'Moulin Rouge! The Musical''s Bob the Drag Queen is ready to be your emcee

The drag queen, actor, host, and reality TV star steps into his Broadway debut — 18 years in the making — as club emcee Harold Zidler in the long-running show.

Summary

• Bob the Drag Queen talks about making his Broadway debut in Moulin Rouge! The Musical; his early-career Broadway auditions; and memorable theatre experiences he's had as an audience member
• Bob the Drag Queen stars in Moulin Rouge! on Broadway from January 27 to March 22

Bob the Drag Queen first moved to NYC at age 22 with dreams of being a Broadway actor and stand-up comedian. Long story short, it worked out, but let's drag out the tale a little.

He became most famous for his drag-cum-reality TV career, winning RuPaul's Drag Race season 8 and competing on season 3 of The Traitors. His comedy talent was a big driver of his success, as it was for his career as host of TV shows (HBO's We're Here), podcasts (Sibling Rivalry), and even concerts (Madonna's Celebration Tour). The only thing missing was Broadway — until now, as Bob makes his debut in Moulin Rouge! The Musical from January 27 to March 22.

He's playing the host, of course. Bob — under both his drag name and his stage name, Caldwell Tidicue — stars as Harold Zidler, the larger-than-life owner and emcee of the title Parisian nightclub. Recounting the story of an early audition that didn't work out, Bob joked that the experience taught him, "If I'm going to be on the stage, I've got to be out front."

Bob shared more with New York Theatre Guide about his sprawling entertainment career, being the first drag artist to lead the Moulin Rouge! Broadway cast, and the dream musical roles he'd love to tackle next.

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You moved to NYC to be on Broadway early in your career. What was that experience like?

I came to New York City in 2008 to be a Broadway actor and a stand-up comedian. I went on auditions; I never got any callbacks. Thanks, New York City. You know how to treat a girl.

I remember having a really embarrassing audition for Wicked. We were dancing, and the dance captain was like [...] "You've got to be able to just go for it. Don't be afraid to fall." And I was like, "All right, I'm going to go for it as hard as I can.”

Then I hit the ground, and I remember thinking to myself, "He'll be so impressed that I got up and started dancing again that they're going to put me [through] to the second round." [...] And then he tapped me in the shoulder and was like, "Just go.”

That was when I was like, maybe being a chorus girl isn't in the stars for me. If I'm going to be on the stage, I've got to be out front. I've got to be the emcee!

How did this opportunity come across your desk at this point in your career?

I don't know who at the Moulin Rouge! The Musical team was crazy enough to say, "Maybe we should cast Bob the Drag Queen," but I know they need a raise.

How has the rehearsal process been so far?

The rehearsal process is very different than what I'm used to, for sure. I've never stepped into a play that was already happening. Every play I've ever done, I was rehearsing with the people [who] were learning the whole show at the same time.

There's a learning curve for me. But listen, I'm a New Yorker. I can adapt to anything.

Do you remember your first experience of Moulin Rouge! The Musical as an audience member?

I've seen it three times now, and each one was a different experience. The first time I saw it [...] I had actually never seen the Moulin Rouge! movie. It was really fun; it was really exciting. But then watching it after seeing the movie, everything made even more sense. And then watching it after being cast in it, it makes even more sense!

Moulin Rouge! the movie is a cultural phenomenon, and Moulin Rouge! The Musical is a Broadway phenomenon. I mean, [it has] 10 Tony Awards. Nothing's running for five years these days except Wicked and Hamilton and the Mormon show. I can't believe Lion King's still running. Shoutout Lion King.

I've still never even seen The Lion King after all these years.

Let me tell you right now, just go. You think it's going to be there forever. When I got to New York, I was like, "I'll see Rent when the time come." Girl, it closed, like, the month I moved here. I kept being like, "I'll go see Hairspray." It closed the next month. I was gagged. 2008 was a rough year for Broadway.

What do you bring from your drag career to Zidler and the world of Moulin Rouge!, especially as the first drag artist in the Broadway principal cast?

I don't know that I'm enhancing the world of Moulin Rouge! as much as the world of Moulin Rouge! is enhancing me. What I bring to the stage as an actor, as a comedian, as a drag queen — I've always said theatre and drag are not mutually exclusive. In fact, I would venture to say that drag is a form of theatre. Theatre doesn't have to happen on a stage. You really just need an audience.

I'm going to be using skills I learned as a comedian, as a nightlife performer, as a cabaret artist, as a host and emcee for giant world tours. It's all going to culminate right here on this stage. People will be impressed.

Do you have any Broadway dream roles?

I've always wanted to play King Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar. I've always wanted to play Miss Hannigan in Annie. I would love to play Mary in Oh, Mary! We'll be doing this for days. I would love to play Thénardier in Les Mis. There's a lot of roles I envision myself in.

Have you had a theatre or live-entertainment experience that really moved you?

Going to the Rebel Heart Tour at Barclay's, watching Madonna perform, was one of those moments. I always liked Madonna, but after watching her perform, I was like, "Now I get why people are going crazy for Madonna. I get it. This is one of the best shows I've ever seen in my life, truly."

And then you emceed for her Celebration Tour!

Look at that. So, don't invite me to your show; I might end up hosting it.

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This interview has been condensed and edited for length and clarity.

Photo credit: Bob The Drag Queen. (Photo by Albert Sanchez and Pedro Zalba)