Happy Pride! Kicking-off celebrations this year is STARRY NIGHT at The 519 Centre‘s Green Space Festival brought to us by TD. A who’s-who in Drag came out to put on a seven-hour spectacle, highighted by RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 16 champion NYMPHIA WIND, who has the distinction of being the first ever winner in the Franchise of East Asian descent. The Drag star, L.A.-born Leo Tsao, hails proudly from Taiwan, where he moved to when he was six. The student of Fashion would go on to incorporate their technical know-how to prevail week after week in challenges on RuPaul’s Drag Race, wowing audiences and judges. Tsao after a long flight delay, might it right in time to Toronto meeting fans before a performance at Starry Night.
Other Drag Stars to appear were VENUS, winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race Canada Season Four. AURORA MATRIX, first runner-up RuPaul’s Drag Race Season Four, and also DENIM who tied for third that season. RuPaul’s Drag Race Season Nine winner SASHA VELOUR also graced the stage, among many others.
A highlight reel:
More on Starry Night and The 519 Centre which the event benefits, here.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
English funnyman Alan Carr makes a rare visit to Toronto, playing two nights at Winter Garden Theatre as part of his Regional Trinket tour. Known for his work hosting his own programs on TV and Radio including Alan Carr: Chatty Man and Going Out with Alan Carr, plus filling judge duties on the internationally popular RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.
So thrilled to meet Carr, who is just as charismatic and personable in-person as on-screen! It is little wonder why he has had such a lasting career. Smarts and wit are versatile and put him as one of the most in-demanded television personalities in the UK!
There is still a chance to see Carr in Toronto, more here!
(Photo/video credit: Mr Will Wong)
It’s Festival Season and JUST FOR LAUGHS TORONTO, presented by Beneva in collaboration with SiriusXM, is back with yet another knockout lineup for us this year. One of the world’s premiere Comedy Festivals is back in its 11th year, running from September 21st to September 30th. A free Street Festival with shows by Jinx Monsoon and Fred Armisen. 15 venues. 42 Comedians. Huge headliners – names like Andrew Schulz, Leslie Jones, Nicole Byer, Ronny Chieng, Marlon Wayans, Jonathan Van Ness and more. We were floored by Just for Laughs going bigger than ever last year and this year proves a worthy followup.
A reel of highlights!:
Kicking things off opening night was Michelle Buteau who saw a huge profile boost this year with the success of her hilarious Comedy Series SURVIVAL OF THE THICKEST, based on her collection of essays of the same name. Above this, she is host of wildly-popular reality competition THE CIRCLE on Netflix. The funnywoman takes her FULL HEARTS, TIGHT JEANS Tour across North America, selling-out in many cities, before wrapping this December in Austin, Texas. So thrilled we got to catch Buteau who was a pure joy live as we’ve been waiting forever, bringing effervescent energy to Elgin Theatre for two back-to-back shows, of which the first was sold-out completely. She was awarded the Blaze Award in 2020 during TIFF by the Firecracker Department and couldn’t even make it then due to pandemic restrictions! This was so long overdue. This was the best and she even had everyone signing Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September“!
Not sure if you got to catch her as guest host on CTV‘s The Social, but she killed it!
This is the absolute pinnacle for me of the Fest! I love Nicole Byer too much. I am so grateful for discovering her comedic talents over the Pandemic, watching NAILED IT! on Netflix, the best flop baking reality competition series ever. Byer makes me giggle when she riffs off of Chef Jacques Torres, purely delightful. But above this, her actual Standup Comedy is raw, biting and relatable, giving us all this range and dimension we only get glimpses of on the Baking Show. Her BBW (Big Beautiful Weirdo) Netflix Comedy Special is one of my favourites of all time and she does it all so effortlessly. A dream come true seeing her perform live at Meridian Hall as one of the Festival’s Headliners. Nobody was spared in her set: Tom Cruise, John Cena and some of her exes and ongoing struggles to find love. She is so real and honest. Always a breath of fresh air.
We got to attend the Just for Laughs Toronto Midnight Party, held at Chef’s Hall where several of the Festival’s “42” Comedians and Headliners came out for some delicious snacks – Sliders, Tacos, Donuts, Bao, Mini Bagels, Spring Rolls, Cocktails and so much more! We got to have amazing chats with burgeoning star Dulcé Sloan, Reggie Watts, Ronny Chieng and Brandon Ash-Mohammed, the latter who crushed it opening for Byer earlier i the evening. Sloan even practiced some of her new material on us!
Check-out this epic reel:
Neal Brennan is certainly the moment. The three-time Emmy nominee writes, directs, produces and does stand-up Comedy, selling-out two shows at The Elgin easily and we see exactly why. His star continues to rise with his The Blocks Podcast being very popular, talking to his friends and colleagues about things that make them feel isolated and lonely.
This iconic Drag Queen and runaway winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 7 is coming off a run on Broadway, with a historic starring role as Roxie Hart in CHICAGO. Her year couldn’t be getting any better and Toronto got to be a part of it with an add to the Just for Laughs Street Festival lineup. That’s right – it was completely free of charge to see her do a set live!
Bringing along her accompanying Pianist MAJOR SCALES, the audience got to her personal anecdotes, song and jokes. What more could we ask for? Monsoon got real personal going into detail about her struggles with rigidly-gendered airport scans which often cause her grief. What a force!
The delightful and charming Jameela Jamil made her Toronto debut at JFL, taping an episode of her popular BAD DATES WITH JAMEELA JAMIL Podcast at The Elgin. You know Jamil from The Good Place, Marry Me, DC League of Super Pets and more recently Love at First Sight. Joining her on-stage for the conversation were Comedians Sabrina Wu (loved them in 2023’s JOY RIDE), Catherine Cohen and Gavin Crawford, while Dulce Sloan filled opener duties. The show was sold-out completely and Jamil‘s guests got really personal telling hilarious stories about their wild dating adventures. Only to be outdone by Jamil and a wild story involving two people in her life! Absolutely hilarious being a part of this sold-out audience.
19 years ago, eventual Cult Classic NAPOLEON DYNAMITE would get released. This small unsuspecting Indie Comedy with a $400k budget would go on to gross over $46.1 million around the world, celebrating awkwardness and geekdom. Almost 20 years later, the Film gets celebrated at JFL Toronto with stars Jon Heder, Efren Ramirez and Jon Gries here to present the Film at The Elgin once more for fans, followed by a conversation about NAPOLEON DYNAMITE‘s lasting legacy.
SNL Alumni Colin Quinn is still fire! We were obsessed in the late ’90s with his Weekend Updates and prominent roles in hits like Grown Ups, Girls, Trainwreck and Inside Amy Schumer. His Comedy Specials Colin Quinn & Friends: A Parking Lot Comedy Show and The New York Story show off his smart brand of humour and deep understanding of humanity. Was a blast seeing him live for the first time at JFL Toronto, just one a few shows at The Royal where he reflected upon people today and their incessant need to elevate themselves and their opinions to the world. I don’t disagree.
Jessica Kirson has risen as one of Comedy’s leading women and had the audience erupting with cheers. Of all the JFL shows I’ve been to, I have never seen as may fans queueing the stage door as I have for her, following her completely sold-out shows at The Elgin. She gain even more popularity over the Pandemic with her prank call album THE CALL GIRLS and also her Podcast DISGUSTING HAWK launching.
Rory Scovel has continued to build his impressive catalog of work, more recently on series like Superstore and Physical. He played The Elgin also, the first of two shows, ending this Festival on a high note! He is absolutely lovely!
So amazing meeting the Festival’s headliner, Andrew Schulz who played the first of two shows at Scotiabank Arena, where he brought us The Life Tour, selling-out both nights – setting a record for JFL’s fastest-selling arena tickets ever!
Everyone’s hooked on his commentaries about politics and life and we totally get why. He is everything!! Yet another formidable talent whonsaw a huge boost during the Pandemic with his Podcast FLAGRANT and Netflix Special, SCHULZ SAVES AMERICA.
More on tickets and this year’s complete lineup here.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Happy Pride!! So much fun again this year at Pride Toronto, including the Saturday night main event, DRAG BALL featuring a who’s-who in Drag including Headliner SASHA COLBY, Season 15 RuPaul’s Drag Race winnner. The Drag Ball took place at Nathan Phillips Square, a five-hour celebration of Drag that filled the outside of City Hall.
Earlier in the week also was annual fixture Starry Night, taking place as part of the Green Space Festival at The 519 Centre, also a huge draw. Like the Drag Ball this featured the hottest names in Drag, both north and south of the Border, a tour-de-force four-hour-long showcase!
What was unique about this year’s edition of Starry Night was that all three headliners: Gottmik, Kerri Colby and Gigi Goode are transgender. Absolutely historic!
Toronto got so lucky this year. A pure joy finally getting to some of my favourite beloved Drag Queens including all-time fave, RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 14 champion Willow Pill who headlined Disco Disco Thursday night. She is a genius.
So much respect for Drag Queens and the amount of skill, devotion and innovation that goes into their Art. Hope your Pride is amazing! 🌈❤️
See our Snaps:
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
If you follow me on my Social channels, you know I love me some RuPaul’s Drag Race! The ever-competitive Season 14 remains one of my favourite seasons of all time, my favourite Drag Queen of all-time WILLOW PILL being crowned winner that season. Coincidentally she studied at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson) back in the day as an International Student.
The top five finalists of Season 14 – Willow Pill, Lady Camden, Angeria Van Michaels, Daya Betty and Bosco – landed at Toronto’s Danforth Music Hall last night for their FANTASTIC FIVE of 14, joining forces to in a tour-de-force of Drag for a revue show!
We know Willow was supposed to appear at Toronto Pride last summer but couldn’t make it out and I wasn’t going to get this opportunity pass! Love all the Top Five, including Lady Camden who I had a chance meeting with last Summer, but Willow is my Queen.
And apparently Oscar Iscaac’s too!
Oscar Isaac names Season 14 winner Willow Pill as his favorite contestant from “RuPaul’s Drag Race”. pic.twitter.com/my7nyC9GS9
— Buzzing Pop (@BuzzingPop) February 26, 2023
@mrwillwong i am deceased!! season 14 of #RuPaulsDragRace reignsnas one of my favourite seasons. so happy.to meet the Fantastic Five of 14!! #drag #dragrace #rdr #willowpill #rupaul #toronto #bosco #angeriaparisvanmicheals #dayabetty #ladycamden ♬ Catwalk (feat. Skeltal Ki) – RuPaul
I am deceased!
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Okurrr! Today, Paramount+ announced that the streaming service in Canada will be the exclusive home to six stand-up specials featuring world-renowned drag queens including, Peppermint, Jinkx Monsoon, and Monét X Change. Beginning Friday, February 24, 2023 with PEPPERMINT: SO-SIGH-ETY EFFECTS, Paramount+ will debut a brand-new stand up special, every Friday for six weeks. The Drag Specials are produced by Tribeca Film and Comedy Dynamics, a Nacelle Company and distributed in Canada by levelFILM.
The six laugh-out-loud specials dive into dating, coming out, haunted dolls, and everything in between:
PEPPERMINT: SO-SIGH-ETY EFFECTS – Friday, February 24
Follow Peppermint as she invites viewers on an all-inclusive journey through New York City to get a first-hand look at what it’s like to be a single black transgender woman in today’s society. Peppermint invites viewers to cry and laugh with and at her as she tells tales of love and heartbreak from the stage to the bathroom stall. Drawing audiences to one inevitable conclusion, “hey at least I don’t have it that bad!”
DARIENNE LAKE: ALTERED BOY – Friday, March 3
RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Darienne Lake shares intimate but hilarious anecdotes about her life; from growing up as the middle child in a large catholic family, to coming out at an early age as a drag queen and finding her chosen family and life purpose through humor and self-revelation.
BEBE ZAHARA BENET: AFRICA IS NOT A COUNTRY – Friday, March 10
In her debut stand up show, pioneering entertainer BeBe Zahara Benet recounts immigrating from West Africa to America through a series of hysterical sketches, unexpected audience interactions and razor shop social commentary. Settle in for a raucous journey from the Motherland to…Minnesota. No baggage fees required.
JINKX MONSOON: RED HEAD REDEMPTION – Friday, March 17
Follow Jinkx Monsoon through the weaving tale of her booze addled, sex-filled, gender defying life. In this (extremely) candid standup special, Jinkx shares her experiences as a trans-femme, non-binary, alcoholic, ethical slut. Viewers will learn more than they ever wanted to know about her journey of self-discovery – leading her to her husband, sobriety, and to be the first queen to win Drag Race twice! AND she sings!
GINGER MINJ: BLESS YOUR HEART – Friday, March 24
International Drag Superstar, Ginger Minj, discusses dysfunctional family etiquette, haunted dolls and the infamous “Florida Man” in this hilariously honest musical memoir of her Southern Baptist upbringing. Best known for appearances in DUMPLIN, Hocus Pocus 2, and RuPaul’s Drag Race, Ginger breaks out of the “werk room” and takes center stage to tell her story as only she can.
MONÉT X CHANGE: FIST OF GLORY – Friday, March 31
Join Queen Monét X Change in her debut stand up special where she takes viewers on a comedic romp about playing the pink power ranger in Brooklyn, being inherently “very gay” before coming out, and watch as she dazzles the audience with a live Opera performance about fisting.
It isn’t enough that Canada’s Drag Race Season One champion PRIYANKA take the damn crown, she now is dominating Pop Music! Her debut EP was released in 2021 and saw huge numbers. Third single “Come Through (ft. Lemon)” has 1.6 million views on YouTube and reached Top Five on iTunes right away! The EP has achieved 10 million+ streams already!
She just released the fourth and final single off the EP, “SNATCH (ft. Cheryl Hole)” and to celebrate the occasion for the Video directed by Caroline Torti, she threw a bash at Toronto’s The Rec Room the premiere the Clip! Fitting, considering the Video has a Video Game theme.
Priyanka‘s House of Love Drag Mother Xtacy Love even hosted.
A v. pregant Torti came out to show support, and she actually is due any day now! Also starring in the Video are Canadian Drag Stars Kendall Gender, Gia Metric, Lemon, Synthia Kiss, Tynomi Banks and more.
Previous collaborator and BFF Lemon made a surprise appearance as well, performing their single “Come Through” together.
Hollywood Jade whom you might remember from Canada’s Drag Race, showed some love too. Jade did all the Choreography for “SNATCH“.
And now for the actual Video of “SNATCH (ft. Cheryl Hole)”! OMG. There’s a Super Mario Dance Battle! Are you Team Cheryl Hole or Team Priyanka? Who wins??
Previous Videos from the TASTE TEST EP:
So proud of Priyanka! We remember her from her days as a fellow Blogger on the scene, before her success at YTV and now THIS international recognition!
Some Snaps from the event, sponsored by VIZZY:
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Priyanka)
After a two-year hiatus, the Green Space Festival is back at Barbara Hall Park, just outside the 519 Centre. The event runs June 23-26, 2022 and is one of the marquee events of Pride Toronto every year, the three-day long Festival draws top talent out to the outdoor affair.
Though two of the top acts to be featured at last night’s STARRY NIGHT, Drag Queens Willow Pill and Angeria Paris Van Michaels, had cancelled due to unforseen circumstances, this did not stop a huge queue from forming down Church Street. The queue still went on with several trying to get in even right up to the end of the Show at midnight, only to be turned away. Those who were lucky enough to get in after queuening all afternoon for a spot, were able to see RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 14 Alumni like Bosco, and last-minute addition Lady Camden perform. The former did a Gwen Stefani tribute Medley, while the latter reprised her rendition of Queen‘s “I Want to Break Free” which brought the house down.
The Show also showcased some top local talent and stars of Canada’s Drag Race including Scarlett Bobo, Tynomi Banks, Boa, Pythia and Icesis Couture, plus Contestants on the upcoming third season of the Series like Kimmy Couture, Jada Shada Hudson, Miss Fiercalicious and more. Host-Judge Brooke Lynn Hytes even showed-up, remaining low-key.
So happy to get a glimpse of some of the performances from afar and seeing some of these talented Drag Queens up-close with beanie!
The fun continues through Sunday and legendary House Music DJ David Morales, who has remixed several classics for the likes of Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, plays Sunday 9-12 PM at the Festival!
Canada’s Drag Race Season Three premieres on Crave July 14, 2022.
Learn more about the Green Space Festival here.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
Canada’s Drag Race S3 is soon before us! The new Season premieres Thursday, July 14, 2022 at 9 p.m. ET, and is available to Canadian audiences in English and French. Subsequent new episodes drop Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET. Season 3 is also set to launch on Thursday, July 14, 2022 on World of Wonder’s SVOD platform WOW Presents Plus, in the U.S. and in more than 160 countries around the world.
Returning are Judges Traci Melchor, Brooke Lynn Hytes and Brad Goreski, plus several new Special Guests.
See a Preview here.
Meet this upcoming season’s Queens!
Bombae Age: 29 (Toronto, Ont.)
Pronouns: she/her in drag; no preference out of drag
Twitter: @ItsBomBae
Instagram: @bom.bae
TikTok: @bom.bae
Things to know about Bombae:
“Drag is SO MUCH FUN. Just look at me! If you’re not having fun, you’re not doing drag!”
Chelazon Leroux Age: 22 (Saskatoon, Sask.)
Pronouns: they/he/she in and out of drag
Twitter: @chelazonleroux
Instagram: @chelazonleroux
TikTok: @chelazonleroux
Things to know about Chelazon Leroux:
“I’m the auntie here to snag your uncles.”
Gisèle Lullaby Age: 33 (Montréal, Que.)
Pronouns: she/her in drag; he/him out of drag
Instagram: @gisele_lullaby
Tik Tok: @giselelullaby
Facebook: GiseleLullaby01
Things to know about Gisèle Lullaby
“I was born to be a drag queen.”
Halal Bae Age: 33 (Toronto, Ont.)
Pronouns: she/her in drag; he/him/they out of drag
Twitter: @thehalalqueen
Instagram: @halal.bae
Things to know about Halal Bae
“Halal represents the intersectionality that shapes great cities across this country, that is often overlooked and marginalized, creating a space for and adding to a larger conversation about who can do drag and hopefully changing some minds along the way.”
Irma Gerd Age: 32 (St. John’s, N.L.)
Pronouns: she/her in drag; they/them out of drag
Twitter: @queenirmagerd
Instagram: @queen.irmagerd
TikTok: @queen.irmagerd
Things to know about Irma Gerd
“Drag is a way for me to connect with people through humour. I can’t wait to tickle everybody’s funny bone…and not just on Grindr!”
Jada Shada Hudson Age: 37 (Toronto, Ont.)
Pronouns: she/her in drag; he/him out of drag
Twitter: @jadashada
Instagram: @jadashadahudson
TikTok: @jadashadahudson
Things to know about Jada Shada Hudson
“I didn’t choose drag, drag chose me, and I am so happy it did…Jada Shada Hudson is that strength and confidence I don’t have when I am my regular self and baby is she POWERFUL. The power to make any audience, any ages fall in love with not only her performances but that loving bubbly personality as well. Watch out world, the turnup queen is taking over the scene. And that’s on what? PERIODT.”
Kaos Age: 27 (Calgary, Alta.)
Pronouns: she/her/they/them in drag; he/him/they out of drag
Twitter: @thekaosofjesilo
Instagram: @thekaosofjesilo
TikTok: @thekaosofjesilo
Things to know about Kaos
“My drag is chaotic and I’m the beautiful disaster.”
Kimmy Couture Age: 25 (Ottawa, Ont.)
Pronouns: she/her/they/them in and out of drag
Twitter: @itskimmy_1
Instagram: @itskimmy_1
TikTok: @itskimmycouture
Things to know about Kimmy Couture
“She is a Queen, her soul is Royalty.”
Lady Boom Boom Age: 25 (Montréal, Que.)
Pronouns: she/her in drag; no preference out of drag
Twitter: @ladyboomboom8
Instagram: @itsladyboomboom
TikTok: @ladyboomboom
Things to know about Lady Boom
“I didn’t choose to do drag, drag chose me.”
Miss Fiercalicious Age: 25 (Toronto, Ont.)
Pronouns: she/her in drag; he/him/they out of drag
Twitter: @fiercalicious
Instagram: @missfiercalicious
TikTok: @missfiercalicious
Things to know about Miss Fiercalicious
“There has never been a queen like me on CANADA’S DRAG RACE. I’m not like other girls. I’m worse.”
Miss Moço Age: 35 (Toronto, Ont.)
Pronouns: she/her in drag; he/him out of drag
Twitter: @heymissmoco
Instagram: @missmoco
TikTok: @heymissmoco
Things to know about Miss Moço
“I’ve dreamed about being on CANADA’S DRAG RACE since Season 1 was announced and it feels incredible to be able to check this off as one of many amazing drag experiences I look forward to creating.”
Vivian Vanderpuss Age: 29 (Victoria, B.C.)
Pronouns: she/her in drag; he/him out of drag
Instagram: @vivianvanderpuss
TikTok: @vivianvanderpuss
Things to know about Vivian Vanderpuss
“To me, drag is about feeling the fantasy, whatever that fantasy is.”
(Photo/video credit: Crave)
Happy Pride Month y’all! I haven’t had so much fun in a long time! You haven’t lived till you’ve experienced Drag Brunch at the gorgeous and scenic Harriet’s located on the rooftop of 1 Hotel on Wellington. The event was brought to us by Grey Goose!
A pure joy finally getting to see Queen of the North herself, and host of Award-winning Series Canada’s Drag Race and 1 Queen 5 Queers, Brooke Lynn Hytes. She killed it live including a rendition of Lana Del Rey‘s “Ultraviolence” which is too good not to post!
Amazing seeing local Queens Jada Shada Hudson and Miss Moço and Hostess Devine Darlin do an amazing job entertaining us! 🥂🌈
Devine Darlin told us as of August 18th, she will be a Registered Nurse!
In addition to a stunning skyling view, the food was superb at Harriet’s! Loved my Wagyu Taco, Salmon Ceviche, Spicy Crab Sushi, Short Rib and Desserts!
Some Snaps of the fun!
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
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