I recently chatted with Yvie Oddly, fresh off RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 7, to discuss the annual live Halloween spectacular, RuPaul’s Drag Race Night of the Living Drag. In this year’s show, Yvie plays The Boogieman, who summons a cast of sinful RuPaul’s Drag Race queens from the depths of a fierce and fiery hell to leave you ghoulishly gagged. Starring alongside Yvie will be Aquaria the Sloth, Asia O’Hara the Envious, Bosco the Lustful, DeJa Skye the Greedy, Kim Chi the Glutton, Lady Camden the Proud, Rosé the Vain, and Vanessa Vanjie the Wrathful.
This is the 11th year of Night of the Living Drag. Have you performed in it before?
YVIE: Yes and no. I’ve done a Night of the Living Drag tour, but the year I joined we were in a pandemic and it was in a parking lot. That was the only year I really got to experience the tour and I’m very excited to be celebrating my favorite holiday indoors.
Were you approached to be part of it, or were you like, I want to do this again and do it right?
YVIE: I think it’s very well known that I love a little bit of horror and I love alternative concepts and everything ooky spooky and gory. So when my management came to me and asked, “Would you like to do this tour?” it wasn’t even a question.
This year’s inspiration is Dante’s Divine Comedy. When you found out the theme, what were your initial thoughts?
YVIE: I was super into it cause in essence, it’s just boiling down the seven deadly sins, if that’s not a theme that the fans and the queens have all wanted to see, then I don’t know what is!
Did the queens have any choice in who they get to be? Or were they all just cast for it?
YVIE: I wasn’t that deep in the creative process for the casting, so I don’t know. From my viewpoint, I think everyone’s sins fit them pretty well.
Where did the idea for The Boogieman come from?
YVIE: It was my character for Snatch Game and there’s so much that doesn’t get shown on TV because we only have an hour, so I’m gonna revive him. The people seem to love him.
Oddly as The Boogieman during the Season 7 Snatch Game episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars.
Who were your inspirations for the Boogieman character? Are there certain people or monsters that informed your performance?
YVIE: The Boogieman for one. There’s a hint of Oogie Boogie from The Nightmare Before Christmas, cause that was my growing up and I absolutely love his jazzy little song— so there’s definitely some influence there. And also from old Black exploitation films, because their characters are just so wild. They’re so brass and I love the way they speak.
They’re just so extra and over the top— just like drag.
YVIE: Right. And they are in full drag…they’re in head to toe powder blue sparkly suits, trying to restore peace in the streets..
I know you just had the one Boogieman costume for Snatch Game, but are there costume changes for this show?
YVIE: I mean, I’m still a drag queen. I can’ t just go on stage wearing the same thing for a whole night now.
What else can we expect from you during this show?
YVIE: You can expect a journey. I’m gonna be traveling all the way from hell to capture these souls, and I did not pack light.
Is there anyone who you would say maybe shouldn’t see this show, like anyone who’s easily spooked or faint of heart?
YVIE: The only people who really have no place at this show are people who don’t enjoy themselves. Who hates sitting at a show. And even then, you maybe should still try it out!
Do you know if it’s gonna be filmed and then streamed anywhere afterwards?
YVIE: Ooh, I don’t.That’s a great idea. Maybe I’ll pitch that to the upper demons.
If there’s anyone on the fence about going, what do you say to them?
YVIE: Come see this goddamn, amazing show. It’s just gonna be a night full of fun and wildness. Bitches flying to the air!
Presented by Voss Events, in collaboration with World of Wonder, RuPaul’s Drag Race Night of the Living Drag will take place in eight North American cities including in Chicago (at the Rosemont Theatre on 10/25) and New York (at Kings Theatre on October 30). For tickets and more info, visit Voss Events.
