RuPaul’s Drag Race: Battle of the Seasons Comes to Culture Room

Now in its seventh season, RuPaul’s Drag Race is the definition of progressive reality television. In case you’ve been living under a rock, here’s a quick and dirty summary of the show’s premise: Iconic drag queen RuPaul finds the best up-and-coming queens, puts them all in one place, and has...

By Grant James

April 3, 2015

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Now in its seventh season, RuPaul’s Drag Race is the definition of progressive reality television. In case you’ve been living under a rock, here’s a quick and dirty summary of the show’s premise: Iconic drag queen RuPaul finds the best up-and-coming queens, puts them all in one place, and has them compete in various tasks for a chance to become “America’s next drag superstar.” There are wigs, smeared mascara, and insults tossed about that are so sour, they could make a lemon squint. Basically, it’s a way-more-entertaining version of America’s Next Top Model. Sorry, Tyra Banks. Your anemic runway models can’t hold a candle to the divas of RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Hosted by Michelle Visage — one of the show’s judges and a glorious queen in her own right — this year’s epic RuPaul’s Drag Race: Battle of the Seasons is a showcase of contestants from previous years (sans season one). The show is packed with an unbelievable number of talented queens. Comprising 15 winners and finalists, this tour is like the Avengers, except instead of superheroes, it’s got sassy divas. Though the roster varies by city, Fort Lauderdale can look forward to performances by seven larger-than-life drag queens this Thursday: Adore Delano, Bianca Del Rio, Detox, Ivy Winters, Jinkx Monsoon, Alaska 5000, and Sharon Needles.
Del Rio (last season’s winner) is famous for her comedic routine; Needles is known for her dark, game-changing aesthetic; Delano is the cute but messy party girl; and Monsoon is Hollywood glamour with a heavy dose of slapstick comedy. It’s a hodgepodge of talent, so there’s a diva for everyone. It’s like a drag queen Whitman’s Sampler.

Whether you’re coming out to see your favorite queen or you’re just looking for the perfect place to take that first date, it will surely be a memorable night. Let’s just hope the queens at Lips in Oakland Park don’t pop over to start a brawl. Just remember, there are no rules in a RuPaul drag race.
Hosted By Michelle Visage. 9 p.m. Thursday, April 2, at Culture Room, 3045 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale. Tickets cost $30 plus fees. Call 954-564-1074, or visit cultureroom.net. Ages 18 and older.

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