By Anna Bechtel –

On Thursday, August 8th, TheaterWorks Hartford hosted their second annual Celebrate Drag event, supported by the Greater Hartford Arts Council. The evening unfolded with two sets of dazzling drag performances, showcasing a vibrant array of talent and creativity. In the lobby, guests admired an exhibition of local art, adding an extra layer of cultural enrichment to the night. For VIP ticket holders, a post-show meet-and-greet offered a chance to connect with the performers personally. The headliner for the evening was Plasma, a beloved standout from season 16 of RuPaul’s Drag Race.

The show was hosted by RuPaul’s Drag Race season 15 queen and Connecticut’s own superstar, Robin Fierce. She kicked off the event with a powerful rendition of ‘How Does It Make You Feel’ by Victoria Monet. Robin shared her personal connection to the Greater Hartford Arts Council, highlighting how she attended their media production summer program. “That’s kind of where I got my start,” she revealed. Adding to the excitement, Robin also announced an upcoming show at TheaterWorks in December. Her drag daughter, Natalia Fierce, and local drag sensation Kenya Mone Heart served as the evening’s opening acts.

After the opening acts and a brief intermission, Plasma took the stage. Before her entrance, she set the tone by playing her music video for ‘Don’t Rain On My Parade’ on the big screen. Moments later, she burst through the curtains in a vibrant yellow jumpsuit, exclaiming with excitement, “Hartford, what the hell is up? Y’all ready for some Broadway!” Plasma then delivered a powerful performance of ‘Thanks A Lot, But No Thanks’ by Dolores Gray, captivating the audience with every note and move.

Plasma shared that her set would be an abbreviated version of her cabaret show, All That Plazz, which she had recently performed in New York City, as well as taking the show to Provincetown earlier this month. She shared her love for classic numbers, “I’m secretly a 78-year-old woman,” before adding with a grin, “So I thought we’d take it back, back, back again, and do some old-school Broadway.”

The star continued to dazzle the audience with her next performance, launching into ‘Everybody Says Don’t’ from the musical Side By Side. With each note, it was clear this song held a special place in her heart, having once been her go-to audition piece. Plasma seamlessly transitioned into her third number, a heartfelt rendition of ‘Right As The Rain’ by Barbra Streisand. The crowd watched in delight as she added a playful twist to her performance, revealing a life-sized cutout of Streisand. “This was in the dressing room when I got here,” she explained with a mischievous smile, carefully placing the cutout at the right side of the stage, as if inviting the iconic singer to share the spotlight with her.

Plasma began her drag career in New York City, making a splash with her participation in the Lady Liberty pageant. Renowned for her old Hollywood aesthetic, live singing, and deep passion for musical theater and Broadway, Plasma quickly garnered attention. Her passion for vintage aesthetics was kindled by a simple magnet of Lucille Ball that adorned her grandmother’s refrigerator. As the youngest contestant on season 16 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Plasma made a remarkable impression, finishing in 8th place and proudly securing the win during two iconic challenges on season 16: the sketch comedy RNR Live! challenge, where she sang a version of ‘Jingle Bells’ as Barbra Streisand, and the Rusical challenge, where she played the lead role in the The Sound Of Rusic.

As the evening neared its end, Plasma engaged with the audience during a lively Q&A session. She brought out a tray of six shots, encouraging attendees to tip her in exchange for asking a question and receiving a drink. During the Q&A, Plasma shared her dream lip-sync songs from season 16 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, her favorite Barbra Streisand tunes, and her current song of the summer, among other topics. She concluded her set with an original song and a cover of ‘Don’t Take Your Love From Me’. For the grand finale, all four performers reunited for a dynamic group number to ‘Bang Bang’ by Jessie J, Ariana Grande, and Nicki Minaj.