D.Q.M. or
DRAG QUEEN MAGIC or
THE TORTUROUS PURGATORIAL EXPERIENCE OF ONE MISS LETTA CELEBRATE
by Ian August
directed by M. Graham Smith^
Drag Queen Magic is sponsored in part by Diana & Mike Kinsey.
DRAG QUEEN MAGIC (DQM) was developed at Local Lab, Local Theater Company’s new play development program. DQM is produced by Local Theater Company, presented in partnership with The Mizel Arts and Culture Center. DQM is produced at Local Theater Company as part of a National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere. Other partnering theaters are B Street Theatre, Unicorn Theatre, and Oregon Contemporary Theatre. For more information, please visit nnpn.org.
DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
Our current moment is rife with challenges. Just getting through the day often feels like an absurd ordeal in 2026. Sometimes existence itself feels like a struggle, and for some of us, our existence might even be “illegal” in some states. Obstacles, humiliations, prejudice, misogyny, cost of living, homophobia; these and many other adverse forces can all pile up into a cruel cycle of oppression, despite putting our most optimistic foot forward. When I first read DQM I knew that Nancy needed to understand that not all oppression is the same. But it wasn’t until recently that I discovered that Letta is an unusual Drag Queen. Where is the community Letta serves? Community service is part of the experience of almost every drag queen I know, but absent from Letta’s story. Letta is stuck in her Purgatory because her life in survival mode is not in service to any community. As we look around in the audience and as we consider “our community” whatever that might mean to each of us, the absurdity of 2026 lifts only when we put ourselves in service to the people around us in need. The meaning in our lives is created through giving of ourselves, especially when it’s not convenient. That might be the Magic we all can make.
M. Graham Smith
PLAYWRIGHT’S MESSAGE
I believe in the power of theater. I believe that humans are innately kind. I believe the children are our future; teach them well, and let them lead the way. I believe that Reuben sandwiches are the best kind of sandwich–not just because I really like pastrami, but because they follow a textural criteria that I think are very important for sandwiches to follow. I believe that we go to theater to feel community, but also that we go to experience something uniquely private to ourselves. I believe good theater is capable of making us feel something, and think, but also laugh our faces off. I believe the four textural components are Crunchy, Soft, Viscous, and Chewy; I believe the best sandwiches have all four of these textural components. I believe, if you have read this far, you were probably bored in your seat before the show began. Go get a Kit Kat. I believe you will take something away from tonight's experience that will uplift you and make you want to come back to see it again. I believe Cuban sandwiches and Monte Cristos also fulfill these textual criteria, and, to a lesser extent, tuna melts. I believe we can talk about this later in the lobby if you're interested. Shh! I believe the show is starting! Thank you for coming! <3
Ian August
MEET THE TEAM
SPECIAL THANKS
B Street Theater
Brandon Case and The Aurora Fox Team
Durango PlayFest
Dimitri Soto
Ellen, Kev, Olivia, Sway, and Mario
Ginny Davis
Paul and Debbie Kunz
