Known asRuPaul’s Drag Race royalty and the queen of reveals, Sasha Velour is coming to Kansas City on Nov. 6 to perform in her one-queen show Smoke & Mirrors.
Her partner and stage manager Johnny Velour is a Kansas City native, excited to come back home for the affair. The Velours’ passion for performance art birthed an international tour that has never quite been done before, combining magic, drag, theater, and gender fluidity.
Growing up in Liberty, Mo., Johnny Velour began his career in theater here in the heartland.
“Kansas City has a rich heritage of performance on lots of different scales. One could go to the Unicorn, the opera, or even Late Night Theatre – I got to experience entertainment at every level,” Velour says. “I didn’t come out until I was 18 and had limited access to queer entertainment. That’s why I’m so excited to bring this show to Kansas City. Anyone from age 8 to 80 can see something specifically queer that explores gender identity.”
The show was a hit on the coasts, as well as in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
“You can expect the unexpected.” says Velour. “We don’t allow photos or video, so there’s not a lot out there to know what to expect. Everyone experiences something different. It’s a blend of drag and performance art unlike anything I’ve seen in my professional career. It’s been a joy to see that same reaction from our audiences.”
Sasha Velour, who won the Season 9 competition on Drag Race, is known for great visual effects and personal storytelling. Her relationship with Johnny has strengthened over the years through that bond of professional creativity.
“It’s something we do to express love for each other in creating something new,” says Johnny Velour. “We come from very different backgrounds and I’m surprised I can still be surprised about her. I learn to trust her as an artist, even when I don’t exactly understand where an act is going to land. The best thing is being surprised by someone you love in creating something new.”
If You Go
You can catch Smoke & Mirrors at the Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland, 1228 Main St., Kansas City Mo. The show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets: https://www.axs.com/events/381632/sasha-velour-tickets