What started as a formal interview with drag legend Lady Bunny quickly turned into a miniature version of Inside The Actor’s Studio between myself and one of the inspirations behind my own drag career. We talked about the craft of creating a show like her new tour, wigs, and the art of keeping our wit intact amid an ever-changing cultural climate. The voicemail I received during our game of phone tag before the interview let me know I was in for a good ab workout once we finally connected.
The original disco diva of filth and fearless humor returns to St. Louis on November 11th at Helium Comedy Club with her newest show, Bunny Butchers Broadway. The title truly says it all. This outrageously funny musical comedy extravaganza sees Bunny take her knife (and mic) to Broadway’s most beloved hits—slicing and dicing classics from Wicked, Dreamgirls, Mamma Mia!, Beauty and the Beast, and more. Each number is lovingly reimagined with her signature dirty wit and razor-sharp social commentary.
When we talked about her process, Bunny shared, “Writing parodies is a balancing act. You’ve got to keep it recognizable so people don’t have to think too hard to get the joke. I want laughter, not homework.” And she’s right—her parodies are a masterclass in balance: equal parts homage and heresy. After decades of making audiences wheeze with laughter, Bunny remains a true master butcher.
What struck me most, though, wasn’t just the comedy (though I laughed so hard I nearly fell out of my chair). It was how deeply Bunny cares about the craft of drag and humor. Beneath the wigs and wicked punchlines is someone who understands that laughter—especially the kind that pushes buttons—is sacred. “People get so uptight these days,” Bunny told me. “But laughter is how we connect, how we survive. I say the things people are thinking but too scared to tweet or post or whatever the expletive Elon’s stupid app is calling it now.”
She laughed, then teased a new “tribute” song to Musk featured in this twisted menagerie of musical theatre. “This show isn’t political,” Bunny insisted, “but I have to poke fun when a billionaire can buy their way into the White House and cut social services for the rest of us non-billionaires. But mainly, it’s about how jealous I am of Jinkx Monsoon’s success in Oh Mary! and Chicago.” Then, with a wicked grin, she added, “But it was typecasting for Jinkx to play Mama Morton. She was always having trouble with Roxxxy… (Andrews).”
Our conversation took a more heartfelt turn when we began talking about the venues that make drag comedy possible. I mentioned how grateful I am to perform in inclusive spaces like Helium Comedy Club, which has welcomed me and other St. Louis favorites like Analyse Thropic and Paul Cereghino. These spaces have become vital as more of our traditional queer performance venues continue to disappear.
Bunny nodded, her tone softening. “We’ve lost so many of our sacred spaces,” she said, referencing The Oasis, the San Francisco nightclub once owned by the late drag icon and comedy legend Hecklina, which announced it would close its doors at the start of the new year. “When a space like that closes, it’s not just a bar shutting down—it’s history, it’s a community, it’s home.”
For queer comedians and drag performers, stages like these aren’t just places to tell jokes—they’re where we process the chaos of the world and turn it into joy for others. “It’s our vocation,” Bunny said. “Even when the world feels terrifying, we’ve got to keep finding ways to make people laugh. That’s what keeps us… and our community alive.”
By the end of our chat, I’d long since abandoned my list of prepared questions. We were just two drag comedians from different generations, aligned in spirit, bonding over the magic of making people laugh until they snort.
So come November 11th, grab your tickets to Bunny Butchers Broadway at Helium Comedy Club. Leave the kids at home, because when Lady Bunny takes the stage, no show tune, subject, or taboo is safe. And in times like these, a night of laughter that’s loud, queer, and unapologetically joyful might be exactly what we all need.
Lady Bunny: Bunny Butchers Broadway
📍 Helium Comedy Club, St. Louis
📅 November 11th, 2025
🎟️ Tickets & more info available Here
