Jackie Cox // photo by Michael Block

Day: Sunday, March 11th      

Show: Just Jackie

Location: New World Stages

Queens Seen: Jackie Cox (@jackiecoxnyc), Gilda Wabbit (@gildawabbit), Gloria Swansong (@gloria_swansong)

Jackie Cox, Gilda Wabbit // photo by Michael Block

Gloria Swansong, Jackie Cox // photo by Michael Block

She's the new queen of New World Stages! Just Jackie and Friends finds Jackie Cox and her special friends celebrate drag and theater with an almost all singing show. With a fresh take on the classic drag sensibility, Jackie Cox manages to entertain from top to bottom. To kick the night off, the pretty queen sang "Pretty Girl Rock" with her own unique spin. She followed it up with the Postmodern Jukebox version of Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl," because why not? Joining her for theatrical debauchery were Gilda Wabbit and Gloria Swansong. Gilda showed off her pipes with Pink's power ballad "Glitter in the Air" and her signature parody of "Defying Gravity" entitled "Double Penetration." For Gloria's turn, she dazzled with her solo version of "Cell Block Tango" and the powerful "Back to Before" from Ragtime. It wouldn't be a full show if Jackie didn't ask for her gal pals to do some duets. In a wild live-sung/lip sync extravaganza, Jackie and Gloria did "Sing" from A Chorus Line, which yielded quite a comical result. Gilda and Jackie took on Maria and Anita in West Side Story for "A Boy Like That." Audiences like a good drag show. Audiences love a smart drag show. Jackie brought in a little Wicked and Judy Garland trivia as an homage to her guests.
Jackie Cox delivers time after time to ensure an enjoyable show that's special and entertaining. Smart drag is the best drag.

Jackie Cox // photo by Michael Block

Day: Sunday, February 11th        

Show: Just Jackie and Friends 

Location: Greenroom at New World Stages

Queens Seen: Jackie Cox (@jackiecoxnyc), Chelsea Piers (@thechelseapiers)

Jackie Cox, Chelsea Piers // photo by Michael Block

Last time you saw Jackie Cox at New World Stages, she was triumphantly crowned the winner of So You Think You Can Drag All Stars! Part of her prize package included a weekly show at the Greenroom. The debut of Just Jackie and Friends was a fabulous night of live singing, special guests, and a celebration of a queen who deserves her moment in the spotlight. With a cute video package to start the show, Jackie came out and entertained the packed room there just for her. Early on she explained that she may have some Vicodin in her body due to a wisdom tooth surgery, thusly making loopy Jackie Cox the thing you never knew you needed in her life. With a parody of “Put On Your Sunday Clothes” as her audience cheers song, it set the theme of the night. The good thing about having a drag show exposed to the lobby of a bunch of theaters, stragglers and theater-leavers may pop in. And Jackie got a bunch of those, including an international couple who was not fun of Jersey Boys and a 16 year-old girl who tipped a whopping $14! The first special guest of the night was Jackie’s gal pal Chelsea Piers, who dazzled with a Post Modern Jukebox version of “Fancy” and “Gives You Hell” by All American Rejects. After a rousing game of $10,000 Pyramid, where my dear friend Matt botched who exactly hosts what drag competition, the first act ended with a parody of the only song from Hamilton I love, “You’ll Be Back.” Fitting. The big act two surprise was not Jackie’s dazzling gold additions to her look, it was the surprise appearance by Angela Lansbury! Well, in puppet form (as performed by puppeteer Mike Hull). The pair sang the classic duet “Bosom Buddies.” The night ultimately ended with a duet between Jackie and Chelsea singing “That’s Life.” And that was it! Like the other shows in the venue, it was time for curtain.
As Jackie said, “Why would you have one bubble when you can have a gazillion?” Why would you have one Jackie when…well no, let’s stick to the one and only. She’s perfect as she is. It’s about time that this dynamic performer gets her due.

By Michael Block

Tis the season for the good tidings and gay apparel. Alongside her closest pals, Showbiz Spitfire Paige Turner rings in Christmas with her newest holiday extravaganza. Hoping to put on her twisted rendition of A Christmas Carol, Paige and friends run up against a plethora of obstacles while searching for the true meaning of Christmas. The Grinch May have stolen Christmas, but Paige Turner defiled it. Paige Turner’s Christmas Carol is a perfect stocking stuffer.

photo by Michael Block

Back at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, Paige Turner has fantastically twisted Christmas and in turn, created quite possibly one of the best Paige Turner shows to date. The show tells the tale of Paige’s attempt to put on her spin of the Dicken’s classic. Her uber long and twisted version casts her slurp as Tiny Twink and the beloved Jackie Cox as an old hag, among others. And to give this show a boost, Dante invites his Grandma CC into the fold. CC being of course Carol Channing, as portrayed by James Mills. As they hit roadblock after roadblock, we learn just how ridiculous Paige’s adaptation is while sprinkling in some of her best-written parodies yet. Phylicia Rashad is all you need to know. This holiday show worked because it didn’t attempt to be more than it was. It moved along fluidly while maintaining its comedic integrity. The more we ingratiate ourselves in the mind of Paige Turner, the more her world becomes realized and comes to life before our eyes. The stakes are certainly low here, but Paige commits to giving each individual a purpose and an arc. Dante, effortlessly played by Remy Germinario, gets one of his biggest moments yet. He’s so lovingly stupid that you just want to pinch his cheeks. In the other shows, Jackie Cox is the butt of the jokes. We see how it bothers her, but, like a good side kick, she brushes it off and doesn’t bother her. To now see a different side of Jackie, through her animosity with Carol Channing, offers depth to the character. Mills plays upon the wackiness of the Carol we know and love, while being completely out of touch to the world. The Paige Turner persona, in this theatrical setting, is just a bit out of touch, but the moments of real world self awareness are brilliantly funny. The digs, jabs, and references bring the audience inside the jokes and keep things fresh. Like any great drag show, the quartet turned out look after look. Special recognition should be given to Gloria Swansong for the stunning dress Paige donned at the top of the show.
The holiday cheer was in full gear at Paige Turner’s Christmas Carol. Paige Turner is a staple in New York City and the drag community at large. If there’s one holiday show to check out this season, this one’s probably it.

By Michael Block

Jackie Cox was recently crowned the winner of So You Think You Can Drag All Stars. I Dream of Jackie 2 is proof why she won. Returning to the Laurie Beechman with a sequel to her hit debut show, Jackie Cox takes on her evil side in this hilarious comedy.

photo by Michael Block

If you missed the original, don’t worry; the exposition is alive and well. Jackie Cox, genie of the people, went on a fabulous adventure, brining wishes to all. But her evil twin sister Jacqueline was unleashed to wreak havoc on the world. With smart song selections and the brilliance of campy comedy, I Dream of Jackie 2 does something most sequels can’t do: be better than the original. What it comes down to is the writing. Jackie uses the sequel formula in crafting her piece. She allows the audience to have references to the original while maintaining its ability to stand on its own. If you lined up both next to one another, you can see the parallels. And by being referential to it through humor allowed Jackie to prove why her formula worked. Even if you didn’t pick up on these moments, the jokes still landed. She uses a nice blend of musical genres to hammer home the story. From the standard Broadway “I Want” song to the classic 60s “longing” mid-tempo ballad to the perfectly placed Christina Aguilera moment, the evening was cohesive. I sat in my seat beats before the “I Want” song thinking, “You know what would be perfect for this moment? ‘I Want the Good Times Back’ from The Little Mermaid musical.” And guess what? She delivered! Jackie Cox doesn’t just meet expectations, she exceeds them. There’s a bit of a looser performance this time around. And it may be due to the fact that it’s a heck of a lot of fun playing the bad queen. Jackie Cox is still present in Jacqueline. But the vocal affectations and villainous mannerisms separate the two. Like the first part, Jackie doesn’t do it alone. With the aid of Drew Bloom and Blake McIver, who returns again as director, the backup boys, this time clad in leather, get a bit of arc in the conflict. Yet another reason why this story flows. After two shows, these boys are ripe for a spin off. Perhaps an origin story.
It seems anyone can be a drag queen nowadays, but not all drag queens are stars. Jackie Cox is a star. I Dream of Jackie 2 is a beautiful nightmare. Jackie Cox has begun to establish a world of her own, quite similarly to Paige Turner. Let’s say Paige Turner is the “Cheers” and Jackie Cox is the “Frasier.” She's a brilliant supporting player in Paige's world who comes to life in her own. It’s inevitable that there is a third saga in this trilogy. Comedy works best in threes. But what will that one be?

By Michael Block

If the fabulous drag queens and colorful rainbow outfits didn’t sell it, the title certainly will. Paige Turner’s This Show is Gay does not falsely advertise what you’re about to see. Returning to the Laurie Beechman after a recent Pride engagement, This Show Is Gay celebrates the community in the funniest of fashions.

photo by Michael Block

Paige Turner takes the audience on a fabulous journey as she, and her special guests Jackie Cox and Remy Germinario, spread the gay all over the land. Using magical transporting taboo buzzers, Paige, Jackie, and Remy travel from LA to Orlando as they bring impeccable impersonations, musical parodies, and an abundance of crude humor to everyone they gross. With gay culture infiltrating the script, Paige pokes fun at everything from coming out (as vegan) to Grindr at the happiest place on earth. If you’re familiar with Paige and her whimsical world, This Show Is Gay highlights her character’s traits and antics by giving her some scene partners to rib and play off of, all while showcasing her friends. She offers some easy jabs that are instant crowd pleasers, all while inserting inside jokes that are less than 24 hours old. The trio’s ability to adapt and play off of one another continues to confirm how Paige’s vision can easily transcend the stage. If nonsensical plotlines leave you uneasy, it’s likely you will be grunting and groaning from start to finish. But if you’re willing to dive deep into the camp, Paige has crafted something that captures the ridiculous and the sentimental.
This Show Is Gay had everything. Song and dance. Looks upon looks. A rainbow megamix finale. This show is full of pride and love. If you haven’t heard by now, Paige Turner, alongside seven of NYC’s finest queens, are a part of a stellar new television show “Shade: Queens of NYC.” Perhaps this will give the added boost to bring Paige and her world to a new media frontier.

By Michael Block 

Barbara Eden is best known for her iconic role as Jeannie, the 2,000-year-old genie, on the hit 60s sitcom “I Dream of Jeannie.” It was a simpler time of punny titles and names. If you’ve been stuck in a bottle yourself, the premise of the show followed the antics and romances of Jeannie and her newfound “master.” This is the jumping off point for I Dream of Jackie, Jackie Cox’s debut solo show at the Laurie Beechman. Jackie becomes her own master as she finds herself out of her bottle and gets to grant herself three wishes.

photo by Michael Block

Using “I Dream of Jeannie” as inspiration, I Dream of Jackie follows Jackie Cox as she gets out of her bottle and into the fabulous real world. With a conglomeration of music including that obvious song about a genie in a bottle by Christina Aguilera and parodies ranging from “Aladdin” songs to “I Speak Six Languages,” Jackie’s whirlwind adventure is a cohesive camp cabaret that leaves you wanting more. And luckily, there’s a sequel in the works. Traveling alongside her back-up boy toys, Blake McIver, playing the sensible one, and Drew Bloom, playing the dimwitted eye candy, Jackie sings and dances her way through this Arabian night. Jackie infuses bright and bubbly into every beat of the show. The text is comical candy. It’s smartly written and could easily be expanded. Though some of the jokes can be seen miles away, they’re nailed to perfection. To cover costume changes, the show incorporated some video but when you have singing secondary characters, giving them “Secondary Characters” to wail on was a brilliant choice. Generally, drag is an art form meant for pure entertainment. Laughs are inevitable. But sometimes when reflection on the world is necessarily, using drag as a platform can be powerful. Jackie incorporated such a moment with a repurposed number from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat accompanied by a look at the current refugee crisis. And it was simply beautiful. To accomplish such a feat in this setting takes immense skill. Jackie and director Blake McIver accomplished it with ease. The piece flowed seamlessly against the lantern backdrop.
Jackie Cox was the secondary character for Paige Turner recently at the Beechman but she triumphantly shined in the starring role. I Dream of Jackie fulfilled more than her three wishes.

By Michael Block

Spring is here! And Paige Turner is here to welcome it! Throw your winter blues away as Paige Turner and her friends, Jackie Cox and Remy Germinario, fill your Easter basket with enough sweetness to last the whole year in Paige Turner’s Easter Egg-stravaganza.
Back at the Beechman, Paige Turner gives a revisionist Easter as she tries to share the joy of the holiday with her agnostic friend Jackie Cox. On the journey toward Easter understanding, they perform a show for kids thanks to a rapping bunny, learn from a blonde twink why spring is important for the gays, and of course take a lively trip to a gay church. It's right for Paige to joke that there used to be a plot because the story seems to fall to the wayside in return for more gay inside jokes, silly songs, and rousing comedy. Paige Turner’s Easter Egg-stravaganza isn't meant to be a well-made theatrical piece. It's a celebration of holiday fun. Filled with double-entendres and gay jokes out the wazoo, the show has that child-like aura, similar to Pee Wee’s Playhouse, that is simply made to entertain. Filled with some easy recurring jokes and hidden Easter eggs, Paige makes them obvious. And that’s part of the humor. For the theater lovers, you will get your fill of industry jabs as well. Since the trio have pipes for days, Paige Turner’s Easter Egg-stravaganza has a full basket of  musical numbers, many of which are riffs on showtunes. From “Little Known Facts” from You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown to a couple of numbers for Godspell, some of the songs get the full parody treatment while others remained nearly in tact. And that’s not fun! But since this is drag, expect a lip sync for your salvation.

photo by Michael Block

This show is a dazzling character showcase. Paige Turner is a star among stars. Her comedic timing is on point, but it’s made brighter next to her co-star Jackie Cox. The pair is unstoppable. Paige Turner may look like a dumb blonde but it’s her zippy reads hurled at Jackie that prove she’s quite brilliant. And every jab toward Jackie makes you want to give her a sympathy aw. Jackie may be the sidekick but it’s time for her turn in the limelight. Thanks to silly costumes and ridiculous wigs, Remy Germinario was the scene-stealer of the night. Putting on goofy voices, Germinario held his own in-between the drag dynamos.
Paige Turner’s Easter Egg-stravaganza is nowhere near perfect but it’s perfectly endearing. You’re bound to leave with a full stomach thanks to all the sugar Paige and friends serve.