Fagtasia, the beloved New York City-based drag show produced by NYC queen Baby Love, puts on drag retellings of some of pop culture's best moments — and we are OBSESSED. Not only are these retellings incredibly funny but they are done in GREAT detail. From props to costumes to scripts, every part of these shows is well though out and outrageously entertaining.
Recently, Out had the chance to attend Fagstasia and Max's House of the Dragon-themed show — aptly entitled House of Drag — hosted by We're Here and Canada's Drag Race star Priyanka and presented by HBO's Human by Orientation. The show had it ALL. It played out all the events of the first season House of the Dragon and featured hysterical jokes surrounding character relationships and dance numbers. And not only were the dances on point, the song selection had the entire crowd moving in their seats!
But this was no typical drag show. This was a full-on theater PRODUCTION, wildly accurate to the House of the Dragon lore that diehard fans long for. While it stayed so on brand for the show, it merged drag, dragons, and comedy almost too well.
We had the chance to speak with the creator of Fagtasia, the iconic Baby Love, and we asked her how Fagtasia came to be and what started it all.
Out: When and how did Fagtasia start?
Baby Love: Fagtasia began in March 2022 with a Lord of the Rings-themed show at the popular Brooklyn gay bar C'mon Everybody. Fellow queens scoffed at the concept, but the event nearly blew the doors off the venue with the turnout.
What inspired you to start Fagtasia?
I had been doing drag as "Baby Love" in NYC for four years at that point. I felt I had experienced so many amazing things in my career, but was starting to lose interest in performing for the standard NYC gay nightlife crowd. Not that I don't love f-slurs, but at that time, the Drag Race "stunting pretty" standard was so prevalent that performing to that expectation became… boring.
I wanted to feel a fresh energy in the room. I wanted to connect with people who had similar interests. Interests other drag queens frequently labeled me a loser or uncool for having. Early in my drag career, I would frequently show up with costume changes, props, reveals, etc. My castmates would say I was "doing the most," but I have always been in this game for the art. I believe in the power of a well-practiced and deeply-committed artist (like my personal muses like Charlene Incarnate and Beaujangles). I thought of Fagtasia as a way to channel my interests and commitment to my art, while cultivating a positive, supportive environment for performers (which is rare in drag).
Your team does incredible retellings. Is there a movie or show you are dying to retell in drag?
Too true. From Wicked to The Grinch to The Hunger Games and Twilight, we’ve covered a lot of ground. Until recently, House of the Dragon was at the top of the list. Until, of course, they asked us to retell Season 1 for their Season 2 premiere event. Beyond that, I dream of Into the Woods or Phantom of the Opera. I also dream about The Muppets and Tim Burton material quite a bit.
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The show is absolutely incredible considering the props, the set design, the costumes and the wigs. How do you choose the people you want to collaborate with?
The people typically find me! Artists with similar intentions behind their craft tend to be very attracted to Fagtasia and the quality of work we produce. Because we work in queer nightlife, there isn't any money to really be gained from the show, but an incredible opportunity to learn, grow, and push yourself to create your best art. I try to encourage creatives in the audience who may feel like they want to get involved to introduce themselves to me. I’m always looking for a new creative skillset to add to the mix.
Nickolas D'Annuzio, who designs and creates our sets, likes to tell me they had been pursuing me for years to try and bring our collaboration to life. Jupiter Genesis, my choreographer, began as a performer in our show, but I immediately noticed her talent and pushed her to choreograph for every show and she graciously leaned in. Miss Bea Hayves showed up to the second show in the most incredible look and we immediately clicked, frequently collaborating on scripts and production for the show. Her partner Hugh Gunerson similarly arrived decked out and has created costuming and props (and more) ever since. I met my drag daughter, Fabiana Love, through the show. I like to say the "F" in Fagtasia stands for Fabiana. The Blair Bitch is a wig wizard and has whipped up countless incredible styles for the show, as well as stepping into a myriad of roles on the production side as needed. My sister Cola (Julian Ezenwa) has worked on every show, and is the first friendly face you'll see at our shows. Gregory Archer and Amanda Haggerty, our stage managers, similarly were pulled into the gravitation of planet Fagtasia. And of course, my lighting tech and sound, Jeanne Ann Carter and Izete Andrade, were attracted to using their skills to bolster the queer agenda of Fagtasia.
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What do you hope for the future of Fagtasia. What's the biggest goal?
In the future, I could see a world tour. I could see a television show. I could see an off-Broadway moment. I think the possibilities are really endless. I'd love for more networks and studios to approach us to re-tell their stories through a queer lens. I think they could learn a thing or two.
Beyond those material outcomes, I really do believe in the power of what we're creating with Fagtasia. It's important to me to display not only drag excellence, but also the various other talents these performers have that often go overlooked in the context of traditional drag performance. They're actors, singers, dancers — they're stars. I feel when we parody these major cultural beacons, we're saying to the world that any of these queer people (and especially trans people) could not only be cast in these roles in the "real world," but they are the better choice for those roles. The entertainment industry has not yet caught up and embraced the inherent magic of queer talent. We need more queer people of all kinds in more legitimate "Hollywood'' roles. In my own small way, I think we're proving that with Fagtasia.
Santiago Felipe/Getty Images for Max
Baby Love is a creative genius and incredible leader of this team. The show goes above and beyond to impress, entertain, and wow you. It is abundantly obvious that the Fagtasia team is dedicated to their craft. They regularly put on shows in NYC, most recently with a retelling of Shrek: Ever After at 3 Dollar Bill.
We are SURE to be seeing Fagtasia in more cities very soon. This is just one of those shows everyone should have a chance to see.
For more information and updates on shows, visit Fagtasia's official website, fagtasia.com.
Santiago Felipe/Getty Images for Max