Drag queen numbers?

[brendasugarbaker]

Posted: 6/1/17 at 9:22am

Hi! Long-time reader, first time poster. I'm an Atlanta-based drag queen looking to expand my repertoire of rarely lip-synced showtunes. I already perform numbers like "I'm Breaking Down", "Lots Wife", "Could I Leave You", "Don't 'Ah, Ma' Me", "Miss Marmelstein", etc and would love any suggestions you may have!  

Posted: 6/1/17 at 9:39am

Maybe something from "Hello, Dolly!" if you are looking for classic showtunes. Also "Ring Them Bells" would be a fun one to do. Where in Atlanta do you perform?

Updated On: 6/1/17 at 09:39 AM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 6/1/17 at 9:43am

I'd have no idea what would be "rarely" performed, but If I Were a Bell (Guys and Dolls) and Gotta Have a Gimmick (Gypsy) spring to mind.  (The latter would be for three gals.)

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 6/1/17 at 10:04am

If you're looking for something fun, I think "It's a Privilege to Pee" from URINETOWN would be a great drag number.

[Lot666]

Posted: 6/1/17 at 10:14am

Another fun song that I thought would be great for drag queens from the first time I heard/saw it performed is "Loud" from Matilda The Musical. Lesli Margherita was unabashedly channeling her inner drag queen in that number!

[IronMan]

Posted: 6/1/17 at 11:20am

I've always thought "One Halloween" from APPLAUSE would make a great drag number- it's a far more defiant/angry/joyous statement than "I Am What I Am" which I've always found rather tepid and dull.  

"Remember that Halloween when you were nine?/ You wore a fairy queen costume of your own design/ Well, look at you now!/  And you put on rouge and lipstick though it wasn't allowed/ You were so proud..." 

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 6/1/17 at 11:29am

If you're doing "Don't Ah, Ma' Me" a nice companion piece might be "Chief Cook and Bottle Washer".

[Valentina3]

Posted: 6/1/17 at 3:17pm

If you're a dance queen *, I'd suggest "The Music And The Mirror" from A Chorus Line. It has great in built music for you to pull out stunts.

 

* - and there's always ABBA :)

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 6/1/17 at 3:24pm

You're missing the most obvious Drag Queen number in La Cage: "A Little More Mascara".

When life is a real bitch again, and my old sense of humor has up, and gone
It's time for the big switch again, I put a little more Mascara on.
When I count my crow's feet again, and tired of this perpetual marathon,
I put down the john-seat again, and put a little more Mascara on.
And ev'rything's sparkle dust, bugle beads, ostrich plums,
When it's a beaded lash that you look through,
'Cause when I feel glamorous, elegant, beautiful,
The world that I'm looking at's beautiful too!
When my little road has a few bumps again,
And I need something level to lean upon,
I put on my sling pumps again,
And wham! This ugly duckling is a swan!
So when my spirit starts to sag,
I hustle out my highest drag,
And put a little more mascara on.
And ev'rything's ankle straps, Maribou, Shalimar!
It's worth socking in my gut, and girdling my rear.
'Cause ev'rything's ravishing, sensual, fabulous!
When Albin is tucked away, and, ZaZa is here!
When ev'rything slides down the old tubes again,
And when my self esteem has begun to drift,
I strap on my fake boobs again,
And literally give myself a lift.
So when it's cold and when it's bleak,
I simply rouge the other cheek,
For I can face another day
In slipper satin lingerie.
To make depression disappear,
I screw some rhine stones on my ear,
And put my brooches and tiara,
And a little more mascara on!
 

Updated On: 6/1/17 at 03:24 PM

[TooManyLegs]

Posted: 6/1/17 at 3:49pm

Fun, big numbers:

"I Can Cook, Too" from ON THE TOWN

"The Life of the Party" and "Raise the Roof" from WILD PARTY (Lippa)

"Lovesick" from WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN

"Just One Step" from SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD

 

And for camp value:

"Eve Was Weak" from CARRIE

[jpbran]

Posted: 6/1/17 at 3:57pm

Agree re: "Loud." Also, perhaps "The History of Wrong Guys" from Kinky Boots.

 

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 6/1/17 at 4:01pm

CT2NYC said: "If you're looking for something fun, I think "It's a Privilege to Pee" from URINETOWN would be a great drag number."

Go full early Alaska and have two gogoboys pee on you! 

[brendasugarbaker]

Posted: 6/2/17 at 6:45pm

245601 said: "Maybe something from "Hello, Dolly!" if you are looking for classic showtunes. Also "Ring Them Bells" would be a fun one to do. Where in Atlanta do you perform?

I perform at a variety of venues, mostly in Midtown; I'll try to update with my typical schedule! And thank you all so much for the suggestions!! I've actually performed a few like "Loud" and "And Eve Was Weak" with a Carrie puppet lol, looking forward to testing some of these

[NoName3]

Posted: 6/2/17 at 9:07pm

My Heart Belongs to Daddy from Leave It to Me!

I Cain't Say No from Oklahoma!

I'm Going to Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair from South Pacific

I Hate Men and Too Darn Hot from Kiss Me, Kate

Adelaide's Lament, Take Back Your Mink and A Bushel and a Peck from Guys and Dolls

A Hundred Easy Ways to Lose a Man from Wonderful Town

I'm Going Back from Bells Are Ringing

Steam Heat from The Pajama Game

Glitter and Be Gay from Candide

Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets and A Little Brains, A Little Talent from Damn Yankees

I Enjoy Being a Girl from Flower Drum Song -- used to be a standard in drag shows

The Man in the Moon Is a Lady from Mame. Also Bosom Buddies if you have somebody to duet with.

Updated On: 6/3/17 at 09:07 PM

[temms]

Posted: 6/3/17 at 3:14am

The title song from I HAD A BALL is the brassiest bit of brass that ever brassed. Makes Merman seem subdued. It's fantastic. 

"Toujours Gai" from SHINBONE ALLEY as sung by Eartha Kitt seems appropriate for the situation. 

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 6/3/17 at 4:05am

Grin and bear it as featured on SMASH would probably slay. Great kind of bawdy burlesque vibe.

 

[dank]

Posted: 6/3/17 at 7:26am

Its  helluva way to run a love affair from plain and fancy- ive never seen it done in drag and it is old time campy fun.

[gschuber]

Posted: 6/3/17 at 9:34am

I always thought "Bitch/Slut/Liar/Whore" from The Toxic Avenger would be a great drag queen song. 

[IronMan]

Posted: 6/3/17 at 12:54pm

How could I forget "Men" from Whoop-Up? 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBEUd2a3ADk 

[Broadway Bob*]

Posted: 6/4/17 at 9:12am

A friend had a HUGE success using "The Oldest Profession" from THE LIFE as a drag number. It brought down the house!!!

[Lot666]

Posted: 6/4/17 at 9:59am

"Bring on the Men" from Jekyll & Hyde.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 6/4/17 at 11:08am

A few other suggestions:

Frank Loesser's "Rumble Rumble Rumble" from The Perils of Pauline. First sung by Betty Hutton, but here, done to a fare-thee-well by Madeline Kahn. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoTY1BPz4DE

Stephen Sondheim and Mary Rodgers' "The Boy From". 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1zsspN-Ttw

Here's Kahn again, killing with Irving Berlin's "You'd Be Surprised".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVtT8it5E0U

Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer's "Legalize My Name" from St. Louis Woman.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qXf14QwD7A

The self-explanatory "You've Got the Right Key, But the Wrong Keyhole," heard on stage in One Mo' Time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wbdS-p3HoU

Another suggestion, tho I can't find a link: "Swing Your Bag," from Cry for Us All. 

Updated On: 6/4/17 at 11:08 AM

[morosco]

Posted: 6/4/17 at 12:05pm

You Can Always Count On Me

[morosco]

Posted: 6/4/17 at 12:14pm

The Physician

[brendasugarbaker]

Posted: 6/4/17 at 12:32pm

Wow so many fab recommendations, thank y'all so much!! When I get my YouTube channel up and running soon, I'll try to perform most of these whether live or in my living room