With a Broadway sensibility and razor sharp wit, Sherry Pie has fast become one of the most buzzed about names in New York City drag. As she joins the cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 12, she is taking her serious work ethic and extensive theater background and putting it to the test. I caught up with her to chat about the process she followed in auditioning, as well as why she feels that there is absolutely no where else like New York City for drag.
Michael Cook; How exciting is it to be part of the cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 12?
Sherry Pie: I am so excited! I am so excited, you cannot see me, but I am running around right now (laughs).
MC:What is it like right at this very moment as your entire life is completely changing?
SP:It is, absolute loony tunes and I really love it. I don’t know what is going on; every day I don’t know where I am or what I am doing, or who I am. But hon-ey, she throws on the wig and says “am in the right place”?
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MC: You have a very distinct performance style, and it’s very theater focused. Do you think that it was helpful in doing your audition tape?
SP: Yes and no. I think that because my background is so theatrical, when I was auditioning, I was definitely looking at everything with that eye. This year when I auditioned, I went guns a blazing’. I said to myself that I was not going to critique myself and I was just going to do what I do and hopefully they’ll like it!
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MC: So many New York City girls are on this season with you; what is it like to be taking this magical ride with so many other girls who are part of the fabric of New York City drag?
SP: I had no idea who the other girls were that were on the show obviously, but when we all saw each other it was so crazy. We all knew each other, even though we all haven’t all worked together. Honestly, this batch of New York girls is so great because each one of us does something so different but so “New York”. That just adds to why I think New York City is one of the best places to see drag. Anything you want, any kind of drag you need! If you’re not good at your job in New York, you don’t have a job; they are the best of the best.
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MC: You were one of the girls who was making a huge name for herself in New York city before Drag Race called. What do you think of girls who enter the business of drag with the intention to just get onto RuPaul’s Drag Race?
SP: I think you have to do it for whatever reason it is that you want to do it. I don’t think you should do it just to get onto a television show, because there is no way you can prepare. It’s not just a television show; RuPaul’s Drag Race is the colosseum of drag. They are looking for the gladiators of drag queens.You have to be prepared to step outside of your comfort zone to go into that competition.
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MC: So many girls have come out of New York City and become smashing successes all over the world. What New York City queen/Drag Race alumni do you see now and would love to pattern your career after?
SP: Bianca Del Rio all day. Bianca is a boss ass bitch. The fact that a drag queen can play Carnegie Hall and sell it out is gaggy. I wanna be at Carnegie Hall, but I’ll probably just end up being an usher (laughs).
RuPaul’s Drag Race premieres Friday, February 28th on VH1 (check local listings)