Chiffon Dior: Well hello there Janae SaisQuoi! Not only am I excited to talk with you today, I’d describe my feelings as…..I don’t know what! How are you doing this hot and rainy week?
Janae SaisQuoi: I’m good! Busy but doing really well.
July and August are the worst months to be doing drag but the hustle never ends!
Truly! Padding, wigs, and makeup combined with this heat…. It’s queer art in homophobic conditions! *laughs*
I’ve always said drag is ideally a fall and winter nighttime sport! But here you are dropping your first show at the Laurie Beechman Theatre right smack in the heart of July! Tell me how this show came together Janae.
I agree drag in the fall and winter is the ideal but summer brings the gigs. But, yes I am! “Janae Does Crowdwork” came together over the course of some time. Last summer a show I had been doing for over two years had ended, and I spent the summer (July and August specifically) covering solo shows in Hell’s Kitchen. Some were happy hour shows on Saturdays, some night shows but it would just be me, a microphone and whoever was in the room. Hosting is my FAVORITE part of performing, I love being able to connect with people, make an audience laugh, and just enjoy the space that we’re sharing together. I decided I wanted to do a show that was entirely that experience, just hosting, crowd work, entertaining and making people laugh with just what’s on my mind and in my heart. (Get your tickets HERE)
Crowd work is a skill for sure. You need to be clever and you need to be quick. Did you have anything in your background that made crowd work a natural for you?
Honestly I have always had the gift of gab. I’ve never met anyone I couldn’t talk to, and I’ve been that way since I was a kid. I also observe a lot. I’m a native New Yorker and have seen and done so much in the city which also informs a lot of my humor and hosting style. I think my outgoing nature combined with my point of view that’s been informed by my upbringing, different forms of art and media I’ve consumed, and theatre training all helped make crowd work natural for me.
So can you give us a little tease of what the audience has in store for them when you hit the stage on the 23rd?
Yes! Absolutely. The audience can expect two brand new funny, fierce numbers that were made specifically for this show. They can expect a really gorgeous look I made for my theatrical performance debut. Most importantly for the bulk of the show, they can suspend all expectations. The night is driven by a wheel of fate that will dictate the entire direction of the show, twelve different prompts that could steer the conversation anywhere. Nothing is off limits to what we’ll discuss, get into, and by spontaneous audience interactions, I’ll learn a lot about them, and them a lot about me.
Let’s hop in the Delorean and go back in time a bit shall we? You already mentioned you’re from New York but how does your origin story begin?
Ok yes. My origin story. I did drag for the first time at 17 years old. I was Angel in my senior year production of RENT, I fell in love with it. In college, I didn’t do it professionally because I was very busy with classes, auditions ans such, but I did start the first ever annual drag show at my school. That show went on to win several awards, and was the career starting point for a few queens working in the city now. After college in 2019, I started drag through the competition scene. I hadn’t found community in professional theatre the way I had it in school and I wanted to utilize my performance skills and feel like I was a part of something. Competitions led to virtual shows during the pandemic, then guest spots, then hosting my own shows and I never stopped since the fall of 2019 when I started. Now it’s been almost a full six years.
What was your first exposure to drag?
My first exposure to drag…honestly, I don’t remember? I want to say RuPaul but not Drag Race, RuPaul herself, I’ve known of her and some of her music (Supermodel, etc) even since I was a kid. She was kind of the first queer person I ever knew about. Then the drag exposure, I vividly remember having was through musical theatre.
Way to make me feel old Janae!
Laughs my bad! I didn’t have a lot of queer/drag influences growing up. I got exposed to a lot of queer media and history once I was in middle school and beyond. Before then, it was all the women I thought were amazing and gravitated towards
Who are some of the women who inspired you? Is there anyone in particular who you modeled your drag character after?
As far as my work ethic and commitment to things, my mom, my stepmom, my aunts, grandmothers. I am surrounded by women of color who I always believed were the standard of excellence. In the face of any obstacle or adversity, they just got shit done and were so strong, loving and confident. As far as artistic inspirations, Janae SaisQuoi exists within me because of the 2006 movie “Dreamgirls”. I can’t explain it but that portrayal of glamour and beauty in that many black characters, I am obsessed. And that style and quality just feels like it exists inside me somewhere! *laughs*
Since they were an inspiration to you, how do the women in your family feel about your drag?
I think they’re proud of me. My mom saw me perform for the first time maybe two years ago and I think once she realized fully what being a professional drag artist is, she was very happy I found what I love to do. They all want me to be on “RuPaul” someday. That’s what they called Drag Race.
So let’s talk about Drag Race. What is your opinion on the show? Is that something you want to do?
I think Drag Race has made it possible for drag artists to have access to opportunities that would’ve taken a lot longer to get or maybe never would’ve happened without the show, things like tv, movies, award shows, authorship, magazines, fashion, etc.. I also think Drag Race continues to expose straight people who may not have queer people in their lives to queer art and give them a glimpse into queer culture and joy. I think the show has done a lot for representation and can continue to do even more to showcase the spectrum of queer artists and creatives. I also think the show has affected how audiences consume and support local drag but that’s more so on the audiences andindividuals than the show itself. I would love to do Drag Race one day. I have auditioned twice before (for S15 and S17) but I’m not in a rush. I want to do it when I know I’ll showcase my best self.
When you were watching Drag Race when you were younger, was there a queen who really stood out to you, whose drag spoke to you?
Honestly for a long time the queen I was very inspired by was Shangela. I thought she had endless charisma and I was impressed by her evolution from her seasons to All Stars. Of course, knowing what I know now, I am very happy I have other queens from the show I admire and respect. Now I’d say I really admire and look up to Bob and Monet, I think Envy Peru is my favorite drag queen of all time. I could look at her fashion and makeup forever *laughs*
What do you think your biggest misconception or surprise about NYC nightlife was before you became a part of it?
I think my biggest misconception about NYC nightlife was that it wouldn’t be a profession or an art form potential employers in theatre or other fields would respect. That was repeated to me by a few professors in school and I, at one point, thought it to be true. What surprised me about nightlife and working in it was that the opposite is true. I have had the opportunity to work with and connect with amazing artists in theatre and other fields because of NYC nightlife and drag. They’ve been nothing but respectful and lovely.
Who are some of your favorite NYC performers to work with and to watch?
Oh wow so many people I really love working with drag queens likemy cohost every week Lanyé Armön, my sisters Scarlett D. Von Du, Wesley, Vanity LaVain, Bianca Star, Nani Tsunami, Lady Celestina, Gloria Swansong, Phoebe Jeebies, not to mention some non queens like Daniel Gold, Kennedy Kandi, and of course every single one of the amazing dancers at Spotlight Mondays! And I can’t forget my kings too like Myster E Mel Kiki, Cunning Stunt, Felix Elixir and Charlie Wo. As for the performers I love watching, any of the ones I mentioned but also Essence, Hibiscus, Harriet Tugsmen and Jasmine Rice. Sorry for the long list, all the names just came to mind at once!
So, not to scare you but it’s time for………THE LIGHTING ROUND!
Ooooo ok I’m ready!
Must have makeup item?
4 AM post show food craving?
Dulce De Leche Haagen Daas
The best part of drag?
Making people feel good
The worst part of drag?
The toll it takes on my body
Most surprising thing about you that people might not know?
Hmmmm my brain feels like it almost never turns off,
Drag artist you would pay the most to see?
Sasha Velour. I feel like her shows are WILD
Last movie to make you cry?
Disney & Pixar’s Coco
Death Row last meal?
Filet Mignon and Ravioli from a specific restaurant in Little Italy
Streaming Binge recommendation?
Ohhh so many but right now I’ll say Scandal. I’m a slut for Shonda Rhimes. I love her work.
Disney character you relate to the most?
Hercules. I believe I’m meant to do something great.
In the movie of your life, who plays you?
Keiynan Lonsdale.
Final question, most embarrassing song on your phone?
“Like I’m Gonna Lose You” by Meghan Trainor and John Legend.
Let me tally up the final numbers! Yes ma’am, you did indeed survive The Lightning Round!
Ohhhhh yessss! It was touch and go there for a bit but I’m glad I survived! *laughs*
So beyond selling a bunch of tickets for next Wednesday’s show (Tickets HERE), what kind of goals do you have in your proverbial drag bucket list?
I want to tour and travel to perform and meet queer people and performers from all over! I want to win RuPaul’s Drag Race! I want to start a non profit that focuses on arts education and training for kids of color! So many things!
Well Janae, it seems our time together tonight is coming to a close but I just wanted to say is I’m such a fan of your work! I know this show at Beechman is going to be an incredible night and I look forward to seeing more from you in the future. Before you go, do you have any parting words of wisdom for the WERRRK. com Universe?
Hmmm… I always say, people will remember how you made them feel, and I had such a great time talking with you! So thank you for everything!
Follow Janae on Instagram here!
Featured Image by Ryan Kell. Follow Ryan on Instagram here!
