Pop Commentary

“RuPaul’s Drag Race LIVE” was the highlight of my birthday trip to Las Vegas.

My boyfriend and I caught the show on the final night of our weekend getaway. Despite being worn out from exploring the city, the performance immediately lifted our spirits and sent us home on a high note.

The show is a residency at the Flamingo Showroom on the Las Vegas Strip. It features a rotating cast of drag queens from the hit television series “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” It mirrors the TV format, complete with “mini-challenges,” “maxi-challenges,” and lip-sync performances as the queens “compete” to win the crown by the end of the evening. The stage transforms into the iconic “Werk Room,” where the cast serves charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent.

As a massive fan of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” I had high expectations—and the live show didn’t disappoint. Having watched nearly every English-speaking season of the series, I was thrilled by the lineup for our show. Asia O’Hara hosted, with Derrick Barry, Jaida Essence Hall, Kennedy Davenport, and Lawrence Chaney “competing.” Jaida, Kennedy and Lawrence are some of my favorite queens, so I was ecstatic to see them strut out. While Derrick isn’t my favorite queen, it felt right for her to be there because her Britney Spears impersonation is so iconic in Las Vegas.

It seems like Asia has found her groove as the host of the show. She had some really funny interactions with audience members when we were there, including with an older man who brought his daughter to the show. Asia brought him up on stage to fake slap each other and he leaned in to the camp of it all in a hilarious way.

Each queen delivered a standout solo performance, but Kennedy stole the show. She showcased her athleticism with her signature high kicks and at one point, she jump-splitted into the arms of the “Pit Crew” dancers. It was incredible.

Speaking of the “Pit Crew,” the ripped men played a larger role in the live show than on TV. They brought humor to their interactions with the queens and their solo scenes were great. In fact, they outshone the performers at “Magic Mike LIVE,” which we saw earlier in the weekend, in both looks and talent.

However, the show wasn’t without some weak spots. One misstep was the “Mirror Song,” a slower ballad that created a noticeable lull in the middle of the show. It lacked energy and the queens seemed to be going through the motions. If you attend, this might be a good time to grab a drink or use the restroom.

The venue also left something to be desired. While the Flamingo Showroom itself was pretty nice, the Flamingo hotel itself was not in the best shape, particularly the restrooms near the theater, which were in poor condition compared to other casinos on the Strip.

Lastly, the merchandise shop was underwhelming. The selection was generic, and the quality was disappointing. We bought mugs but discovered at home that they were poorly made, which was a bummer because we planned on drinking out of them while watching the new season of “Drag Race” that recently premiered on MTV.

Despite these minor issues, I wholeheartedly recommend “RuPaul’s Drag Race LIVE,” especially for fans of the TV series. The show is relatively affordable and entertaining, with outstanding performances from the queens and the Pit Crew. Just keep in mind that the cast rotates, so the lineup is a gamble. Skip the merch and consider visiting one of the nicer casinos nearby for food and drinks before or after the show.