Rify Royalty has created a space of inclusion, love, family, and so many other words to describe community. It’s really hard to put it in a full scope how much Rify has impacted nyc nightlife. They have changed what a drag show could look like, mixing drag kings, burlesque, Broadway queens, and hip-hop divas. Rify has changed our view point on NYC nightlife to be more warm, kind and incredibly inclusive. Multiple time Glam Award winner and Brooklyn based legend Rify Royalty has decided to end her iconic party Straight Acting. This party has been a safe haven for many people and has even been a huge part of my own career. I’m so honored to be able to have this conversation with them. I chatted with Ms. Royalty about their future endeavors, and this is what she had to say.
What is the biggest change you have seen in nightlife and the biggest change you’ve seen in yourself since starting Straight Acting?
The drag in Brooklyn has definitely changed. It was way more alternative when I started. Now all the girls are wearing human hair wigs!
You have one of the most rare titles in drag and not a lot of drag artists can say that. You created a party so legendary that it has traveled the country. What do you think of the key ingredients to making something legendary to the point where people wanted on a mass-marketed level?
I’d say just give them something different. I was the only night to kinda glorify sissies in a way that was celebratory. I catered to the boys who wanted to put on lingerie and heels and feel their fantasy. That changed over time but for the first few years, we always had a crowd that came out in looks.
You’re a very accomplished member of the community. Year after year in New York you help set a standard. Do you feel like there is pressure to one-up yourself every time or are you more in a place now where ideas come naturally?
I’m my own biggest competition, so yes. I want to make sure I’m making smart choices that represent me while creating spaces for my community.
How does your creative process work when you are creating a new concept for looks, party ideas, the name of a party and such?
When it comes to look, everything is referential. There’s always some time period or movie or magazine that inspired it. Party names I like to keep simple and effective.
There has been a lot of talk on racial inequality in nightlife. Being an Arabian event producer could not have been easy and now we are in space of where a lot of the event producers and drag artists are people of color. Do you feel like there is positive change in the air or do you feel like they’re still underlying issues?
We are having an important conversation about race that is long overdue but I’m happy more entertainers and event creators are speaking up.
You said that the party has reached its peak and you’d like to end it. Can you go a little bit more into detail of what you mean by that and how you feel you have moved past the original idea of the party now?
I didn’t wanna be like Ryan Murphy where I just drag something on. The party has won awards, I’ve brought it to LA. I’ve had countless Ru girls and incredible local and international talent. I did everything I wanted to the point where the term ‘straight acting’ is no longer really a thing people say on the apps. That is why I stated this party, to make fun of masc4masc gays.
You’ve impacted New York nightlife in such a way only few people understand and you have made so many people’s careers happen on that stage at that party. What does that feel like?
I don’t know! That’s a lot of pressure but I hope people are having fun and making coin!
What are you going miss most about this party?
I love creating a cast every month. I think that’s my favorite part, putting the show together.
The final Straight Acting party is tonight, Thursday, October 6th, starting at 10pm at Metropolitan Bar in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
