Season 17 of RuPaul’s Drag Race introduced plenty of memorable queens, but one performer immediately stood out from the pack: Suzie Toot. At a time when many drag artists draw inspiration from current pop culture, Suzie boldly embraces nostalgia, celebrating the glamour, wit, and theatricality of entertainment’s golden age. It’s a refreshing choice, especially from a performer who is only 26 years old.
Suzie describes herself as “Lucille Ball meets Betty Boop,” but after seeing her live at Capitol Hill’s Emerald City Comedy Club on July 27, I’d describe her a little differently. If Drag Race icon Jinkx Monsoon and legendary Seattle cabaret performer Major Scales somehow had a daughter, it would undoubtedly be Suzie Toot. She possesses Jinkx’s comedic timing, Major’s theatrical flair, and enough charisma to make vintage vaudeville feel completely contemporary.
The evening was more than a drag show—it was a love letter to the legends who shaped musical theater and classic Hollywood. Throughout the performance, Suzie paid tribute to icons including Liza Minnelli, Judy Garland, Ginger Rogers, Roxie Hart, and Ellen Greene. Having portrayed Greene during her unforgettable Snatch Game performance on Drag Race, it was fitting that one of the evening’s standout moments was her hilarious original number, “It Ain’t Easy Being Ellen Greene,” which seamlessly transitioned into a heartfelt rendition of “Somewhere That’s Green“ from Little Shop of Horrors. It was equal parts comedy, impersonation, and genuine musical theater.
Audience participation also became one of the night’s highlights when Suzie invited a volunteer onstage to perform the spoken role from “Funny Honey” from Chicago. The playful chemistry between Suzie and the audience member made the number feel spontaneous and wonderfully unpredictable.
But Suzie isn’t simply a singer. She’s a true song-and-dance performer. Between vocal numbers, she tapped her way across the stage with impressive precision, reminding audiences that classic showmanship is alive and well. One particularly delightful performance was “We’re in the Money” from Gold Diggers of 1933, complete with the famous Pig Latin verse made iconic by Ginger Rogers. It was an inspired deep cut that many younger audiences may have never experienced, yet Suzie made it feel both timeless and fresh.
Another emotional high point came with a beautifully arranged mashup of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “The Rainbow Connection,” connecting two generations of dreamers through song. In one of the evening’s funniest stories, Suzie shared that she had only recently discovered The Muppet Show from the 1970s and now believes it’s one of the greatest television shows ever created—a revelation that somehow made perfect sense given her old-soul sensibilities.
The show concluded on a surprisingly poignant note with Bing Crosby’s “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” It was a reminder that beneath all the comedy, camp, and nostalgia lies a performer capable of delivering genuine emotional depth.
In an entertainment landscape often driven by trends and social media moments, Suzie Toot is carving out a lane entirely her own. Rather than looking forward, she lovingly looks back, introducing a new generation to the music, comedy, and craftsmanship of the 1920s through the 1970s. The result isn’t an act built on imitation—it’s one built on appreciation.
At just 26 years old, Suzie Toot is proof that the Golden Age of entertainment doesn’t have to stay in the past. In her capable hands, it’s delightfully, hilariously, and brilliantly alive once again.
