RuPaul’s Drag Race: A Retrospective of the Cultural Phenomenon

For each of the past nine seasons, RuPaul’s Drag Race has showcased the quest to find America’s next drag superstar. But what began as an unabashed celebration of the art of drag soon became a cultural sensation, as poignant and uplifting stories about the human experience surfaced throughout. From intimately personal revelations to unprecedented representation, and from fierce confidence to touching support, the show is still a beacon for all those who dare to be themselves. Its ebullient and Emmy-winning host, RuPaul Charles, reminds us that it’s possible to find love for ourselves—and others—despite any adversity that life throws our way. In Ru’s words, “If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell you gonna love somebody else?” Can I get an amen up in here?

On the verge of the show’s monumental 10th season, the Festival is proud to present a retrospective of this groundbreaking series, featuring incredible moments from the show and a panel discussion with RuPaul; World of Wonder’s Randy Barbato, Fenton Bailey, and Tom Campbell; and executive producer Pamela Post.

Credits

RuPaul
Panelist
Fenton Bailey
Panelist
Randy Barbato
Panelist
Tom Campbell
Panelist
Pamela Post
Panelist
John Cooper
Panelist
As you use our Online Archives, please understand that the information presented from Festivals, Labs, and other activities is taken directly from official publications from each year. While this information is limited and doesn't necessarily represent the full list of participants (e.g. actors and crew), it is the list given to us by the main film/play/project contact at the time, based on the space restrictions of our publications. Each entry in the Online Archives is meant as a historical record of a particular film, play, or project at the time of its involvement with Sundance Institute. For this reason, we can only amend an entry if a name is misspelled, or if the entry does not correctly reflect the original publication. If you have questions or comments, please email [email protected]