Fierth Interview with JINKX MONSOON ! See her LIVE IN NYC in JULY

Fierth’s Brian Mills sits down with Rupaul’s Drag Race sweetheart JINKX MONSOON to find out the real nitty gritty and what makes her tick. Jinkx Monsoon makes her New York debut with the premiere of THE VAUDEVILLIANS, a musical comedy show co-starring composer and musician Major Scales. THE VAUDEVILLIANS will be at The Laurie Beechman Theater July 9 – August 8 – Get your Tickets now They are selling out fast ! [ see bottom of interview for more about show ]

FIERTH: What is your name?

JINKX: Jerick

FIERTH: Do you have a nick-name?

JINKX: Jinkx

FIERTH: Where are you based , where do you call home ?

JINKX: Seattle WA.

FIERTH: How tall are you?

JINKX: Just under 6’… 5’11” ish?

FIERTH: What is your motto?

JINKX: Water off a duck’s back. Meaning: don’t let negativity weigh you down, perpetuate positive thinking.

FIERTH: How do you describe your work?

JINKX: Comedy based, gender driven, performance art.

FIERTH: What about your work frustrates you ?

JINKX: The amount of time it takes to transform. I wish I spent less time in the makeup chair and more time onstage.

FIERTH: What accomplishment are you most proud of ?

JINKX: Graduating college with a BFA in Theater. It was a long, hard schlep, but I did it. I had to work as a janitor every day I attended school, but I did it. I drove myself crazy with sleep depravation and a peasant’s diet, but I did it!

FIERTH: What do you like most about what you do?

JINKX: Expanding people’s minds on the topics of gender expression, gay rights, and most of all, entertaining them while I do it.

FIERTH: How do you keep it real?

JINKX: I only do numbers/acts that excite me, or I connect to personally. I never phone it in. It’s about finding the balance between what my audience wants and what I want to give them. That sweet spot in the vendiagram.

FIERTH: What is the secret to success ?

JINKX: Tenacity.

FIERTH: If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?

JINKX: Sew.

FIERTH: What exactly are you wearing right now?



JINKX: Nothing but a pair of Blue American Apparel undies, and Alaska Thunderfuck T-Shirt, and a wooly ski cap.

FIERTH: What motivates you in life?

JINKX: The chance to improve the world in my own special way; to contribute to the fight that all artists are fighting. I want to hold the mirror up to society and help them see themselves more clearly. I also love just making people laugh.

FIERTH: If you weren’t doing what you are doing now, what do you think you would be doing?

JINKX: If I weren’t an internationally known Drag Queen performance artist, I would prolly be a high school honors English teacher… or a cook at a comfort food restaurant.

FIERTH: Have you ever felt hopeless? How did you get through it?

JINKX: In my adolescence, my goals were very different from what they are now. My priorities were out of order… Fame, notoriety, escape from a “normal” life are the things that meant most… When you aimlessly shoot for lofty goals, with no personal connection to them, you loose sight of what really matters, and what will really make you content. I felt hopeless when I didn’t have a clear artistic mission statement. I had to reexamine, reevaluate and rediscover what it is about my art form that truly makes me happy. Once I found that, I overcame hopelessness.

FIERTH: If someone wrote a biography on your life , what do you think the title should be?

JINKX: “Two wigs and a bump.” (referring to my default hairstyle) or “The lucky life of a Jinkx.”

FIERTH: How would your best friend describe you?

JINKX: The weirdest most entertaining person he knows.

FIERTH: What are some qualities you value in your friends ?

JINKX: Loyalty, honesty, a good sense of humor. Positivity…. and the ability to not take themselves TOO seriously.

FIERTH: What are five quirky things about yourself.

JINKX: I have narcolepsy, I know a LOT about greek mythology, I’ve never left the USA, I know every line to the movie Death Becomes Her, and I’ve never seen Indiana Jones.

FIERTH: What were you like as a child?

JINKX: A chubby, effeminate, nerd… with an open heart, a lot of love for my friends and family, and a broad knowledge of fantasy, IE, Greek Mythology, the King Arthur Legends, etc.

FIERTH: Where did you grow up ?

JINKX: Portland Oregon

FIERTH: What did you do growing up that got you into trouble?

JINKX: Not sharing the video game system with my younger brother.

FIERTH: My generation was …

JINKX: The Beatniks on the new millennium .

FIERTH: The kids today …

JINKX: Too ironic.

FIERTH: What makes you angry ?

JINKX: Closed mindedness, prejudice against those who are different from you, reveling in one’s own ignorance…

FIERTH: What brings you the most joy?

JINKX: Stories about progressive thinking. When a mother or father accepts their child for whoever they are… when goodness prevails… blah blah blah. I’m a cheese ball.

FIERTH: What’s the strangest thing you’ve done this month?

JINKX: Crowd Surfed… aka, the coolest thing I’ve done this month.

FIERTH: What’s something about yourself that no one knows?

JINKX: I have claustrophobia… specifically I’m scared of crawlspaces.

FIERTH: Ever had a rumor spread about you?

JINKX: Yeah, middle school is a spiteful place.

FIERTH: Describe a time when you made the best of a public gaffe.

JINKX: Some one called me a faggot while I was delivering a speech on accepting diversity in high school. The audience started to snicker… then I said something to the effect of “the perfect example of an insecure, cowardly Jackass” without fear or hesitation. The crowd erupted and the student counsel applauded me.

FIERTH: What is the worst advice you have ever gotten ?

JINKX: “just say whatever come to your mind.”

FIERTH: Are you a morning or night person ?

JINKX: I’m 100% a night owl.

FIERTH: What were you doing last night at Midnight?

JINKX: Watching my favorite food based show: Chopped

FIERTH: What do you daydream about?

JINKX: Having super powers.

FIERTH: If you could choose a superhero power, What would it be, And how would you use it.

JINKX: Shapeshifting, like Mystique from Xmen

FIERTH: What do you think is the meaning of life ?

JINKX: To leave a positive footprint of the proverbial walkway

FIERTH: What is your beauty secret ?

JINKX: A shit-ton of makeup.

FIERTH: What would be the introduction song to a movie based on your life ?

JINKX: Rhapsody in Blue

FIERTH: Describe your home in 6 words or less.

JINKX: Eclectic, messy, warm, inviting, incense-y…

FIERTH: Do you collect anything?

JINKX: Quartz Crystals

FIERTH: Do you have any obsessions right now?

JINKX: I’m obsessed with the music of Die Antwoord, Hi Fashion, and I’m obsessed with my juicer. I make a lot of juice.

FIERTH: What’s the weirdest item you’ve ever mourned losing?

JINKX: A Red Beret.

FIERTH: What is your greatest extravagance?

JINKX: I get my nails done about every two weeks.

FIERTH: What is your guilty pleasure?

JINKX: Marathon watching my favorite TV shows with a buffet of snacks and the hookah set up with my boy posse in Seattle

FIERTH: If you could buy anything regardless of cost, what would you buy?

JINKX: A Victorian House

FIERTH: What is your “ Safety Word”?

JINKX: Pickle

FIERTH: You can trade places with any other person, living or dead, for 24 hours. Who would you choose and why?

JINKX: Marie Antoinette, pre-beheading. I just want one day of living like French aristocracy.

FIERTH: Who are your main inspirations?

JINKX: Little Edie Bouvier Beale, Lucille Ball, Sarah Silverman, Bette Davis, Helena Bonham Carter… and my mom.

FIERTH: Who do you have your eye on right now ?

JINKX: I think Christeene is taking over the alternative drag scene in a big way. I love Hi Fashion and can’t wait for their jams to be on every dance floor, and I can’t get enough of Daniel Tosh.

FIERTH: Which stars, if any, leave you star struck?

JINKX: I was speechless when I met Amanda Palmer… I was a babbling idiot when I met Amanda Lepore… If I ever met Helena Bonham Carter, Bette Midler, or Blake Anderson from workaholics, I have no idea what I’d do….

FIERTH: Whom do you despise?

JINKX: Celebrities who have no contribution to our culture but to be messy, bitchy, bratty gossip fodder. In the old days, class, style, and integrity were praised… Nowadays it seems like too many people wanna just watch people act like assholes… I don’t get it.

FIERTH: Which celebrity do you suspect is actually a hologram?

JINKX: Cher.

FIERTH: What’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever done for you?

JINKX: Every time my best friend/roommate surprises me by cleaning my drag closet I cry. Also, my youngest brother sent me a loving letter and two necklaces to give me a boost amidst the competition of RuPaul’s Drag Race.

FIERTH: Do you believe in karma? ( if so, how have you seen it )

JINKX: Yes. And Yes. I believe you receive the kind of energy you perpetuate.

FIERTH: Which places have you traveled to that you feel had changed your perspective of the world ?

JINKX: I’ll tell you when I get there. 😉

FIERTH: Which causes do you believe in the most in, and why?

JINKX: Right now, marriage equality country wide. There’s no reason why American citizens who contribute to our country just as much as anyone else, who pay our taxes, who abide the law…. should not be given the same rights as everyone else. There are those who say God says marriage is between one man and one woman… well, when God runs for president, he can say that himself. Until then, let’s cut the bullshit.

FIERTH: What is the funniest joke you have ever heard?

JINKX: Joan Rivers’ Vagina is so old, it has a separate entrance for black dick; from the Joan Rivers Roast.

FIERTH: What are you going to do next?

JINKX: Eat some soup.

FIERTH: Leave us a quote to carry on with :

JINKX: “A Candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.” – Anonymous.

FIERTH: How can we find out more about you :

Face book: Facebook.com/jinkx.monsoon

Webpage: www.Jinkxmonsoon.com

Twitter: @JinkxMonsoon

Email : [email protected]

RuPaul’s Drag Race star Jinkx Monsoon Premieres

Acclaimed Theatrical Duo.

July 14 – 18 at The Laurie Beechman Theatre

Buy tickets HERE.

RuPaul’s Drag Race favorite Jinkx Monsoon makes her New York debut with the premiere of THE VAUDEVILLIANS, a musical comedy show co-starring composer and musician Major Scales. THE VAUDEVILLIANS will be at The Laurie Beechman Theater (inside West Bank Cafe at 407 West 42nd Street — at Ninth Avenue, accessible from the A,C,E,N,R,V,F,1,2,3 trains at 42nd Street). It will be presented Sunday, July 14 at 7:30pm; Tuesday, July 16 at 9:30pm (sold out); Wednesday, July 17 at 9:30pm (sold out); & Thursday, July 18 at 7:30pm (sold out). [ MORE SHOWS MAY BE ADDED ] Tickets are $22 plus a $15 food/drink minimum. A $40 VIP ticket including priority seating and meet-and-greet is also available. To purchase tickets, call 212-352-3101 or visitwww.SpinCycleNYC.com.

Throughout the 1920’s Kitty Witless and Dr.Dan Von Dandy toured speakeasies and burlesque theaters through the United States as THE VAUDEVILLIANS, wowing audiences with their edgy, original music. Unfortunately, one day, tragedy struck. While touring through Antarctica, they were victims of a devastating avalanche and were buried under two tons of sleet and snow – instantly freezing them alive. But thanks to global warming, they recently thawed out only to discover, that pop artists of various decades had stolen their music and passed it off as their own. Much to their shock and chagrin, songs including “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” (which was originally about the woman’s Suffragette movement), and “Drop it Like it’s Hot” (which was originally about the invention of the electric iron) had become hits for lesser artists. Now, at long last, they are taking to the stage to reclaim their original music, performing it as originally composed.

Jinkx Monsoon is the alter ego of Jerick Hoffer, who graduated with a degree in theatrical performance from Cornish College in Seattle. With ten years experience on stage, Hoffer is a seasoned Portland-born entertainer who has captured the attention of his native northwest region. As early as 2006, Hoffer appeared as the lead dancer in the world’s largest drag queen chorus line, which made the Guinness Book of World Records. By 2012, he had advanced to roles in Seattle theaters, playing Moritz in “Spring Awakening” (produced by Balagan Theatre) and Angel in “Rent” (produced by The 5th Avenue Theatre). Earlier this year, Hoffer played Hedwig in “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” (produced by Balagan Theatre and Seattle Theatre Group).

According to Hoffer, the creation of Jinkx was complicated. “From the movie Death Becomes Her, I was inspired by the crazy extent vain women will go for eternal youth, beauty, and power. Through Lucille Ball I saw how a woman can bring you to tears with laughter with nothing more than a look. Through the Disney villains I was raised with, I saw how powerful a woman can be, and yet so deliciously evil. And through my mom, I saw not only the trials and tribulations a single mother faces every day, but also the strength and determination a woman can possess when she is trying to provide a bright future for her children.”

RuPaul’s Drag Race star Jinkx Monsoon Premieres

Acclaimed Theatrical Duo.

July 14 – 18 at The Laurie Beechman Theatre

Buy tickets HERE.