'RuPaul's Drag Race' star Michelle Visage on producing 'Scissorhandz'

Shantay, you stay! Michelle Visage, the Drag Race and musical theatre star, talks about her latest project as a producer on the Tim Burton musical parody Scissorhandz.

RuPaul’s Drag Race judge and host Michelle Visage has become synonymous with the reality competition series, which is now in its 17th season and has spawned countless spin-offs in countries all over the world. But she’s also a West End musical theatre performer, radio and podcast host, and was one third of 1990s girl group Seduction. Now, she is working as a theatre producer alongside NSYNC’s Lance Bass to bring Scissorhandz — a musical parody tribute to the 1991 Tim Burton film, filled with 90s and 00s hits — to Southwark Playhouse Elephant.

Why did you get involved with Scissorhandz?

The movie meant a lot to me as a kid, being a weirdo and a misfit who didn't really fit in any group. I wanted to fit in, I just didn't. The movie resonated with the queer community because Edward was an outcast and a misfit, who was bullied, picked on, and objectified. So when the opportunity for the musical came around, I was asked to be in it. But with scheduling, I couldn't. Bradley [Bredeweg], the director and the writer, said, "Would you want to produce it?" I was like, "Oh my god, can I really?" It was an exciting moment of being able to produce not only musical theatre, but a piece of magic that has a history. It just makes me feel so good inside.

When you're a theatre kid, nothing else matters — that's what we live for. We live for the newest releases, whether they're on Broadway, in the West End, off Broadway, or in a local playhouse. We get excited about the new stuff and to be a part of it, especially in my favourite city in the world, is a gift. I also get to do it with Lance Bass, who's an old friend. Lance has come through the boy band circuit, I came through the girl group circuit, and we've known each other for a very long time.

How do you think London audiences will respond to the show?

I know how they're going to respond because I know London audiences. I know these people, they are my theatre kids, my theatre family. It's going to translate beautifully.

Everybody knows and loves the music. When I see a new musical, if I leave humming the songs, then I know it's a hit. The thing about Scissorhandz is you know every song. You’re going to say, "Oh my God, I forgot how much I love that song." It's that type of show. It has incredible music from everybody's favourite artists. The songs aren’t randomly jammed in the show. They all lend to the story.

You are no stranger to musical theatre, having starred in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and The Addams Family in Concert. Do you have any other dream stage roles?

There are so many. Every time I see a musical, if I'm being honest, I try to find a place where I'd fit in. Would I love to be Norma Desmond? I would absolutely love to be Norma Desmond. I would love to be Mama Rose. Those are obvious ones, but it's always been my dream to create. I'm not the only one, obviously, but it's always been my personal dream to create a role, so I can be on the original cast recording. I really want to bring back The Addams Family for Broadway and to do a full West End run. I think it's such an underrated, brilliantly beautiful show.

As a judge on Drag Race, you are always offering advice to contestants. But what is the best advice you’ve received in your career?

I've learned a lot from Ru, where Ru says, "Don't read the comments. Stop listening to what people think of you. You just keep doing you. It doesn't matter what people think of you.” I think back to all my auditions, and I realise that I'm a person who thrives on critique. Every audition that I go to, I'll call my agent and say, “Why didn't I get it? Can you find out why, so I can get better?” Or if I got it, I’ll ask “Why exactly did I get it?” I'm a person who asks questions, so I feel like the best advice I got is, try to learn something wherever you go. If a director is trying to help you with something, whether you agree or not, find the piece of it that resonates with you and use it. There's something to be learned in everything that we do.

How do you feel when you look back on the success of Drag Race?

It’s been an amazing ride. Going into it, I knew that Ru and I were going to have the best time ever. Working with your best friend, seeing a drag show every day. What is life? Every day that I get to do this job, I am so grateful. There is not a moment that it goes unappreciated. I've been a fan of drag since way before Drag Race, and finally this art form can be showcased on the platform that it deserves.

How did you end up in Smoggie Queens?

Phil [Dunning, creator of Smoggie Queens] reached out to my people. I get asked to do a lot of stuff that is always me being me. As an actor, you get bored — I don't want to be myself. If I'm a presenter, I'll be myself. They sent the script and I read it and I was like, “I'm not being me?” They literally wrote the part for me, thinking that I wouldn't do it. The entire cast is from Middlesbrough, born and bred, except for me. I feel very honoured to be a part of it.

It was the most relaxed set I'd ever been on. We were laughing through the whole thing and lip syncing between breaks. I loved being able to transform into Elaine. I spend four hours getting ready for Drag Race: two in hair, and two in makeup. And I spent 15 minutes getting ready for Elaine. That was hair and makeup. I was like, "Am I done?" And then for my fitting, everything was from charity.

Do you have a career highlight?

Listen, I have a lot of career highlights. I was in a girl group when I was 19, going up on stage for the first time holding an Emmy Award, the opening night for Everybody's Talking About Jamie, my little heart being able to be on the West End. My mother passed away when I was 30, but I wish she was there to see these moments of, “I did it.” All those theatre classes, all the blood, sweat, and tears for me to get to where I am today. All the running around, the auditions, the rejection. It was so worth it. Being on the radio every week is a highlight. I presented a breakfast show for 17 years, waking up at 3:00 in the morning. Being on Drag Race every week. What a gift that is. I love everything that I do. So, to showcase one of them wouldn't be fair.

What’s your favourite Drag Race catchphrase?

There are so many — it’s a meme factory. We can just say, “Back rolls?”

Book Scissorhandz: A Musical Reinvented tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Photo credit: Michelle Visage. (Photo courtesy of production)

This article first appeared in the February 2025 issue of London Theatre Magazine.