Thorgy Thor: Redefining a Davidson Orchestra Performance
On February 22nd Thorgy Thor led a drag and musical performance alongside the Davidson College Symphony Orchestra in the Duke Family Performance Hall. Thorgy Thor is a well-known and charismatic drag queen in the entertainment industry. She’s been on a myriad of movies and television shows, most notably for her appearances on RuPaul’s Drag Race. At her Davidson performance, Thorgy Thor not only entertained the audience with humor but also showcased her artistic talents by painting a canvas for a lucky audience member, joining the orchestra in their musical performances, and inviting others to ‘walk the runway.’ She shared intriguing fan cameos and provided an introduction to the world of drag shows.
Going into the performance, I had no idea what to expect, and thought that the Thorgy Thor would be singing along to the orchestra or maybe dancing. I am mostly unfamiliar with the world of drag and have never seen a show, disregarding one episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race I watched in ninth grade. However, my mind was blown by the way that Thorgy Thor’s mere presence on the stage seemed to command every audience member’s attention and full engagement. Thor came out in a dazzling pink and sparkly jumper with an expansive and prominent blonde wig. The second she opened her mouth, the audience, myself included, were bursting out into laughter. Sandwiching her impressive violin and cello playing between comedy and performance bits, Thorgy Thor seamlessly blended orchestral music with the vibrant energy of a drag show. The audience was composed of children, senior citizens, students, and families, who all found common ground in the fusion of orchestral and drag elements.
One thing that particularly stuck out to me about Thorgy Thor was her ability to personalize an originally very impersonal show. An orchestra concert is typically much like watching a movie–you silence your cell phones, you don’t talk to your neighbors, and you watch from afar. However, Thorgy Thor easily turned this typical experience on its head with her performances, encouraging laughter, cheering, and even movement. At one point Thorgy Thor read out a series of fan requests that she had gotten through an app called ‘Cameo,’ which allows you to pay your favorite celebrities to say a fun message on video. She had the audience reeling with the absurdity of some of the requests she had gotten, which she projected on the large stage screen. One of the fans on the app requested that Thorgy Thor send a video singing happy birthday to his wife, while also remarking that he wanted a completely different drag queen but settled for Thorgy Thor instead. Thorgy Thor found humor in the sometimes insulting fan requests, which elicited a positive response from the audience and individualized Thor’s performance even further.
One of the show’s highlights was when Thorgy Thor invited four audience members on stage to walk a make-shift runway show. The contestants ranged from 12-65 in age and were all given a drag name courtesy of Thorgy Thor. By the end of the runway show, she had the whole audience cheering and smiling together. It was clear that Thorgy Thor wanted to create an inclusive and light hearted environment, where everyone felt at ease and even empowered. Her stage presence and easy-going energy loosened the seriousness of a standard orchestra concert. Nevertheless, I still thoroughly enjoyed the Davidson orchestra, whose music perfectly complemented Thorgy Thor’s energy. They performed fun hits like ‘Firework’ by Katy Perry and other recognizable pop songs that related to the younger members of the audience. Thorgy Thor would often join in for these songs effortlessly either on the violin or the cello.
Beyond the colorful whimsy of her performances, Thorgy Thor’s fearless stage presence and unfiltered self-expression sent a powerful message of confidence, particularly in the face of the lingering hesitancy and negativity directed at the LGBTQ+ community. Despite the daily challenges and hate she encounters online and in-person, Thor’s unwavering self-assurance is admirable. Her encouragement of a younger audience member to embrace her drag persona on stage served as a poignant reminder to be true to oneself. A twelve year old girl, one of the youngest audience members invited on stage for the runway show, was clearly nervous to be there, but Thorgy Thor immediately made her feel comfortable, welcomed, and excited.
Thorgy Thor’s performance exemplifies the vibrant and boundary-pushing nature of drag culture, which merges artistic expression with potent social commentary. This intersection is particularly significant given the contemporary political climate surrounding drag performances. In recent years, the politics of drag shows have become increasingly fraught. Several states have introduced legislation aiming to ban drag shows or restrict minors from attending. These legislative efforts often frame drag shows as inherently inappropriate for children, despite many shows, like Thorgy Thor’s, being tailored to entertain and engage audiences of all ages in a family-friendly manner. The political push against drag shows often stems from broader cultural battles over gender and sexuality. Proponents of these restrictions argue they are protecting societal values and the well-being of children, while critics see these moves as attacks on LGBTQ+ rights and expressions of identity. This tension reflects a clash between conservative views on gender norms and the more progressive, inclusive values that drag embodies.
Drag, historically, has been a form of resistance and self-expression in the face of societal repression. It challenges rigid gender binaries and offers a space for exploring identity and self-expression beyond traditional norms. Performances like Thorgy Thor’s not only entertain but also educate and foster inclusivity, making the artform a powerful tool for challenging prejudices and encouraging acceptance.
The political opposition to drag shows can be seen as part of a larger attempt to suppress this transformative power. The efforts to ban or limit these performances are not just about the shows themselves but are indicative of a broader struggle over who is allowed visibility and acceptance in society. As Thorgy Thor illustrates, drag shows can significantly enrich cultural events, bringing communities together through shared joy and challenging attendees to think more broadly about identity and acceptance.
Leaving the performance, I was immensely glad that I attended an event outside my usual comfort zone. Thorgy Thor completely shifted and expanded my expectation of what an orchestra concert could be and mean. Her resilience and authenticity stood out throughout the show, encouraging me to embrace who I am and be confident in it. I’d like to think that the rest of the audience also felt the same after the performance ended, and like me, were wishing Thorgy Thor stayed on the stage for another two hours. I never knew that a drag-orchestra combo performance would be one of my 2024 highlights, but so far it is easily making the cut.
Pledged.
