What if the emotions from Pixar's Inside Out grew up, got fabulous and hit the stage in heels? That’s exactly what audiences can expect at Inside Drag, a dazzling new show from the House of L’Whor, a local drag family, that brings adult feelings to life through the lens of drag.
Happening Thursday, May 1, at Meow Wolf’s Convergence Station inside the Perplexiplex, the show reimagines the iconic characters from Pixar’s animated hit, like Joy and Sadness, with a grown-up, glittery makeover. “We were inspired by the base emotions represented in Inside Out one and two,” said performer and co-producer Talia Tucker L’Whor. “But we wanted to add a few more twists that are part of the adult experience.”
That includes emotions like Horniness and Obsession, feelings that (appropriately) don’t show up in kids’ movies but shape the lives of grown-ups every day.
"One of the reasons Inside Out, the movie, is popular is because it gives the audience imaginative vocabulary to name some of their own emotions and experiences," Tucker says. "With a combination of drag, camp, humor and realism, we hope to present familiar emotions and new ones, such as Love, in a way that makes an audience member relate to how that emotion may have affected their adult life."
Produced collaboratively by Jessica, Foxxy and Talia Tucker L’Whor, Inside Drag was born from a creative process as heartfelt as the show’s theme.
"The origins of the shows start from three to four House of L’Whor family members sitting in a circle, smoking weed and laughing about prospective show concepts to build," Tucker says. "It’s an experience based in joy and creative struggle. But there’s something magical about the transition from table talk conceptualizing to rubber hits pavement rehearsal."
The show features a powerhouse roster of artists, including 7 Felicity, Andrea Staxx, Anita Goodman, Chase Bottoms, Fupa, Foxy Felicity, Foxxy L'Whor, Jessica L'Whor, Prince Glorious Felicity, Talia Tucker L'Whor and Soleil Felicity. The night will also include performances by DJ Markie Arendelle and the whimsical Marionette Clown Toy, all combining to create a curated emotional journey that’s equal parts cabaret, therapy session and fever dream.
For Tucker and the House of L’Whor, drag has always been more than lip-syncs and looks — it’s a mirror held up to the culture and emotions of the moment.
“Drag in itself is a parody artform, something that reflects the fashion, eras, characters and pop culture trends of the world," Tucker says. "Personification of emotions naturally fits into our skill sets as artists. I feel most excited to see the intersection of abstract feelings curated into physical and prop-based performances."
That intersection finds an ideal setting at Convergence Station, a kaleidoscopic venue known for its cutting-edge visual effects and immersive installations, where the House of L'Whor has performed previously. The partnership with Meow Wolf elevates the show’s technical possibilities, Tucker said, allowing the team to play with lighting, projections and staging to embody abstract feelings.
"There’s something exciting about watching a drag performance, and something exhilarating about watching it with the gel lighting, four-wall projections and prestige of the Meow Wolf stage," Tucker says. "The venue simply raises the bar of what can be possible and pushes us to use their talents as artists to create a product that’s fresh and new."
But beyond the glam and glitter, Inside Drag speaks to a deeper need for emotional connection, especially in a tense and divided political climate.
“Given the state of America’s political system, there is so much tension that people are looking for a release and tools to make sense of what’s happening," Tucket says. "There’s a political power that seeks to divide and we can respond with the strongest counter tool: community and unity."
Tucker hopes the audience finds catharsis in the show’s performances, whether it’s laughing with Love, tearing up with Sadness or cringing with Disgust.
“We hope that audience members can leave our show with more emotional vocabulary as adults to say, ‘I’ve felt that before' or ‘I’ve been there before,'" Tucker says. "If shared experiences are what drive community, then we want people to leave feeling seen and a little lighter than when they walked in the door."
Inside Drag, Thursday, May 1, 7 p.m. at Meow Wolf Denver's Convergence Station, 1338 1st Street. Tickets are $39 to $49. Learn more at meowwolf.com.
Happening Thursday, May 1, at Meow Wolf’s Convergence Station inside the Perplexiplex, the show reimagines the iconic characters from Pixar’s animated hit, like Joy and Sadness, with a grown-up, glittery makeover. “We were inspired by the base emotions represented in Inside Out one and two,” said performer and co-producer Talia Tucker L’Whor. “But we wanted to add a few more twists that are part of the adult experience.”
That includes emotions like Horniness and Obsession, feelings that (appropriately) don’t show up in kids’ movies but shape the lives of grown-ups every day.
"One of the reasons Inside Out, the movie, is popular is because it gives the audience imaginative vocabulary to name some of their own emotions and experiences," Tucker says. "With a combination of drag, camp, humor and realism, we hope to present familiar emotions and new ones, such as Love, in a way that makes an audience member relate to how that emotion may have affected their adult life."
Produced collaboratively by Jessica, Foxxy and Talia Tucker L’Whor, Inside Drag was born from a creative process as heartfelt as the show’s theme.
"The origins of the shows start from three to four House of L’Whor family members sitting in a circle, smoking weed and laughing about prospective show concepts to build," Tucker says. "It’s an experience based in joy and creative struggle. But there’s something magical about the transition from table talk conceptualizing to rubber hits pavement rehearsal."
“We hope that audience members can leave our show with more emotional vocabulary," said performer and co-producer Talia Tucker L’Whor.
Courtesy of Talia Tucker L'Whor
For Tucker and the House of L’Whor, drag has always been more than lip-syncs and looks — it’s a mirror held up to the culture and emotions of the moment.
“Drag in itself is a parody artform, something that reflects the fashion, eras, characters and pop culture trends of the world," Tucker says. "Personification of emotions naturally fits into our skill sets as artists. I feel most excited to see the intersection of abstract feelings curated into physical and prop-based performances."
That intersection finds an ideal setting at Convergence Station, a kaleidoscopic venue known for its cutting-edge visual effects and immersive installations, where the House of L'Whor has performed previously. The partnership with Meow Wolf elevates the show’s technical possibilities, Tucker said, allowing the team to play with lighting, projections and staging to embody abstract feelings.
"There’s something exciting about watching a drag performance, and something exhilarating about watching it with the gel lighting, four-wall projections and prestige of the Meow Wolf stage," Tucker says. "The venue simply raises the bar of what can be possible and pushes us to use their talents as artists to create a product that’s fresh and new."
But beyond the glam and glitter, Inside Drag speaks to a deeper need for emotional connection, especially in a tense and divided political climate.
“Given the state of America’s political system, there is so much tension that people are looking for a release and tools to make sense of what’s happening," Tucket says. "There’s a political power that seeks to divide and we can respond with the strongest counter tool: community and unity."
Tucker hopes the audience finds catharsis in the show’s performances, whether it’s laughing with Love, tearing up with Sadness or cringing with Disgust.
“We hope that audience members can leave our show with more emotional vocabulary as adults to say, ‘I’ve felt that before' or ‘I’ve been there before,'" Tucker says. "If shared experiences are what drive community, then we want people to leave feeling seen and a little lighter than when they walked in the door."
Inside Drag, Thursday, May 1, 7 p.m. at Meow Wolf Denver's Convergence Station, 1338 1st Street. Tickets are $39 to $49. Learn more at meowwolf.com.
