Cassie Nova’s first drag show was in 1993. Today she is a Dallas drag legend and is taking her show on the road as host of The Ryot Tour: Icons
TAMMYE NASH | Managing Editor
Nash@DallasVoice.com
Local drag legend Cassie Nova is taking her show on the road this month, giving audiences across the country a peek at what Dallas drag excellence is all about.
Cassie is the host for Ryot Tour: Icons, a show featuring Willam, Discord Addams, Coco Montrese, Kylie Sonique Love, Sasha Allen and Adore Delano, with Mia Starr joining the cast for the final show on Sept. 30 in St. Petersburg, Fla. This week she talked with Dallas Voice about the show and her role as host.
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Schedule for The Ryot Tour: Icons
- Sept. 9: Seattle
- Sept. 16: Dallas
- Sept. 18: Salt Lake City
- Sept. 20: Denver
- Sept. 21: Orlando
- Sept. 23: Louisville
- Sept. 24: Nashville
- Sept. 28: Akron
- Sept. 30: St. Petersburg
Tickets at RyotTour.com
Dallas Voice: Tell me all about the Ryot Tour. When does it start? How many cities? Who is on the tour with you? I think I saw where you are gonna miss one weekend because of Pride in Dallas, yes? Cassie Nova: RYOT TOUR is a premium live touring brand dedicated to creating unforgettable concert experiences. This tour stars a bunch of literal icons of our community, singing live and performing their asses off. It’s a very different style of show than I am used to, but I am super excited to bring something different to Dallas. (Ryot Tour: Icons comes to Dallas on Sept. 16.)
The show is the baby of entertainment producer Michael Benedetti along with Scott Mosher of Purple Mountain Recovery. Michael founded the fabulous Dragapalooza touring show a few years ago, and they co-founded OutLoud Comedy Festival. So, they know how to put on an incredible show.
It starts Sept. 9 in Seattle and ends Sept. 30 in St. Petersburg, Florida, stopping in Dallas, Salt Lake City, Denver, Orlando, Louisville, Nashville and Akron in between. I, unfortunately, won’t be able to make it to the Salt Lake City or Denver shows because those fall on Pride in Dallas weekend, and I couldn’t miss that. Pride in Dallas is something I am crazy proud to be a part of.
Most of the Ryot Tour performers you know from Drag Race. Sasha Allen you may know from Season 21 of The Voice where he competed as a duo with his dad. And then, of course, there’s me — superstar of the Rose Room. And I had a small part in A Very Sordid Wedding with Leslie Jordan. Oh, and I was the lead “trombie!” in the tour de force film The Dead Don’t Die in Dallas, which is free to watch on YouTube. You can watch my dick fall off then see me get killed at the 1 hour, 9 minute mark.
Tell me about how you got the hosting gig? Did they come to you? Was there an audition process? I actually got the gig because a queen in Denver told Michael about me and said I was a funny bitch. I need to send her flowers or something.
What is the one thing you are most looking forward to? Is there any one of the performers that you are especially excited to be working with? I am really looking forward to traveling. They haven’t heard my jokes there, so win-win. I’m excited to work with all of these performers, especially Willam. We’ve known each other for years, and she is always a good time.
Just for anyone who has been living under a rock, give us a quick run-down of your career in drag. How (briefly) did you get started and when? When did you join the Rose Room cast, and when did you become show director? AND what are your other regular gigs (Freak Show, Pride in Dallas, etc)? I got my start as Cassie when I was asked — actually, forced — to participate in a Presidents Day show and fundraiser. The DGLA (Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance) asked the presidents of all of their organizations to participate. I was president of G.L.Y.A. (Gay and Lesbian Young Adults), which was our local youth group. I gave in and decided to do drag.
It went really well, so I went upstairs to the Rose Room later that night and entered the talent show hosted by Donna Day. I won 100 bucks, and I was hooked. Making money while having a blast — hell yes!
Then later that same year, I was asked to be a part of the cast of a new show called New Kids on the Block! Or was it, New Kids — The Next Generation? My very first paid booking was on Thanksgiving night in 1993, and I am still there. I was made show director over the Caven clubs 11 years ago. I am showgirl in the Rose Room on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and I’ve hosted my Freakshow at JR’s on Monday nights for nearly 12 years.
I am also an award-winning writer for the Dallas Voice. Granted, the award was for 3rd place, but it still counts.
I know you aren’t afraid of being political, so talk a little bit about the “current political climate” regarding drag. Has that affected your work at all? Why do you think they are targeting drag the way they are? Do you think they see drag/drag queens as an easy target, or is there really something about drag, even just as a concept, that actually scares them? I fucking hate politics. Drag queens are being used as a distraction to outrage right wingers and idiots. Luckily, SB 12, the senate bill that was banning a lot of drag shows, was recently struck down — for the second time. Hopefully that means that all of those companies and places that used to book drag queens for Pride events or parties or whatever can go back to booking the queens again without fear of backlash or fines.
The drag ban has absolutely affected us, especially our money.
Especially given the political targeting of drag these days, how do you see your role as a drag performer? Are you just about entertainment, or do you feel like you have a larger responsibility to the community? I do feel I have a larger responsibility to the community, even though I never asked for it. But, for some reason, my voice carries and, sometimes, people listen. I’ve spoken at the State Capitol in front of the House State Affairs Committee when our jobs were in danger, to try to educate people that vote on things they are clueless about but affect our community directly.
Lastly, what I have not asked you about that you want to mention? You didn’t ask me if I am going to be okay being away from my little family for so long! My poodle Penny and my pom Riley are going to have to learn how to use Facetime or Zoom. Jamie and I have not been apart for more than 48 hours since we got together 23 years ago. During the longest part of the tour, I will be away from home for 11 days.
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder … Well, they better be fonder as fuck when I get back!