By Kevin Ferrisi –
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT – Sasha Velour and her solo drag extravaganza, The Big Reveal Live Show, graced The Bushnell in Hartford with a very special guest, Connecticut’s own Robin Fierce. This show was sexier, grander, and more revealing than anything Sasha had done before.
RuPaul’s Drag Race star, Sasha Velour, captivated audiences with her immersive production, The Big Reveal Live Show. Described by Velour as an evening of storytelling through “gesture, costume, and a little magic,” the show enthralled attendees with its unique blend of artistry.
Celebrated as the winner of season 9 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Sasha is renowned for her mastery in the art of the reveal. She created one of the most memorable moments in the show’s history during her finale performance, where she removed a long red wig to reveal a cascade of rose petals while lip-syncing to Whitney Houston’s “So Emotional.” This moment was hailed as an “iconic moment in Drag Race history” by judge Michelle Visage in Glamour magazine.
The Big Reveal Live Show, a 90-minute spectacle entirely written, directed, and produced by Sasha Velour, elevates the art of the reveal to new heights. Having toured across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, Sasha brought this mesmerizing performance to Connecticut for the first time.
The show is an over-the-top yet intimate production that encapsulates Sasha’s artistic philosophy and her ideas on the impact of drag on individuals and communities. She believes that drag encourages people to take risks, try new things, and indulge in fantasy as a means of survival. A crucial aspect of Sasha’s work is her embodiment of camp, a concept often misunderstood. Her performances highlight camp’s inherently queer roots, showcasing its depth beyond superficial humor.
In April 2023, Sasha’s book, titled “The Big Reveal,” was published, offering a unique blend of memoir and the history of drag. Titled “The Big Reveal: An Illustrated Manifesto of Drag,” it was celebrated as “a rousing tribute to a revolutionary art form and its practitioners,” according to Publisher’s Weekly.
Sasha Velour sees drag as a natural human expression and a form of art deeply rooted in social justice. During an interview with Charleston City Paper, she explained that drag has existed as long as clothing has and that her show builds on these ideas by combining classic drag humor, parody, pop culture references, and intimate moments like childhood videos of herself.
The show explored her childhood, illustrating how being queer and drag are natural, emphasizing the importance of children being able to see drag. Despite growing up in an accepting household, Sasha felt the world was unwelcoming and unsafe, leading to feelings of shame and a desire to disappear. She credits drag with saving her life. The show also tackles the political backlash against drag, examining the cultural tension between acceptance and marginalization and its effects on creativity and mental health. She was inspired to bring “The Big Reveal” from the page to the stage to highlight the transformative power of theater.
Sasha is fascinated by camp’s origins as a way to mock gay people for being “too much” and how the queer community has reclaimed it. She believes that society’s judgments on taste have influenced what is considered humorous or beautiful in camp. Through her work, she aims to challenge and expand these cultural notions. While The Big Reveal Live Show is thought-provoking, it also showcases Sasha at her most playful and hilarious. She uses comedy to disarm audiences and present an anarchic approach to creating space for queer people.
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