‘Drag Race’ Star Girl Camden Doc ‘Girl Like’ Units January Launch

When Kevin Cahoon acquired his Tony and Drama Desk nominations in 2023 as a featured actor in Broadway’s “Shucked,” he performed a hayseed character whose sexuality may or won’t have been identified to everybody in his straight-laced, corn-fed group. However in “La Cage aux Folles,” now enjoying on the Pasadena Playhouse, taking up the lead function of the drag performer Albin, he fairly defiantly is who he’s — at the very least till the farcical second act has him comically pretending to be a straight man, then a straight lady, in an tried act of familial love. Excessive jinx ensue, as they are saying… however so do pathos and anger, when Cahoon will get to ship the homosexual anthem “I Am What I Am.”

In a wide-ranging profession that has hardly been restricted to those roles, Cahoon has acted in drag on stage (and on TV) a number of occasions earlier than, together with his turns in Broadway or off-Broadway productions of “Hedwig and the Offended Inch,” “The Rocky Horror Present” and “The Wedding ceremony Singer” in addition to tv’s “Glow.” However he’s by no means earlier than stepped right into a lead function with fairly as a lot historic weight for the LGBTQ+ group as “La Cage,” the Jerry Herman/Harvey Fierstein-written present that was the primary musical to give attention to homosexual lead characters when it opened in 1983. The Pasadena manufacturing is notable as one of many few occasions a serious revival has been put up with two well-known homosexual actors being forged, as Cahoon shares the raucous present’s extra tenderly romantic scenes with Cheyenne Jackson.

The plot, which has a right-wing politician eager to shut down the primary characters’ profitable drag revue, might need appeared quaint and even outdated a number of years in the past… however, clearly, with the renewed demonization of trans folks and drag artists, “La Cage” has fallen again out of the realm of interval piece. In an interview with Selection, Cahoon talks about how the present local weather has supplied “gasoline” for the interpretation he, director Sam Pinkleton (“Oh, Mary!”) and the opposite creatives got here up with for this replace… even because the Broadway-worthy revival works primarily to supply heat laughs for the complete household. Or the complete drag-friendly household, anyway.

Cahoon additionally discusses every little thing from his very first show-biz triumph — successful “Star Search” as a younger teen — to how Peanut, the character he performed in “Shucked,” was impressed by each Minnie Pearl and shamen. (“La Cage aux Folles” continues on the Pasadena Playhouse by way of Dec. 15; get extra data and tickets right here.)

Most lately, folks have identified you for “Shucked,” the place you have been very dressed down. However there are different issues in your profession that it’s straightforward to think about might need introduced you to thoughts for the lead in “La Cage.”

That’s proper. I used to be within the authentic firm of “Hedwig and the Offended Inch,” the place I (took over) as soon as every week for John Cameron Mitchell. I did “Rocky Horror” on Broadway (as Frank N. Furter). And in “The Wedding ceremony Singer” on Broadway, my character was obsessive about Boy George. So there’s an extended historical past of roles which were in drag. However I had gone by way of a two- or three-year interval the place I felt like, “Oh, I’m into my nation bumpkin stage.” I had finished an hour-long drama on Fox referred to as “Monarch,” which was in regards to the first household of nation music, after which “Shucked” was such a large second in my life. I assumed, nicely, possibly my drag queen days are behind me.

After which Sam Pinkleton referred to as me out of the blue and invited me to come back alongside and I actually didn’t hesitate one minute. It has been liberating and fulfilling, and I’m utterly in love with Cheyenne, the complete firm is great, and the Pasadena Playhouse is such a top-notch, unimaginable theater. Simply with the care and the thought that they put into each single factor — I’m even speaking a few prop, or a fancy dress piece — the center is simply main the way in which there, and it’s obvious.

Have you ever been out right here to L.A. to do theater a lot earlier than?

I did a manufacturing of “Minsky’s” on the Ahmanson (in 2009). I did this superior manufacturing of “The Tempest” with the LA Philharmonic on the Disney Live performance Corridor (in 2018). And I’ve finished stuff on the Outdated Globe in San Diego, and in San Francisco, however by no means Pasadena Playhouse. And hear, I’ll be again the minute they ask me.

You’ve taken over some lead roles previously, however not essentially very many with as lengthy a historical past as this. What’s it prefer to tackle this lead function in “La Cage,” which is a really iconic and vital half in lots of people’s reminiscences, for therefore many causes?

I had been supplied the function of Jacob the housekeeper earlier than in productions of “La Cage,” however by no means had I been thought-about for the function of Albin earlier than. And it was an exquisite feeling that somebody trusts you can be a co-pilot, together with Cheyenne, of this. You stated it — it’s an iconic piece; big hit all all over the world for the reason that ‘80s. And Sam had a imaginative and prescient to blow the mud off, so to talk, and it was thrilling. He had a distinct imaginative and prescient for “I Am What I Am” than what I had ever seen finished earlier than. And naturally, that’s like a cliff. It’s a must to soar off and take a leap of religion, and discover what it means to you as we speak.

That signature quantity particularly has what appears like a topical undertone to it.

I’ve to say that after the final election, there was a distinct gasoline within the tank than there was. We have been rehearsing earlier than the election, after which after the election, we have been nonetheless in rehearsals, however I’ve to say the dynamics and the vitality shifted. There was a high-octane gasoline, let’s assume. You’ll be able to’t ignore what’s happening on this planet round you when there’s 700 folks coming right into a theater each evening to have a shared expertise. If there’s one thing taking place to everybody as a collective, that is part of the recipe of the night, and you’ll’t ignore it. So we had an thought to do a type of CBGB model of “I Am What I Am,” if you’ll. There’s an actual type of rock and roll coronary heart beneath it, and this can be very empowering and intensely liberating.

I hope it helps to inform the story of those two individuals who’ve been in love for 20 years and have a son, and the obstacles that that relationship is going through within the face of bewilderment and bigotry. You realize, it’s a terrific huge American musical for a cause. Everyone knows, at the very least I do, that America works finest after we’re all working collectively and everybody has their freedom, And when there are people who find themselves attempting to infringe upon that freedom, the wheels don’t work as nicely in a democracy. In order that’s what nice American musicals do to me. They expose the reality and the wonder and the optimism that a terrific musical can. It’s probably the most optimistic artwork type to me. Take “Les Miz.” Everybody’s useless on the finish of “Les Miz,” however they’re all singing “Tomorrow’s gonna be higher, tomorrow’s gonna be a greater day”! That’s why I like musicals a lot. And on the finish of “La Cage,” the conservative household has come round and everybody’s collectively… everybody as as a unit.

I used to be questioning if it will be finished as an ‘80s interval piece or set within the current day. But it surely feels prefer it’s meant to exist out of time. The one component that basically marks it as present-day is the usage of a hoop mild if you end up doing all of your make-up within the dressing room scenes.

That’s proper. Sure.

So we think about occasions have modified for the reason that late ‘70s, when the French movie was made, or early ‘80s, with the Broadway present. However little or nothing wanted to modified to make it really feel both up to date or simply unfixed in time. If something, the political facet feels contemporary once more.

Within the early ‘80s, when this present opened on Broadway, there had been one front-page story in regards to the AIDS epidemic within the New York Occasions. They began scripting this in 1978. And there’s nonetheless an innocence to this love story, within the writing. It’s earlier than AIDS decimated a tradition, when work at that time shifted to be political, because it ought to have. However there’s one thing attention-grabbing in that they’re nonetheless attempting to ban drag golf equipment in Florida. There’s nonetheless an uproar over drag story time in colleges. The laws remains to be being proposed, and it truly is surprising and unhappy. However you recognize, isn’t that humorous, that it’s 2024, virtually ‘25, and we’re nonetheless speaking about conservative folks attempting to close down a drag membership.

Within the gamut that your character runs within the present, plenty of the prevalent comedy is basically in your shoulders, although, as we mentioned, you even have probably the most dead-serious second within the present.

It’s a experience, and I’m type of on the practice. I’ve, I believe, 14 costume adjustments, which embrace jewellery and wigs and make-up adjustments, and I’m operating like a hamster on a wheel backstage. So I actually don’t have time to consider, you recognize, “Oh God, now we’re about to get to this half…” Earlier than I do know it, I’m on stage in one other wig and one other costume, saying the traces for that scene. So it truly is a wash of no matter Harvey Fierstein’s writing is, actually taking place within the second — which, as an actor, is what you need. And each viewers is totally different, so that you’re listening to them. The place are they? It truly is like an Olympic relay race, the place you’re operating from one factor to the following and grabbing this, and you then’re taking place the observe. Each morning once I get up, I believe: Oh my God, I can’t imagine I did that final evening and I’ve to do it once more tonight.

It’s thrilling. I can’t imagine we solely have two extra weeks. I’m gonna simply be heartbroken, and operating round my home, doing it on my own, most likely. I’ll name Cheyenne on the cellphone and say, “Hey, let’s simply do this scene over the cellphone.”

Luckily, this isn’t your first time working in excessive heels on stage. That could possibly be actually taxing on somebody who doesn’t have expertise with that.

I’ve fairly a little bit of expertise in heels — and I’ve acquired good arches, simply genetic, God-given arches, and in order that helps too. It was simply type of the luck of the draw, and so they’ve helped me ultimately.

And from Hedwig to Frank N. Furter to “Glow,” you’ve had a bit expertise dressing up, even when these didn’t put together you for the number of seems to be you run by way of on this.

That may be very true. I’ve had a life in make-up, I prefer to say. … Carol Channing was considered one of my characters in “Glow” that I additionally do in “La Cage.” Sam was like, “What imitations do you do?” And I used to be like, “Effectively, I believe I can do a fairly good Carol Channing,” in order that’s within the present (inside a present), too.

When the present goes off-stage, so to talk, for its extra emotional and intimate moments, the chemistry with Cheyenne is clearly very important.

And it’s uncommon that two homosexual actors get to play two homosexual males who’ve been on this relationship for 20 years. That’s totally different than enjoying a relationship that you just’ve been in for 2 years. There’s a information there; there’s consolation there. In my first scene within the present, I’m terrified that he’s having an affair on me. “The place have been you? I made a lunch. I do know that you just’re with some younger, bony, brunette boy”… I believe with each single relationship, sooner or later, somebody in that relationship is doubting: Am I sufficient? Do I nonetheless have it? Is that this individual nonetheless seeing me the identical method? There’s one other lyric that my character has, about how “you’ve put a everlasting star in my eye.” That’s such a stunning Jerry Herman lyric, so stunning and so easy.

Jerry Herman wrote “Whats up Dolly,” and he wrote “Mame,” that are these iconic roles for actresses. After which he wrote “La Cage,” the place the 2 homosexual males get to have the long-lasting roles. They get the 11:00 numbers; they get the showstoppers. And that’s uncommon. After I was a child, I cherished “Whats up Dolly” and “Mame,” and I did my first Jerry Herman musical once I was 11, in order that’s once I fell in love with Jerry Herman soundtracks and albums and forged recordings… So this stuff that come into your life if you’re 10 come again round later. Each seed that’s planted is gonna come again round.

To get into your background a bit — you probably did “Star Search” if you have been virtually that younger, proper?

Yeah, I used to be 13, in 1985. I’m from Houston, so I had an agent in Houston and I did commercials and theater there, after which they stated “Star Search” is coming by way of city and so they’re auditioning. At that time, that was Sam Harris, Rosie O’Donnell, Sinbad — the present was a large. I sang present tunes, and by some means we ended up in L.A. and I used to be on that present and received in 1985. Which is loopy, as a result of everybody was singing Van Halen and Michael Jackson and the hits of the day, and right here I come singing “Gypsy” and “Cats,” however by some means it occurred. We shot it on the Aquarius Theater on Sundown, which grew to become the Nickelodeon theater. Really, from the road, you may nonetheless see the payphone within the foyer — it’s nonetheless there in that theater — the place I’d make my calls to my grandparents and say, “Oh, I received, I received.” There are lot of candy reminiscences there. I nonetheless can’t imagine that it occurred. After which we did a present that summer season referred to as “The Stars of Star Search,” which was form of a revue with Sinbad, myself, this singer Catte Adams… After which I went again to Houston and began highschool.

What was your largest break when you have been in New York?

I at all times suppose the primary Broadway present’s the toughest one to get, and I used to be within the ensemble of “Tommy,” after auditioning eight occasions and going again and again. After which your first principal function in a Broadway present can also be the toughest one to get, and my first principal function was within the authentic forged of “The Lion King,” enjoying Ed the Hyena. That was such a cultural second, and to look at Julie Taymor within the room creating this world with these characters and these costumes and masks, it was unbelievable — one other pinch-me second once I take into consideration how I used to be part of that.

After which I left “The Lion King” that very same yr to go downtown to do one present every week for John Cameron Mitchell as (the understudy for) “Hedwig,” which at that time was not what it’s now; it was nonetheless looking for its method. And John’s writing and Stephen (Trask)’s writing have been so prophetic. They actually noticed the world in a method that different folks didn’t, and noticed what was going to be part of the tradition. Impulsively, the enterprise didn’t simply understand me as a comedic musical theater actor once they forged me in “Hedwig.” I used to be capable of be perceived as additionally a critical actor and likewise a bit bit downtown rock and roll, a bit edgier than they could have thought. So it was a tough resolution: Am I gonna go away “The Lion King,” this principal function in its first yr of its run, to go downtown to do that present that possibly received’t run?

And it was the neatest resolution I ever made. What a dream that was. After which I ended up opening the Boston firm of “Hedwig,” and I did San Francisco for 9 months, after which I did Edinburgh, Scotland. It was an exquisite present that stored on giving.

After which “The Wedding ceremony Singer” was good for you.

Effectively, yeah, “Wedding ceremony Singer” after which “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” [where he played the Childcatcher]. I additionally did a play referred to as “The Foreigner” on the Roundabout (in 2004), which was my first play in New York, and that was an exquisite break, with Matthew Broderick and Frances Sternhagen — one other nice second the place it’s all about notion and the way the enterprise is perceiving you. So once they see you in a play with these iconic actors, you then get extra auditions for performs, and extra auditions for hour-long dramas or films. And it by no means ends — you’re at all times taking the experience as to what’s subsequent, and the way can I problem myself?

And “La Cage” was such an exquisite, big problem. It nonetheless is, each efficiency. Sam Pinkleton is so good and so good, and seeing his choreography for “Natasha, Pierre and the Nice Comet of 1812,” after which seeing “Oh, Mary!” (Pinkleton’s presently operating Broadway success)… When he referred to as, I used to be like, “Yep. What time do you want me there? This afternoon?”

You had seen “La Cage” if you have been 10, proper?

Yeah, I noticed “La Cage” in New York — authentic, authentic forged — and I’ll always remember it, as a result of by way of my 10-year-old Texas eyes, I used to be watching this present saying, what is this? There are some photos in that present I’ll by no means, ever overlook.

What does it imply now, by way of your no-longer-10-year-old eyes?

I seen that it’s been uncommon that there have been two homosexual males which have performed the leads. One thing that Cheyenne, Sam and I actually wished to embrace is that we didn’t need to be shy about their bodily affection and the way a lot they love one another and the way a lot they’re like every other married couple. I believe that Albin can’t imagine that somebody like George, who’s so beautiful and magnetic and charming, likes him. In order that’s a part of the great thing about their relationship.

You finish the primary act so powerfully and intensely with “I Am What I Am,” then come again originally of Act 2 and make folks chuckle once more, after having immersed them in some actuality proper earlier than intermission.

And there’s plenty of stress on an actor to shut the primary act. So many individuals have finished “I Am What I Am” in simply iconic methods. It’s been recorded by so many individuals. It’s possibly one of many first true homosexual anthems — not one other tune that was already written that the homosexual group has adopted, however a tune that was written as a homosexual anthem that the group embraced. And on the finish of the primary act, it’s like a “Defying Gravity” or a “Rose’s Flip” or a kind of huge musical theater numbers. There’s plenty of stress to ship. However as an actor, I’ve to type of convey what I can do to the desk and apply it to the textual content and hope that it really works.

As you stated, there are any variety of methods it may be performed, inside a manufacturing or as a stand-alone anthem. Along with your edgier model of it, you wished to make it about these occasions, by some means, and get some righteous anger into it?

Yeah, I believe that, but once more, the LGBTQ+ group is listening to: You aren’t equal human beings, you aren’t equal People. And with each step in direction of progress — marriage equality, and all the opposite examples — it appears like there’s 5 extra steps backwards. And I believe that there’s a primal, guttural response to that, on this model of “I Am What I Am”: You aren’t listening to me. Let me shake you and say I’m what I’m. What I’m wants no excuses. That’s within the lyrics: I deal my very own deck. Generally the ace, generally the deuces; generally it really works, generally it doesn’t. But it surely’s my world. And the primal  “I’m going to shake the muse of this till you hear me” — that’s what I’m considering each evening. It virtually feels to me Shakespearean. It appears like a terrific soliloquy, and an handle to the viewers saying, that is an instantaneous challenge. You have to hear what I’m saying. You realize, there’s that lyric that repeats: There’s one life, one life. That’s a key lyric. It’s thrilling to have the ability to do, and it’s terrifying.

It’s straightforward to think about how a lot that should take out of you.

After which you’ve like 15 or 20 minutes to get well, to get all of the clown make-up off and put all the opposite make-up again on. My intermission is timed all the way down to the minute, as a result of the primary character you see in Act 2 is Albin, so I’ve gotta get cleaned up and able to begin the following act with a large comedic scene. That first scene in Act 2 is hilarious, (after) the type of melodrama and pathos. So it truly is a rollercoaster.

We’ve had nice audiences, and I can see plenty of the viewers at plenty of totally different moments within the present, as a result of I’m speaking to the viewers so much, like with that standup sequence in the course of Act 1. After which “I Am What I Am,” it’s fairly lit. That’s actually enjoyable to see the viewers, play with the viewers. Which Peanut in “Shucked” does so much, too. He would have these type of monologues that he would handle to the viewers, type of doing like a Minnie Pearl, “Hee Haw” form of standup routine with the viewers, and I at all times cherished that half. I like speaking and communing with the viewers one-on-one. It’s uncommon, nevertheless it’s thrilling to get to do.

Talking of “Shucked,” right here’s a query about that function, although you’ve moved on and different actors are doing it on tour. There may be plenty of sexual innuendo Peanut is placing throughout, the place everybody simply form of stops to hear as he extends a metaphor. But it surely’s not essentially obvious if he’s doing it intentionally or it’s developing by way of his unconscious. So… does Peanut know he’s homosexual?

I believe he does. I made the choice that 1000% Peanut does know he’s homosexual. However, you recognize, he’s a unicorn, in a city filled with goats. So he’s singular in that there’s not lots of people that he might discover that aspect of himself with. And I’ve seen these folks in rural communities earlier than, who’re singular, who’re considered one of a sort. And I take into consideration tribal cultures too. Just like the individuals who we might say are are trans, however in tribal communities, they’re between the feminine and the male world, someplace in-between. They’re the shamans of the tribal tradition.

And Peanut functioned in that method. He was type of the thinker, type of the preacher. He married the folks, he buried the folks. He was such an integral a part of that group and the mechanics of that group, and people individuals are such a present to no matter group that they’re in. I at all times considered Peanut in that method — like, there was one thing even a bit witchy about him. Like, you recognize, “if I bury this within the yard on a full moon, I assure you the crop will likely be even greater subsequent month.” I at all times considered him as having a connection to the land, and I had so many traces about him speaking to totally different animals. I assumed, Peanut’s related to everyone, speaking to everyone. Individuals suppose he’s loopy as a result of he’s over there speaking to a pig, however I assure you, he’s getting some vital data. That was simply such a superb character.

I’m additionally considering now in regards to the drag world and drag queens and the way they’re type of shamans. They’re type of on this mystical different place that folks have a look at with surprise and amazement, that they’re able to do what they do, separate from everybody else, and they’re communing with the world in a really totally different method. I simply hold considering of a shaman, like a healer, a thinker. It’s an unimaginable factor to have the ability to be given roles the place I’m enjoying these type of larger-than-life characters which might be hovering above everybody else on this type of method.