Mikush. (For ticket information for these appearances, follow this link.)

It has been more than a decade since Alaska was first on "RuPaul's Drag Race." That was Season 5 in 2013, where she finished second. Three years later she was crowned "Queen of Queens" for winning the second season of "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars." Since then she has toured with RuPaul shows, released four chart-topping albums (including "Anus," "Poundcake," "Vagina," and, most recently "Red 4 Filth"), published an autobiography ("My Name's Yours, What's Alaska?"), joined the drag girl group the AAA Girls (with Courtney Act and Willam Belli), appeared in "The Alaska Thunderfuck Extra Special Comedy Special" for OUTtv, partnered with Belli on the podcast "Race Chaser" that dishes on the franchise that made them famous, and wrote and starred in various iterations of "DRAG: the Musical," most recently last March in Los Angeles. When it premiered in 2022, it won best new play or musical at the 2022 Broadway World Los Angeles Awards and the 2023 Queerties Award for Live Theater.

Alaska has 1.8 million followers on Instagram and 612,000 on X (formerly Twitter). In 2019 she placed seventh on Vulture's list of the Most Powerful Drag Queens in America. When she toured last winter with her holiday show, EDGE wrote: "With her stunning retro look (she appears to be the love child of Jayne Mansfield and Cher), a sophisticated hauteur that would give Miranda Priestly a run for her money, and a powerful belt that would be right at home on Broadway, Alaska confirmed her drag superstar status."

Alaska spoke in her characteristic 'vocal fry' style from Los Angeles recently about her tour, "DRAG," and if she would return to a "Drag Race" franchise.

EDGE: You're in LA right now, then coming East for a tour and "DRAG: the Musical?"

Alaska Thunderfuck 5000: Yeah, this summer I'm just doing a few shows here and there. I'm hitting the gay spots. I'm doing Fire Island. I'm doing Ptown.

EDGE: What can we expect with the show?

Alaska Thunderfuck 5000: Basically, I like to sing songs with my best friend Jeremy playing the piano. (Jeremy Mark Mikush is Alaska's musical director and collaborator). We're really into lesbian music at the moment. I've deemed this the summer of the lesbian and so we're really into lesbian songs. But basically we just sing songs that we love and and have a good time.

EDGE: When you say lesbian songs, such as...?

Alaska Thunderfuck 5000: Well, both. I mean, you have, of course, Chappell Roan, who is... writing songs about dating women and and she's just like exploding all over the world. So, I'm really excited to sing a song by her. And of course, the Song of the Summer is "Karma" by JoJo Siwa, who is also a lesbian. So this is, I mean, the biggest summer for lesbians since the Lilith Fair.

EDGE: What do you think of Chappell Roan?

Alaska Thunderfuck 5000: She's really talented and really cool, and she, you know, she puts her money where her mouth is. I mean, she does do drag but she's also, like, a huge supporter of drag queens and and really knows her shit.

EDGE: Why isn't there a drag queen Top 40 star?

Alaska Thunderfuck 5000:There are some in other countries, just not here. So I guess America has a problem.

EDGE: America is having a serious problem with drag, don't you think?

Alaska Thunderfuck 5000: Yeah, In pop music and entertainment in general, drag queens are put into a separate category. People say, 'Oh, that's just drag music.' And don't take it seriously. If you look worldwide, drag artists are really killing it in the music world. So hopefully America will catch up.

EDGE: Having seen your Christmas show, you are a remarkable performance artist...

Alaska Thunderfuck 5000: Thanks, I love being called a performance artist because that's what I feel like I am. When I come into the country or go to another country, and they ask me on the forum what my occupation is, I write, "artist." And I am not a typical drag queen, whatever that may be, so I welcome being called a performance artist. I'm certainly not a comedian. I think of myself as a singer, a singer who is funny sometimes.