Drag'n Brunch: Fantasy-themed drag game show and brunch debuts Sunday, November 26

The new DRAG’n BRUNCH – set to debut this Sunday, November 26, and then run on the last Sunday of every future month – will be a fantasy-themed drag game show that will mix the enchantment of Medieval Times with the thrill of Minute to Win It.

DRAG’n BRUNCH will carry a game show format that is quirky, fun and light-hearted, bringing something nerdy to the scene, as it will be held at the premier sci-fi and fantasy live theatre, Otherworld’s storefront location (3914 N. Clark Street) in Lakeview.

The show starts at 11:30 a.m. and tickets ($20-$30) are available at otherworldtheatre.org.

“We’re very excited to be starting DRAG’n BRUNCH,” said drag star Carmen Price (Brian Rasmussen), who created the event with Flair DeBonair (Ben McClymont). “It all kind of started with Flair DeBonair playing a drag role in a recent show and, (after that show), we were approached about doing a monthly drag brunch. Oh course, we were thrilled and said, ‘Yes.’

“Flair and I both are very theatrical queens. We wanted to bring something different to drag brunch as opposed to your typical bingo, performances, etc. We really wanted to make it a very interactive experience.”

Three fearless audience members step into the spotlight to take on uproarious, high-stakes challenges with a devoted crowd of fans cheering them on.

“Flair is very much a camp comedy queen. I am an opera-singing drag queen, mixing live opera singing with pop (songs) and more,” Price said.

DRAG’n BRUNCH will feature an interactive game show with prizes. There will be quiz shows, challenges and more. Guest special artists, too.

“We really want to bridge the gap between audience and performer, bring people in and make the drag bunch a real immersive experience.”

Price praised Otherworld as a theatre that is willing to take risks, especially with things that other theatres may not be willing to do.”

DRAG’n BRUNCH will run 120 minutes while attendees can enjoy brunch and, of course, bottomless mimosas.

“Chicago has an incredibly diverse drag scene, where you can see a lot of different kinds of acts,” Price said. “There will be a lot of different kinds of drag and a lot of different performances.”

Price got her start in drag playing Frank N Furter in the Rocky Horror Picture Show in 2017 and has been treading the boards of clubs and theaters ever since. She is one of the world's few opera-singing drag queens and brings a high camp aesthetic coupled with classical and musical theatre favorites. She appeared in the competition show Nebraska Drag Wars where she was awarded 3rd runner-up and Miss Congeniality. In 2021, she appeared in the opera Zoom Speed Dating Tonight by composer Michael Ching, where she premiered a new role commissioned for her. Most recently she was seen in her self-produced show The Renaissance of Carmen Price and premiered multiple original songs along with opera favorites.

Flair DeBonair first tasted fame for winning Shanghai’s annual air-band competition in 2018. After touring with her fake band, she won China’s national drag contest in 2019.

“Carmen got her start in 2017, while living in Sioux City, Iowa,” Price said. “I was at a point in my (personal) life where I was stuck, really didn’t know what I was going to do, but I needed an artistic outlet. I needed Carmen to come out of her shell.”