Workhorse Queen

Workhorse Queen is a 2021 documentary film directed by Angela Washko.[1] After a surprise casting onto reality television show RuPaul's Drag Race, 47-year old suburban telemarketing manager Ed Popil leaves his job to pursue a full-time entertainment industry career as his drag queen alter ego, 1960s-era housewife Mrs. Kasha Davis. The film premiered at the 2021 Slamdance Film Festival.[2] Workhorse Queen will be released on video on demand and DVD through the film's distributor Breaking Glass Pictures on May 3, 2022 and on TV broadcast and streaming in June, 2022 on STARZ.[3]

Workhorse Queen
Directed byAngela Washko
Starring
CinematographyAngela Washko
Edited by
  • Jota Sosnowski
  • Sunita Prasad
  • Sonia Gonzalez-Martinez
Music byJesse Stiles
Release dates
  • February 2021 (2021-02) (Slamdance)
  • May 3, 2022 (2022-05-03) (United States)
Running time
88 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

The documentary follows Ed Popil as he escapes from his day job at DialAmerica to perform as drag queen Mrs. Kasha Davis at night. After seven years of sending audition tapes to RuPaul's Drag Race casting calls, Ed Popil was finally cast onto Season 7 of the reality television show in 2015.[4] Workhorse Queen explores how mainstream television has affected queer performance culture. In addition to following Ed's life before and after being cast onto Drag Race, the film focuses on the growing divide between members of the Rochester drag community – those who have been on TV, and those who have not.[5] Throughout the film, audiences watch as Ed navigates the highs and lows of pursuing the fame promised by a reality television platform, including his struggles with alcoholism, declining bookings, and ageism within the industry. The film culminates in Ed returning to his home in Rochester and creating Imagination Station (a new variety show for children), which allows him to become the queer role model for kids that he never had growing up.

In addition to highlighting Mrs. Kasha Davis' journey through drag communities and the entertainment industry, the film also features performances, interviews and vérité footage of his husband Steven Levins (aka Mr. Davis) and drag queens Darienne Lake, Pandora Boxx, Bianca Del Rio, Tatianna, Tempest DuJour, Aggy Dune, Wednesday Westwood, Bebe Gunn (Australia), Jemima Handful (Australia), and many others.

  • Ed Popil (Mrs. Kasha Davis), drag queen
  • Steven Levins, Ed's husband
  • Aggy Dune, Rochester drag queen
  • Darienne Lake, Rochester drag queen and RuPaul's Drag Race contestant
  • Pandora Boxx, Rochester drag queen and RuPaul's Drag Race contestant
  • Ambrosia Salad, Rochester drag queen
  • Bianca Del Rio, drag queen and RuPaul's Drag Race contestant
  • Tatianna, drag queen and RuPaul's Drag Race contestant
  • Tempest DuJour, drag queen and RuPaul's Drag Race contestant
  • Chad Michaels, drag queen and RuPaul's Drag Race contestant
  • Bebe Gunn, Australian drag queen
  • Jemima Handful, Australian drag queen
  • Wednesday Westwood, Rochester drag queen
  • Simona Ioffe, drag enthusiast
  • Topher Wouters, drag enthusiast
  • Tim Huffman-Hutchins, drag enthusiast
  • Carrie Vernon, former chair of Rochester Pride
  • Diane Chevron, Rochester theater legend
  • Pete Smith, Australian club promoter

Appearances via archival footage

Reception

Workhorse Queen premiered at the 2021 Slamdance Film Festival.[6] The film holds a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[7] Josiah Teal of Film Threat said, “Workhorse Queen is as incredibly catty, stylish, and entertaining as you could hope.”[8] Bears Rebecca Fonté of Hammer to Nail said, “…Workhorse Queen is the first film I’ve seen about a drag queen that even starts to deal with the difficulty and monolithic placement of RuPaul.”[9] Malika Harris of Irish Film Critic gave the film 4 and a half out of 5 stars and said, “This documentary takes you through the ups and downs of what really happens post-reality TV fame…”[10] Raquel Stetcher of Quelle Movies calls the film “a must see for fans of RPDR.”[11]

Accolades

Official selection of:

Awards

References
  1. "Angela Washko Shines a Spotlight on a "RuPaul's Drag Race" Alum in Slamdance Doc "Workhorse Queen"". womenandhollywood.com. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  2. Release, Press. "Slamdance World Premiere – RuPaul's Drag Race Breakout Queen Mrs. Kasha Davis Shows She is a "Workhorse Queen" in New Documentary". Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  3. Rabinowitz, Claire (2022-04-14). "Breaking Glass Pictures to Release WORKHORSE QUEEN". Boradway World.
  4. Media, Rebel. "Surviving the pandemic XIII: Mrs Kasha Davis the Workhorse Queen, and Stage Mother werks". MyGayToronto. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  5. "Review: 'Workhorse Queen' Illuminates Drag Performers at the Edge of the Spotlight". EDGE Media Network. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  6. Release, Press. "Slamdance World Premiere – RuPaul's Drag Race Breakout Queen Mrs. Kasha Davis Shows She is a "Workhorse Queen" in New Documentary". Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  7. Workhorse Queen (2021), retrieved 2021-07-07
  8. Teal, Josiah (February 12, 2021). "Workhorse Queen". Film Threat. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
  9. Fonté, Bears Rebecca (2021-02-16). "WORKHORSE QUEEN". Hammer to Nail. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  10. "Slamdance Film Festival Review: A Mid-Forties Drag Queen Finds His Purpose In Life Inspiring Others In "Workhorse Queen"". Irish Film Critic. 2021-02-12. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  11. "Quelle Movies: Slamdance: Workhorse Queen". Quelle Movies. 2021-02-15. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  12. "2021 Film Program". Slamdance. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  13. "American Film Festival - Workhorse Queen". www.americanfilmfestival.pl. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
  14. "2021 BENTONVILLE FILM FESTIVAL, LED BY GEENA DAVIS, ANNOUNCES SELECTIONS FOR NARRATIVE, DOCUMENTARY, SHORT AND EPISODIC FILM COMPETITION". 15 July 2021.
  15. "Workhorse Queen". Florida Film Festival. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  16. "Workhorse Queen". Documentary Edge. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  17. "CUFF 2021: Workhorse Queen". Calgary Underground Film Festival.
  18. "Workhorse Queen". Milwaukee Film. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
  19. "Drag Stars Double Feature".
  20. "Workhorse Queen".
  21. "Workhorse Queen".
  22. "Workhorse Queen".
  23. jamiemoses288 (2021-10-17). "BIFF 2021 AWARD WINNERS". Artvoice. Retrieved 2021-10-20.
  24. "American Film Festival - Winners of the 12th American Film Festival in Wrocław revealed". www.americanfilmfestival.pl. Retrieved 2021-11-28.
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