Season 8: The Queens on Tour!

Get your fill of RuPaul royalty in August!

RuPaul's gals have hit the road with "Season 8: The Queens Live Across America" and will be in San Diego for one night only on Sunday, August 21.
The evening features Russian and Boston Jewel, Yekaterina Petrovna Zamolodchikova, who you might know simply by her household name, Katya
(the stage persona of Brian McCook), as your beloved mistress of ceremonies for the evening.

Joining her in the "Season 8: The Queens Live Across America" stage show are five of the fierce and fabulous season eight contestants: Derrick Barry,
Kim Chi (first runner up), Naomi Smalls (second runner up), Thorgy Thor and Chi Chi DeVayne. (For those who might be wondering... season eight
winner Bob The Drag Queen will be workin' it in Pennsylvania.)

Katya, a contestant on the seventh season of "RuPaul's Drag Race," says, "The show has something for every drag fan: Long legs, big laughs and lots and lots of synthetic wig fiber." We fans won't dwell on the fact that she finished fifth in the competition, because she was later voted Fan Favorite and earned the title of 'Miss Congeniality.' Of her title Katya says, "It feels amazing! It's a triumph and a tribute to mental illness!"

Of course given her congenial nature, she won't dish on the girls, "It sounds boring and diplomatic, but I honestly love all of them. They are so easy to
get along with...that it kind of makes me suspicious."

In fact, the only thing she'll put down is the Republican National Convention... And who can blame her there? Mid-convention Katya tweeted "I can't watch the RNC stuff. I'll read the headlines to get the gist, but it's just a monster movie covered in mayonnaise and it hurts my body."

Fortunately, there is good news in the world; for example, "RuPaul's Drag Race" has finally received its first Emmy nod. Announced in mid-July, RuPaul
herself was nominated for outstanding host for a reality or reality competition program. The show also received a second nod for outstanding costumes for
a variety, nonfiction or reality program. In this fan's humble opinion, long overdue... Way to go!

On to the next newsy tidbits. Rumor has it that a certain hostess has a book coming out. Katya offered this about said rumors, "All I can say is that
it's a screwball spy caper that incorporates many of my passions: Music, romance and kidnapping," she quipped. The cherry on top? Logo just announced that Katya will be competing in "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 2." The show kicks off on Thursday, August 25.

Despite her busy schedule, traveling from Provincetown to San Diego, Katya hatched a plan for the win, "Well, my winning strategy going into 'All Stars' is to work smarter, not harder, which means having sex with only the most important Logo executives. I really exhausted myself last time around and let my nerves get the best of me."

Can you guess? According to Katya, the best and worst part of preparing to be a glamorous and sexxxy girl? "The best part is when it's [the preparation is] all done. The worst part is everything leading up to that part." When asked about what inspires her muses, Katya says, "My favorite thing in the world is a beautiful woman who is not afraid to be grotesque. My favorite people are Amy Sedaris, Maria Bamford and Karen O'Brien (my high school French teacher)."

To enhance your pleasure after the "All Stars 2" shows, Katya suggests you tune in to her web series, "UNHhhh," with her pal and past competitor Trixie
Mattel. It's a talk show format they call, "The show where we talk about whatever we want because it's our show. Not your show." Katya says, "Right
now we're working on a web series that will run alongside 'All Stars 2' called 'Total RuCall,' and it's going to be a science fiction recap show."

Now, getting back to the live show at the Balboa Theatre, Katya says, "You should go. If you don't, you'll regret it."

"Season 8: The Queens Live Across America" dresses up the Balboa Theatre stage for one night only on Sunday August 21. For tickets and more information, call 619.570.1100 go to sandiegotheatres.org