Rachel Slurrz brings beauty, humor and individuality to Chicago’s diverse drag scene
Rachel Slurrz thought of her name after watching “To Wong Foo.” Courtesy photo.
When Rachel Slurrz was little, she would observe the women in her family as they got ready for the day.
Every morning the women would gather in the bathroom to do their hair and makeup, a lengthy and elaborate ritual that, like watching an actor on a screen, left Slurrz mesmerized.
Staring up in awe, the sillage of hairspray and pressed powder lingering in the room, the memory of her matriarchs’ elegant routines made a lasting impression.
So much so, it helped her form her own identity.
“Growing up and seeing my grandma and my mom and my aunt do their thing in the morning—the makeup, the jewelry, the spritz of perfume behind the ears—that type of stuff really is ingrained in my mind,” Slurrz says. “This is what I’m trying to emulate.”
Born in Chicago as Andre Easton, Slurrz says her biggest influences are the women in her life.
Slurrz regularly hosts drag events throughout Chicago. Courtesy.
Talking over Google Meet, the 26-year-old explains that her persona isn't so much a character separate from herself as it is an extension of everything she already is, magnified.
“I know a lot of people who feel like their drag persona is someone that is removed from their day-to-day persona and how they maneuver through life on a daily basis,” Slurrz says. “But I personally feel like Rachel is me times a thousand. Rachel is very beauty-oriented. She likes to be pretty and have all the accessories. Rachel is funny. She has every T crossed and every I dotted. There’s no detail that doesn’t get looked at before hitting the stage.”
Born on Chicago’s west side, Slurrz realized she had a knack for theater as a kid acting in middle school plays, but her high school didn’t offer any sort of theater program.
“My mom moved all over and obviously I was attached to her hip, so I moved wherever she moved,” Slurrz says. “She realized the environment we were living in wasn’t necessarily the environment she wanted to raise me in, so we moved to the suburbs.”
It wasn’t until she enrolled in college at Dominican University in River Forest that she returned to her performance roots.
“That Black Ass Show” takes place at The Understudy on February 28. Courtesy photo.
At that time, Slurrz was going to church with her mom, who is a singer and praise-and-worship leader at her congregation. Slurrz learned how to run sound and would work the control board when her mom was on stage.
“It was just my mom’s way of keeping me active and not just sitting in the back and sleeping all of the service,” Slurrz laughs.
With a degree in theater and an emphasis in theater management, Slurrz’ jump to drag in 2020 was kismet.
As a drag performer and host throughout the city, Slurrz often produces her shows from scratch. From casting to costumes, fliers and promotion, Slurrz does it all herself.
“I don’t think I can say that I pinpointed drag as being my creative medium.” Slurrz says. “I just always knew there would be a stage.” Now, drag is her life and art.
“That Black Ass Show” is Slurrz’ latest production, which takes place at The Understudy on February 28 to celebrate Black drag performers and close out Black History Month.
But the celebration of Black people isn’t something Slurrz wants to see happen only in February.
“Honestly, it isn’t just about it being a month dedicated to Black entertainers or Black art or whatever,” Slurrz says of the event. “As much as I want it to be a year-round thing that you celebrate Black voices, Black people, Black queer people, Black trans people, it’s just a moment for us to shine—regardless of the fact that we would want to be spotlit throughout the year.” As such, “That Black Ass Show” is about being seen not just now, but always.
Slurrz belongs to The Outhaus of Stoole, led by Chicago queen Lucy Stoole. Courtesy photo.
And Slurrz’ cast of local Black drag queens and kings? They demand attention.
Featuring Luv Ami-Stoole, Trisha Can and TiKi Vonté, Slurrz’ goal was to highlight the diversity of Black drag in Chicago.
“Each of [the performers] has an individuality about them, and their Blackness contributes to that individuality,” she says.
In the five short years Slurrz has been performing drag, she’s landed gigs as a host for three different shows across the city.
In addition to her show on the 28th, Slurrz co-hosts F.A.B. Drag Brunch (that stands for fierce ass bitch) with Chicago drag queen Siren; she hosts the F.A.B. Lab drag competition for performers over 18 (both at Wrigleyville’s Lost Never Found); and she co-hosts the comedy drag show Gag! at Fantasy Chicago alongside local queens Neutral Gena, Ari Gato and Derry Queen.
As for her name (say it out loud if you don’t get it yet), Slurrz says she was inspired by Ru Paul’s character Rachel Tension in the 1995 film “To Wong Foo.”
Slurrz says Chicago drag community is one of the most diverse in the country. Courtesy.
It’s the kind of thing most people end up having to say a few times, “and they’re like, ‘oh bitch, you’re so stupid,” Slurrz laughs.
Since she debuted five years ago, Slurrz’ humor and grace have landed her a spot in the house of Chicago drag queen extraordinaire, Lucy Stoole.
“She is what we like to call the mother of Chicago drag,” Slurrz says. “She is probably one of the most notably known bearded drag queens in the country.”
Together, Lucy Stoole, Rachel Slurrz, Helvetikah Blak, Luv Ami-Stoole and Ari Gato make up The Outhaus of Stoole—with Lucy as the matriarch.
Slurrz’ relationship to Stoole goes back to the beginning of her drag career when she was asked to be a guest on a podcast called The Black Tea. “Somewhere in the episode, my drag mom said ‘You’re just like me ... If I had another daughter you would be my daughter.’ So I just took that and ran with that. I said, ‘So I’m your daughter.’ And she hates me for it,” she jokes.
Even through the computer screen, Slurrz’ laughter is inviting and infectious.
And it’s clearly resonated with the rest of the Chicago drag scene.
“I think the thing that keeps me grounded here is I know I’m not pigeonholed into one aspect of drag,” Slurrz says.
“As much shit as I would give this city, I do love [it],” she continues. “I love our community and I love our drag scene. The drag here is so diverse. You have your theater queens, your pageant queens, your comedy girls, your beauty girls and your dancing queens. It’s all here. We literally have it all.”
That Black Ass Show at The Understudy Coffee and Books | 5531 N. Clark St | February 28 | 7:30 p.m. | Free | Hosted by Rachel Slurrz and featuring Luv Ami-Stoole, Trisha Can and TiKi Vonté
