Since taking home the crown on season 9 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Sasha Velour has been hard at work creating her own drag empire. The most prominent example of her work is Velour’s critically-acclaimed stage show Nightgowns — an odd and thrilling Brooklyn drag show that has grown into a monstrous success since the star won her title.
Now, Sasha Velour is bringing Nightgowns to a brand new stage: DragCon NYC. The star will be taking over New York’s Terminal 5 venue to create the largest performance of Nightgowns yet, open to all ages. To help her bring her experimental vision of drag to DragCon, Velour has recruited fellow season 9 finalist Shea Couleé to join her cast, along with drag stars like Lypsinka, Sasha Colby & Victoria Sin. They’ll join Nightgowns regulars like Dragula winner Vander Von Odd, Neon Calypso and Untitled Queen.
This will be a significant change for the drag show — Velour’s extremely popular performances have regularly taken place at Brooklyn venue National Sawdust. Nightgowns gained significant notoriety for its portrayal of extremely unconventional drag, with queens taking to the stage and doing much more than lip syncing and dancing, but creating new and strange pieces of art.
In a statement to Billboard, Velour expressed that she was incredibly excited to be bringing her creation to as major a venue as Terminal 5. “My favorite thing about drag is taking one idea and flipping it on its head entirely,” she said. “I can’t wait to take a space that’s traditionally known for huge pop and rock n’ roll shows and turn it into a space made for spectacular drag performance.”
But her sights are set on more than just DragCon — Velour is also teaming up with clothing brand Opening Ceremony for New York Fashion Week to create a Nightgowns-esque fashion show. “The Gift of Showz,” taking place on September 9, will not only showcase the brand’s Spring 2019 line, but will also illuminate the art of drag from around the world.
Tickets for Sasha Velour’s Nightgowns performance at DragCon NYC go on sale Friday, September 7 at 12 p.m. EST.