'RuPaul's Drag Race: Night of the Living Drag' Comes To Shreveport— We Think There's A Problem Here
Source: Twitter/@VossEvents
Given all the recent press about Drag Shows, and particularly those that could potentially be marketed toward children in the media, the report that 'RuPaul's Drag Race: Night of the Living Drag' tour is making a one-night-only stop in Shreveport is news by itself. But at AGR, we examined this story and found something a bit odd, a difference between the Shreveport showing and others around the nation that could indicate a problem.
As reported by The Shreveport Bossier Advocate, “The 12th Annual "RuPaul’s Drag Race: Night of the Living Drag" tour will make a stop for one night only, 8-10:30 p.m., Oct. 20 at the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium, featuring stars from long-running Emmy Award winning TV show.”
The Advocate notes that the city of Shreveport has a “special connection” to the show: the late Chi Chi DeVayne, a Shreveport native who featured in the eighth season and returned in season three of "RuPaul's Drag Race All-Stars" before passing away in 2020.
@RuPaulsDragRace Night of The Living Drag 2023 is coming up Hosted by @OddlyYvie with
— Voss Events (@VossEvents) August 14, 2023
@Angeriavm
@itsqueenicesis
@jaidaehall
@Jorgeous_1 @plastiquetiara @its_tayce
@denalifox and @RoseSpitznogle
tickets at https://t.co/IE8Jjuk4dR with @WorldOfWonder pic.twitter.com/kxjPiPG3w1
But apparently, something else makes Shreveport unique too—something our colleagues at the advocate must’ve missed.
The very same tour offered on Ticketmaster in Evansville, Indiana offers a very clear message to parents stating prominently on the ordering page, “Important Event Info: There is an 8 ticket limit for this event. Not recommended for children under 14.” It’s an absolutely invaluable message for discerning, and concerned parents. Although many would consider even 14 to be entirely too young for this type of content.
Screenshot: Ticketmaster.com
However, this same “Important Event Info” is conspicuously absent from the ordering page for the same show in Shreveport. As noted by the Advocate the show’s “Important Event Info” on Ticketmaster reads quite differently.
Instead of giving parents the laudable recommendation regarding the content of the show, the same “info” field on the page invites audiences to,
“Imagine if you will… You’re traveling through another dimension… Sashay into The Twilight Zone this Halloween with the queens…and witness the mysterious fates of Angeria, Denali, Icesis Couture, Jaida Essence Hall, Jorgeous, Plastique, Rosé, Tayce, and your host… Yvie Oddly as the infamous Rod Serling!”
Screenshot: Ticketmaster.com
Nothing akin to the recommended age-based-viewer-discretion found on the Evansville, IN ordering page is present anywhere on the Shreveport equivalent as of this report.
This begs the question: Why is it that Shreveport parents aren’t receiving the same valuable recommendation from Ticketmaster or the show’s production team that Evansville parents are?
American Ground Radio reached out to Voss Entertainment, the show’s production company, and Ticketmaster for comment. This story will be updated with any replies received. A marketing representative of the Shreveport Municipal Auditorium responded that they could not comment.
UPDATE: Media@Ticketmaster.com responded to AGR recommending we “reach out to the event organizers for any inquiries on this event.”
The trailer for the 2023 show is not yet available but check out the trailer for the 2022 incarnation. Does this seem appropriate for a 14-year-old to be viewing?