Boston drag queen Jujubee makes big-screen debut in "Stop! That! Train!"
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From left, Tess (Ginger Minj) and DeeDee (Jujubee) in "Stop! That! Train!" Photo: Courtesy of World of Wonder/Bleecker Street
No matter how many times Jujubee leaves New England, the Boston-born drag queen keeps coming back.
- This summer, she'll appear in a parody musical on the Cape and at theaters nationwide.
The intrigue: Jujubee and Ginger Minj, both alums of "RuPaul's Drag Race," star in "Stop! That! Train!," a star-studded, campy, raunchy comedy with RuPaul and other drag queens that hits theaters Thursday.
State of gay: Jujubee and Ginger Minj play DeeDee and Tess, best friends who work as train stewardesses on the Glamazonian Express, a train that's bound for a deadly "Stormaganza."
The latest: Jujubee and Ginger Minj will also star in a musical parody of "Wicked" called "Licked: For Gay" at the Red Room in Provincetown from July 9 through July 26.
- Jujubee also released an EP, "Mess For You," last week, which she dedicated to her late cats, Mister and Priss.
Axios Boston caught up with Jujubee about her big-screen debut and her other summer plans.
- This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
How you got the role: "What's really funny is I think a lot of people believe that we all got a phone call from Ru, and it did not happen that way.
- "I actually didn't even know that this production involved Ru until we got further into the audition process."
What makes this film different: "We never mention the queerness or the drag in it because we don't have to — I think it's very obvious.
- "And what I think is super special is that it feels like normal life in this disaster film that's completely satire, and there's a gay blizzard that's called a 'stormaganza.'"
What to know about DeeDee: "She only ever sees the greatness in things. She doesn't see the disaster; she doesn't see the things that aren't so colorful … and her best friend Tess is the person that she looks to for the answers.
- "What I love about her story is she finally gets to the point where she grows a backbone."
Jujubee's approach to DeeDee: "I knew that I wanted to be this big Laotian face on the big screen.
- "I wanted people to see my queerness, but I also wanted people to see that I am a descendant of a Southeast Asian family. … I want to show that kid out there in Small Town, USA that they can do whatever they dream of."
On her Laotian heritage: "I'm a very, very first-generation American. I translated everything for my parents as a kid. I learned both languages at once.
- "It's still interesting because when I meet new people, and I have conversations with people, I think in both English and Laotian."
On leaving Boston (and returning): "I always tell people this: Whenever you are from New England, you want to leave, but you always end up back.
- "Boston is home, and it's always felt like home."
On "Mess For You": "It's pop music with a touch of R&B.
- "'Mess for You' is essentially a love story through the seasons because there's different types of love."
On acting with RuPaul: "You have to show up with the gumption and the balls to know that you're on the same level in this situation.
- "When we were on set for 'Stop! That! Train!' it was so magnetic and so different to be in the same scene and to be considered equals with Ru, and it was a blast."