Chiffon Dior: Good evening ladies! Thank you all for making time for this….*ahem*….Christmas foursome!
Ruby Powers: Just as long as I get to be in the middle!
CD: Would you all like to introduce yourselves or should I just call you Ho, Ho and Ho?
Strawberry Fields: *Laughs*
RP: I don’t care if you call me Ho, Piggy, or, Princess. Just CALL ME!
Julia Van Cartier: Hello. It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Julia van Cartier.
SF: Strawberry Fields here!
RP: And Ruby Powers!
SF: Thanks for having us! I love what you’ve done with the place! *Laughs*
JVC: I’ll say. What a terrific way to start a super fun week for me!
CDL Thank you for noticing Strawberry! You can work wonders with a few throw pillows and a nice fully stocked wine fridge.
SF: *Laughs*
CD: So Julia let me start with you/ We’re here to shamelessly whore out….I mean talk about your Christmas show “We 3 Queens”. Can you tell me how this came about?
JVC: It started with a drag competition at the Metropolitan Room – oddly my 15th year in drag but my first professional competition. I gave it my all and came in behind Strawberry and Ruby. I watch them perform for six weeks and really developed a lot of respect for them both onstage and off. I loved who they were and thought that our personalities would go together well on stage. So, one day I had the idea to put together an Andrew sisters type trio of fabulous drag queens doing classic lip-synching with choreography. We took the show to Fire Island and it was a sellout success! I knew that it was so good we got such an amazing response that we had to do another show and well, Christmas is my absolute favorite so here we are!
SF:Thank you Julia the feeling is mutual.
RP: So sweet! We had such a fabulous time in Fire Island. It was my first time performing there, and the crowd was amazing. We’re working out dates to go back there in 2016.
So you all are live singers? I’m a bit of a singer myself if you want to add a fourth to the act. The only provision is that I would need to be in the shower during the show since that’s the only time I sound good. Any takers?
SF: We can have a special dress made of shower Curtains and bring a tub onstage!
CD: Do they make shower curtains in 4 way stretch material?
RP: Yes, we all live sing as well. At my own shows, I never really do lip synch. I do more of an old-fashioned piano party with patter and games. I really rely on our OUT OF THIS WORLD choreographer (Zahif Corkidi) to get me into shape.
SF: Yes! Zahif is great. The dances are darling not to mention athletic!
JVC: We sing- but I really appreciate the art of classic lip syncing.
RP: Julia, Zahif, and Jerry envision these blast-from-the-past mixes that let us be ourselves, while also being synchronized and serving lip synch realness.
SF: It’s feels like an old fashioned variety show and we all sort of come from a similar visual pallet so it really comes together.
RP: Totally! I get really nervous lip syncing in traditional bar gigs.
SF: Julia had introduced us to the Pupini Sisters. They are like an Andrews Sisters act but they do modern covers.
RP: I’d love us to live sing one of their arrangements someday but I’d have to be the soprano! *Laughs* When we do harmonies while lip syncing though, I always pretend I am the alto part.
SF: So there are lots of lyrics to remember, especially with all the scatting and what not.
And not THAT kind of scat…
RP: Girl!
CD: This is why we can’t have nice things Strawberry.
RP: She is wild! You can’t take her anywhere!
CD: Julia, you said you’ve been doing drag for fifteen years. How did you get your start?
JVC: Tragically and accidentally on Halloween of 2000. I went to the Chanel counter and had my makeup done by an old drag queen who got me started, my original drag mom if you will.
CD: Halloween here too! Its almost ALWAYS halloween. And its always just going to be that one time. How about you both Ruby and Strawberry?
SF: I started in Columbus, Ohio in a bar competition called “Who Wants to be a Drag Queen”
RP: It’s a long story….I’m never sure if people think it’s interesting, but it’s interesting to ME! I was freelancing in public relations and doing head shots and corporate portraits. A college friend of mine named Janet Krupin was in an EDM group called Trillium. She had an EP release party at Iron Bar and asked if I would set up the step and repeat and do the photography. She was in If/Then with Idina Menzel at the time, and a lot of the cast members would be in attendance. I had been wanting to try drag for awhile and Janet suggested it as a way to spice up the party. I ended up photographing Anthony Rapp, Jen Colella, Jason Tam–all of these amazing performers I looked up to, and my photo even made it onto Playbill the next day! I did the beat totally by myself. (YouTube was my drag mom)–but I got some help with the name
SF: I need a shovel to pick up all those names you dropped Rubes
JVC: These girls throw shade at one another and I love it. I don’t get into any of that. *Laughs*
RP: *Laughs* Sorry there’s one more coming! I was obsessed with this Swarovski ruby pendant necklace and I’d wear it all the time. I thought I was so cute.
CD: Ruby, my editor said we just went over the words limit for this article.
SF: *Laughs*
RP: I happened to be at this straight bar called 5 lamps and saw Michael John LAChiusa, my favorite composer who I had previously fan girled over after seeing his production of GIANT.
Well, I approached him and we got to chatting and he complimented my necklace and I said “Thank you. It’s my ruby powers”. We got talking about drag. I was tossing around a drag name of “St. Agnes Hamburger” which I just thought was hilarious and he said, “No. It should be Ruby Powers”. END OF STORY.
SF: Phew! I was packing a bag.
CD: So you already mentioned that this show is going to be a combination of live singing and lip synching but what can the audience expect from the show?
SF: Old fashioned entertainment, with a fruity twist!
CD: I see what you did there Strawberry.
SF: *Laughs*
RP:…and extra sparkle.
SF: For sure! Oh yes and Santa!
RP: I think it’s going to be a joyous show with camaraderie on stage and in the audience, just a nice (pretty) clean, good-time….with a few dick jokes thrown in for good measure
JVC: Its going to be a good old fashioned cabaret show. I feel like we’re artists that are comfortable on the stage and know how to make the audience feel welcome and happy with our live singing, lip-synching and choreographed numbers. Expect lots of smiles and even some surprises.
SF: Agreed. I think this is a first at the Duplex for all of us. Am I right girls?
JVC: Yes
RP: I’ve performed at the Duplex a bunch of times, but only as Brent.
CD: Christmas in New York City is one of the most amazing times of the year. What is your favorite part of the holiday season in the Big Apple?
RP: In wintertime, it’s easier to get your dates to stay the night. Baby, it’s cold outside. Also winter coats can be slimming.
SF: *Laughs*
SF: The Christmas music… And a Christmas Carol, any version will do! And the Barbie dolls being released for the Christmas season!!
RP: Strawberry LOVE Barbies!
CD: Oh, I’m WELL aware Ruby!
SF: *Laughs* Everyone knows of the Barbie obsession! She’s my roomie.
JVC: My favorite are the city streets. The smell- the tree lots with old fashioned light bulbs- 5th ave lights.
CD: So how can people in the greater tri-state area get tickets to see We 3 Queens?
JVC: There are still some tickets available here!
CD: For people who want to stalk….I mean follow you all, what are your FB/IG/Twitter accounts ?
Ruby: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
Julia: Facebook
Strawberry: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
CD: Well ladies, we’ve just about reached the end here. Thank you all so much for your time and I wish you the best of luck with your show. I’m sure it will be a big hit! Do you have any final words of wisdom for our readers?
JVC: Thank you so much for this opportunity. Being in drag has taught me to hold my head high and smile no matter what.
RP: Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death! Thank you SO much. I love your work and it means a lot to be included!
SF: Thank for your time Chiffon! Cocktails soon! And I’ll be performing at Broadway Mondays on Monday January 4th! Happy Holidays to you and your readers!
RP: Happy Holidays!!!
