Get Out! GAY Magazine – Issue 531

Kenneth/Kate was a real life
LGBTQ trailblazer from the
first half of the 20th century
that the average person
knows little about: a sex
worker, a drag burlesque
performer, a hairstylist,
an author and an early
transgender individual. She
had a very harrowing and
fascinating life! What really
speaks to you about her and
her story?
What’s incredible about
Kenneth/Kate is how hard
they pushed the boundaries
just to be themself. As you
know, the play is primarily
the story of their life before
transitioning. And I know
there will be a part two at
some point, played by a
brilliant trans actress. As a
gender expansive individual
myself, what speaks to
me about Kenneth’s life is
how much they played with
gender, and their own role
in broader American queer
life at a time when it was
so dangerous to do so. It
reminds us all that not only
are we here now–we’ve BEEN
here. Drag artists, burlesque
artists, queer writers–we are
part of the fabric of American
culture.
It’s a demanding role. You
have to take makeup and
costumes on and off multiple
times while reading tons
of dialog, and there’s lots
of physicality with material
that’s both funny and heavy.
We’ll be seeing a whole
new side of Darius! Is that
daunting and exciting?
Daunting and exciting are
the exact two right words to
describe this play and this
process! But luckily, Donnie
has held my hand every step
of the way, and I’m so excited
to take the stage, plus a little
fear is good. Keeps you on
your toes!
Have you spoken to
your predecessor, Wade
McCollum, about the role at
all? I guess taking over a role
that another actor originated
must be its own challenge.
Wade has been nothing
but supportive during this
process. They have taken
time out of their busy
schedule to talk with me and
help me
pick their
brain. Wade
has been
working on
this piece
for two
years as
both the
star and
contributing
writer. So I’m
just trying to
soak up and
synthesize
all the amazing work they did,
while also putting my own
little spin on the piece.
What else is coming up for
you?
There are a few things in
the works. I shot this really
cool indie sci-fi movie called
Identiteaze, written and
directed by the amazing
Jessie Gender, where you’ll
see yet another side of
Darius! I can’t give away
too much, but it’s a bit like a
queer version of the TV show
Severance. There are also a
few other things in the works,
but nothing I can announce
quite yet.
Finally, have you been
watching Season 16 of
RuPaul’s Drag Race? Do
you have any thoughts on a
favorite contestant, the return
of immunity, the queens
rating each other in the early
eps, etc.?
This is such a talented group
of girls! I do wish they had
worked together more in
the first two weeks, as we
didn’t get to see much of
their personalities, but the
bits we’ve seen so far have
me intrigued! And honey,
immunity? Yes, please. I’m
taking my vitamin B12 as we
speak!