La Jolla Playhouse’s Latest Celebrates Drag and Acceptance

Director, Moisés Kaufman, is known for staging emotional and sobering dramas inspired by true events such as The Laramie Project, I Am My Own Wife, and Here There Are Blueberries. His latest show at the La Jolla Playhouse (a co-production with Tectonic Theater Project), Velour: A Drag Spectacular, is much more joyful and uplifting than some of his other notable work.

Velour is famous for being a winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and a co-host of the HBO reality series, “We’re Here.” Inspired by her autobiographical book, “The Big Reveal: An Illustrated Manifesto of Drag,” the drag queen talks about her relationships with her family, becoming an entertainer, and how she transformed from a repressed youth to a fully liberated adult.

Velour can best be described as a strong combination of autobiographical theatre and a Las Vegas-esque spectacle.

In between monologues from Velour at the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre, the audience is treated to extravagant musical lip-synching sequences set to tracks incorporated by sound designer, Palmer Hefferan. The scenes throughout the performance on David Rockwell’s set are full of acrobatics designed by Angela Phillips, unique costumes from Diego Montoya Studio, seamless projections (video creation from House of Velour) from Cosette “Ettie” Pin, and appropriately colorful lighting from Amanda Zieve.

Initially, I was not sure how I felt about extended segments of video that occur as Velour gets prepared for various sections of the evening. These clips do eventually have a payoff involving the history of drag that should inspire conversations after the curtain call.

In addition to Velour, LGBTQ+ artists, Amber St. James, Ezra Reaves, and Moscato Sky, add to the fun as members of Velour’s stage crew. Their roles start off as purely comic relief, but their appearances eventually contribute to the motivational tone of the event.

What makes Velour a deep experience are the messages woven throughout the script from Velour and Kaufman. This is a tale that criticizes bigotry and pays tribute to tolerance, the importance of strong familial connections, and self-acceptance. Because the messages are so well-utilized, the dialogue is just as memorable as the music-heavy scenes.

Velour is a celebratory, funny, and cheerful World Premiere that showcases the star’s many talents, while also honoring the significance of drag as a form of entertainment. Both fans and the uninitiated will be wowed by Velour’s journey of self-confidence.

View the program online.

Show times are Tuesdays at 7:30 pm, Wednesdays at 7:30 pm, Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Fridays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm, and Sundays at 1:00 pm and 7:00 pm.