Get Out! GAY Magazine – Issue 458 February 26, 2020

With a
Broadway
sensibility
and razorsharp
wit, Sherry Pie has
fast become one of the
names in New York City
drag. As she joins the cast
of “RuPaul’s Drag Race”
Season 12, she is taking
her serious work ethic
and extensive theater
background and putting
it to the test. I caught up
with her to chat about
the process she followed
in auditioning, as well as
why she feels that there is
absolutely no where else
like New York City for drag.
How exciting is it to
be part of the cast of
“RuPaul’s Drag Race”
Season 12?
I am so excited! I am so
excited. You cannot see
me, but I am running
around right now. [laughs]
What is it like right at
this very moment as your
entire life is completely
changing?
It is absolute Looney
Tunes, and I really love it. I
don’t know what is going
on; every day I don’t know
where I am, or what I am
doing, or who I am. But
honey, she throws on the
wig and says, “Am I in the
right place?”
You have a very distinct
performance style, and
it’s very theater focused.
Do you think that it was
helpful in doing your
audition tape?
Yes and no. I think that
because my background
is so theatrical, when I
was auditioning, I was
definitely looking at
everything with that
eye. This year, when I
auditioned, I went guns-ablazin’.
I said to myself that
I was not going to critique
myself, and I was just
going to do what I do, and
hopefully they’ll like it!
So many New York City
girls are on this season
with you. What is it like to
be taking this magical ride
with so many other girls
who are part of the fabric
of New York City drag?
I had no idea who the
other girls were that were
on the show obviously,
but when we all saw each
other, it was so crazy. We
all knew each other, even
though we haven’t all
worked together. Honestly,
this batch of New York
girls is so great, because
each one of us does
something so different but
so “New York.” That just
adds to why I think New
York City is one of the
best places to see drag.
Anything you want,
any kind of drag
you need! If you’re
not good at your
job in New York,
you don’t have a
job; they are
the best
of the
best.
You were
one of the
girls who
was making
a huge
name for
herself
in New
York
city
before
“Drag Race”
called. What do
you think of girls who
enter the business
of drag with the
intention to just
get onto “RuPaul’s Drag
Race”?
I think you have to do it for
whatever reason it is that
you want to do it. I don’t
think you should do it just
to get onto a television
show, because there is no
way you can prepare. It’s
not just a television show;
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” is
the Colosseum of drag.
They are looking for the
gladiators of drag queens.
You have to be prepared
to step outside of your
comfort zone to go into
that competition.
So many girls have come
out of New York City
and become smashing
successes all over the
world. What New York City
queen/“Drag Race” alumni
do you see now and would
love to pattern your career
after?
Bianca Del Rio all day.
Bianca is a boss-ass bitch.
The fact that a
drag queen
can play
Carnegie
Hall and
sell it out
is gaggy. I
wanna be
at Carnegie
Hall, but I’ll
probably just end up
being an usher.
[laughs]
@sherrypienyc
FRIDAYS