A Rusical is a type of a maxi challenge that debuted in Season 6 and puts the queens' performing skills to test. It is usually a number that tells a certain story through singing, acting and dancing on the stage.
Since Season 9's Kardashians: The Rusical, it is usually about stories of famous people such as Cher and Madonna or about popular societal topics such as Donald Trump's presidency or social media. Some of these challenges were called Rusical by name, but it can also refer to any challenge where the contestants have to lip sync, sing live, and/or dance as part of the main challenge.
Although the contestants may be asked to record or sing their sections of the Rusical live, this challenge is not to be confused with the Singing Challenge where the contestants are typically asked to write their section as well as record or sing live.
Challenge's Timeline
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RPDRvsTW |
- █ The challenge never appeared in the season.
- █ The challenge appeared in the season once.
- █ The challenge appeared in the season twice.
Rusical Winners
Rusical Eliminated
All Rusical Challenges
Episode 4: "Shade: The Rusical"
In this episode, the queens were tasked to take part in "Shade: The Rusical".
Queen | Team | Role | Placement |
---|---|---|---|
Courtney Act | Team DeLa | Good Penny | WINNER |
Adore Delano | Team Adore | Bad Penny | HIGH |
BenDeLaCreme | Team DeLa | Shady Lady | HIGH |
Bianca Del Rio | Pageant Queen | SAFE | |
Gia Gunn | Comedy Queen | SAFE | |
Joslyn Fox | Team Adore | Amanda | SAFE |
Laganja Estranja | Showgirl | SAFE | |
Milk | Les Mizabella | SAFE | |
Darienne Lake | Team DeLa | Comedy Queen | LOW |
Trinity K. Bonet | Pageant Queen | BOTTOM 2 | |
April Carrión | Team Adore | Bertha | ELIMINATED |
Episode 2: "Glamazonian Airways"
In this episode, the queens were tasked to take part in 'Glamazonian Airways'.
Queen | Team | Placement |
---|---|---|
Ginger Minj | Team Ginger | WINNER |
Mrs. Kasha Davis | HIGH | |
Violet Chachki | Team Trixie | HIGH |
Jaidynn Diore Fierce | Team Ginger | SAFE |
Jasmine Masters | SAFE | |
Kandy Ho | SAFE | |
Kennedy Davenport | SAFE | |
Max | Team Trixie | SAFE |
Pearl | SAFE | |
Trixie Mattel | SAFE | |
Miss Fame | LOW | |
Katya | BOTTOM 2 | |
Sasha Belle | Team Ginger | ELIMINATED |
Episode 21
The transformistas are challenged to star in a musical dedicated to Olivia Newton-John.
Contestant | Song(s) | Scores Total | Placement | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Luz Violeta | "Physical" | "We Go Together" | 26 | FINALIST |
Sofía Camará | "Xanadu" | 23 | SAFE | |
Yoyi | "The Rumor" | 14 | SAFE | |
Laura Bell | "Hopelessly Devoted To You" | 18 | ELIMINATED |
Episode 22
The transformistas are challenged to star in a musical dedicated to Madonna.
Contestant | Song(s) | Scores Total | Placement | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Botota Fox | "Like A Virgin" | "Hung Up" | 25 | FINALIST |
Luna Di Mauri | "Material Girl" | 19 | SAFE | |
Rubí | "Music" | ? | SAFE | |
Arianda Sodi | "Vogue" | ? | ELIMINATED |
Episode 23
The transformistas are challenged to star in a musical dedicated to Gloria Estefan.
Contestant | Song(s) | Scores Total | Placement |
---|---|---|---|
Sofía Camará | "Oye" | 26 | FINALIST |
Yoyi | "Oye Mi Canto" | 19 | SAFE |
Luna di Mauri | "Mi Tierra" | 19 | SAFE |
Rubí | "Corazón Prohibido" | 18 | ELIMINATED |
Episode 2: "Bitch Perfect"
In this episode, the queens were tasked to take part in 'Bitch Perfect', which is a parody of 'Pitch Perfect'.
Queen | Team | Placement |
---|---|---|
Chi Chi DeVayne | Team Shady Bitches | WINNER |
Acid Betty | HIGH | |
Thorgy Thor | HIGH | |
Bob The Drag Queen | Team Lady Bitches | SAFE |
Cynthia Lee Fontaine | SAFE | |
Derrick Barry | SAFE | |
Naomi Smalls | Team Shady Bitches | SAFE |
Robbie Turner | Team Lady Bitches | SAFE |
Kim Chi | LOW | |
Dax Exclamationpoint | Team Shady Bitches | ELIMINATED |
Laila McQueen | Team Lady Bitches | ELIMINATED |
Episode 3: "HERstory of the World"
In this episode, the queens were tasked to take part in 'HERstory of the World'.
Queen | Role | Placement |
---|---|---|
Alyssa Edwards | Annie Oakley | WINNER |
Detox | Marie Antoinette | WINNER |
Alaska | Eve | SAFE |
Phi Phi O'Hara | Helen of Troy | SAFE |
Roxxxy Andrews | Eva Perón | SAFE |
Katya | Princess Diana | BOTTOM 2 |
Ginger Minj | Catherine the Great | ELIMINATED |
Episode 5: "Reality Stars: The Musical"
This episode the queens were tasked to take part in "Kardashians: The Musical".
Queen | Role | Placement |
---|---|---|
Shea Couleé | Blac Chyna | WINNER |
Peppermint | Britney Spears | HIGH |
Alexis Michelle | Kris Jenner | HIGH |
Sasha Velour | Lindsay Lohan | SAFE |
Trinity Taylor | Paris Hilton | SAFE |
Aja | Kourtney Kardashian | SAFE |
Valentina | Kendall Jenner | SAFE |
Nina Bo'nina Brown | Khloe Kardashian | LOW |
Farrah Moan | Kylie Jenner | BOTTOM 2 |
Cynthia Lee Fontaine | Kim Kardashian | BOTTOM 2 |
Eureka O'Hara | North West | SAFE + DEPARTED |
Episode 2: "Divas Lip Sync Live"
The queens are tasked to take part in VH1 Divas Live: Tribute To RuPaul.
Order | Queen | Role | Song | Placement |
---|---|---|---|---|
6th | Shangela | Mariah Carey |
The Realness | WINNER |
8th | BenDeLaCreme | Julie Andrews |
Call Me Mother | WINNER |
9th | Bebe Zahara Benet | Diana Ross |
The Main Event | HIGH |
3rd | Aja | Amy Winehouse |
U Wear It Well | SAFE |
1st | Milk | Celine Dion |
Peanut Butter | SAFE |
5th | Trixie Mattel | Dolly Parton |
Adrenaline | SAFE |
4th | Chi Chi DeVayne | Patti LaBelle |
Jealous of My Boogie |
LOW |
2nd | Kennedy Davenport | Janet Jackson |
Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve and Talent |
BOTTOM 2 |
7th | Thorgy Thor | Stevie Nicks |
Born Naked | ELIMINATED |
Episode 2: "PharmaRusical"
Queen | Team | Placement |
---|---|---|
The Vixen | Team Vixen | WINNER |
Blair St. Clair | HIGH TEAM | |
Kameron Michaels | HIGH TEAM | |
Mayhem Miller | HIGH TEAM | |
Miz Cracker | HIGH TEAM | |
Monét X Change | HIGH TEAM | |
Asia O'Hara | Team Asia | SAFE |
Dusty Ray Bottoms | SAFE | |
Aquaria | SAFE | |
Yuhua Hamasaki | SAFE | |
Monique Heart | LOW | |
Eureka | BOTTOM 2 | |
Kalorie Karbdashian-Williams | ELIMINATED |
Episode 8: "Cher: The Unauthorized Rusical"
The seven remaining queens were tasked to take part in Cher: The Unauthorised Rusical and play different versions of Cher.
Queen | Role | Placement |
---|---|---|
Kameron Michaels | 60s Cher | WINNER |
Monét X Change | 70s Variety Show Cher | HIGH |
Eureka | Rockstar Cher | SAFE |
Miz Cracker | Comeback Cher | SAFE |
Aquaria | Disco Cher | LOW |
Asia O'Hara | Movie Star Cher | BOTTOM 2 |
The Vixen | 70s Variety Show Cher | ELIMINATED |
Episode 11: "Thai Musical"
The results reflect only the challenge outcome, not the overall placements of the episode.
Queen | Role | Placement | Overall Placement | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Kandy Zyanide | Sunaree | WINNER | WINNER | |
Bandit | unsaid | SAFE | HIGH | |
Vanda Miss Joaquim | Kratae | SAFE | HIGH | |
Srimala | Chonlada | SAFE | LOW | |
Angele Anang | Jintara | SAFE | BOTTOM 2 | |
Kana Warrior | maid | SAFE | BOTTOM 2 |
Episode 4: "Trump: The Rusical"
The remaining queens are tasked to take part in Trump: The Rusical, and play the women in his 'inner circle'.
Queen | Role | Placement |
---|---|---|
Silky Nutmeg Ganache | Oprah Winfrey | WINNER |
Brooke Lynn Hytes | Ivana Trump | HIGH |
Yvie Oddly | Kelly Anne Conway | HIGH |
A'keria Chanel Davenport | Stormy Daniels | SAFE |
Ariel Versace | Shandy | SAFE |
Nina West | Sarah Huckabee Sanders | SAFE |
Plastique Tiara | Melania Trump | SAFE |
Scarlet Envy | Betsy DeVos | SAFE |
Shuga Cain | Hillary Clinton | SAFE |
Vanessa Vanjie Mateo | Rosie O'Donnell | LOW |
Ra'Jah O'Hara | Omarosa | BOTTOM 2 |
Mercedes Iman Diamond | Ivanka Trump | ELIMINATED |
Episode 7: "Madonna: The Unauthorized Rusical"
The queens get into the groove in a Queen of Pop inspired musical.
Queen | Role | Placement |
---|---|---|
Gigi Goode | Unapologetic Madonna |
WINNER |
Crystal Methyd | Enlightened Madonna |
HIGH |
Jan | Early Madonna |
HIGH |
Jaida Essence Hall | Sexy Madonna |
SAFE |
Sherry Pie | Movie Star Madonna |
SAFE |
Widow Von'Du | Femmepire Madonna |
SAFE |
Jackie Cox | Boy Toy Madonna |
LOW |
Heidi N Closet | Madonna Forever |
BOTTOM 2 |
Brita | Cone Bra Madonna |
ELIMINATED |
Episode 12: "Viva Drag Vegas"
The queens must perform a medley of songs from RuPaul’s Drag Race Live.
Queen | Placement |
---|---|
Gigi Goode | WINNER |
Jaida Essence Hall | HIGH |
Sherry Pie | SAFE + DISQUALIFIED |
Crystal Methyd | BOTTOM 2 |
Jackie Cox | ELIMINATED |
Episode 7: "Máxima - The Rusical"
Queen | Role | Placement |
---|---|---|
Janey Jacké | Máxima, the Temptress |
WINNER |
Envy Peru | Máxima, the Fianceé |
SAFE |
Ma'Ma Queen | Máxima, the Queen |
BOTTOM 2 |
Miss Abby OMG | Máxima, the Partygirl |
BOTTOM 2 |
Episode 2: "Rats: The Rusical"
Queen | Role | Placement |
---|---|---|
Veronica Green | Evita von Fleas | WINNER |
Ellie Diamond | Scabies | HIGH |
Tia Kofi | Specimen One | HIGH |
Asttina Mandella | Jane | SAFE |
A'Whora | Miss Dysentery | SAFE |
Bimini Bon-Boulash | Depravity | SAFE |
Ginny Lemon | Dame Doody Stench | SAFE |
Sister Sister | Rat Pack #1 | SAFE |
Lawrence Chaney | Rat Pack #3 | LOW |
Tayce | Scat Rat | BOTTOM 2 |
Cherry Valentine | Rat Pack #2 | ELIMINATED |
Episode 8: "Social Media: The Unverified Rusical"
Queen | Role | Placement |
---|---|---|
Rosé | Foxy |
WINNER |
Denali | Nikita, a Russian Bot |
HIGH |
Gottmik | Natasha, a Russian Bot |
HIGH |
Elliott with 2 Ts | Miss TokTik |
SAFE |
Olivia Lux | Markie Tuckenberg |
SAFE |
Utica Queen | Lady Tweets |
SAFE |
Tina Burner | EmShee |
LOW |
Kandy Muse | Reverend Dr. Lady Linked In |
BOTTOM 2 |
Symone | Miss InstaGlam |
BOTTOM 2 |
Episode 4: "Halftime Headliners"
Order | Queen | Role | Song | Placement |
---|---|---|---|---|
7th | Jan | ![]() Lady Gaga |
A Little Bit Of Love | WINNER |
2nd | Eureka! | ![]() Madonna |
Dance With U | HIGH |
10th | Trinity K. Bonet | ![]() Beyoncé |
Bring Back My Girls | HIGH |
6th | Kylie Sonique Love | ![]() Steven Tyler |
If I Dream | SAFE |
9th | Pandora Boxx | ![]() Carol Channing |
Click Clack (Make Dat Money) |
SAFE |
3rd | Ra'Jah O'Hara | ![]() Diana Ross |
The Beginning | SAFE |
5th | Scarlet Envy | ![]() Katy Perry |
Sissy That Walk | SAFE |
1st | Ginger Minj | ![]() Fergie |
Geronimo | LOW |
8th | A'keria C. Davenport | ![]() Prince |
I Bring The Beat | BOTTOM 2 |
4th | Yara Sofia | ![]() Shakira |
Cover Girl (Put The Bass In Your Walk) |
ELIMINATED |
Episode 4: "CindeRulla: The Rusical"
Queen | Role | Placement |
---|---|---|
My Little Puny | DJ Prince Fairy Godmother |
WINNER |
Keta Minaj | Little Red Riding Hood (The Wolf) |
HIGH |
Tabitha | Mama (Stepmother) |
HIGH |
Vivaldi | Snow White (Stepsister) |
SAFE |
Vanessa Van Cartier | Cinderulla | LOW |
The Countess | Sleeping Beauty (Stepsister) |
BOTTOM 2 |
Ivy-Elyse | Gerda the Mermaid (Stepsister) |
ELIMINATED |
Episode 2: "Under the Big Top, LIVE"
Queen | Role | Placement |
---|---|---|
Pythia | Hennywise |
WINNER |
Gia Metric | Himbo |
HIGH |
Kendall Gender | Ring Mistress |
HIGH |
Adriana | Bang |
SAFE |
Kimora Amour | Bianca |
SAFE |
Stephanie Prince | Leather |
SAFE |
Synthia Kiss | Corsette |
SAFE |
Eve 6000 | Reveliana |
LOW |
Suki Doll | Bing |
LOW |
Icesis Couture | Lace |
BOTTOM 2 |
Océane Aqua-Black | Bong |
ELIMINATED |
Episode 7: "La Más Rosa Mexicano"
In this episode, the queens were tasked to take part in "La Novela: El Musical".
Musical Roles and Scores
Contestant | Musical Role | Runway Score |
Musical Score |
Overall Scores |
Placement | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Diva | Telenovela | |||||
Elektra Vandergeld | Teresa | Teresa | 10 | 10 | 20 | WINNER |
Vera Cruz | Ana María | Dos mujeres, un camino | 9 | 9 | 18 | HIGH |
Iris XC | Mia Colucci | RBD | 7 | 10 | 17 | HIGH |
Lupita Kush | Tania | Dos mujeres, un camino | 7 | 9 | 16 | SAFE |
Rebel Mörk | Diana Salazar | El extraño retorno de Diana Salazar | 7 | 8 | 15 | SAFE |
Georgiana | Luz Clarita | Luz Clarita | 8 | 6 | 14 | SAFE |
C-Pher | Marimar | Marimar | 8 | 5 | 13 | LOW |
La Morra Lisa | Lety | La fea más bella | 6 | 5 | 11 | BOTTOM 2 |
Leexa Fox | Mariana | Cómplices Al Rescate | 7 | 4 | 11 | BOTTOM 2 |
Silvana |
Episode 3: "Night of a Thousand Raffaella Carràs"
Queen | Raffaella Carrà Era | Placement |
---|---|---|
Divinity | TBA |
WIN |
Luquisha Lubamba | Tanti auguri |
HIGH |
Elecktra Bionic | Tanti auguri |
SAFE |
Enorma Jean | TBA |
SAFE |
Farida Kant | TBA |
SAFE |
Ava Hangar | TBA |
BTM2 |
Le Riche | TBA |
BTM2 |
Episode 3: "West End Wendys - The Rusical"
Queen | Role | Parodied Character | Placement |
---|---|---|---|
Pangina Heals | Widdle Orphan Fannie |
Annie Bennett (Annie) |
WINNER |
Janey Jacké | Meryl Streep |
Donna Sheridan-Carmichael (Mamma Mia!) |
WINNER |
Baga Chipz | Tracy Fatberg |
Tracy Turnblad (Hairspray) |
SAFE |
Blu Hydrangea | Mariah Gon Trappy |
Maria von Trapp (The Sound of Music) |
SAFE |
Mo Heart | Dr. Spank-n-Spurter |
Dr. Frank-N-Furter (The Rocky Horror Picture Show) |
LOW |
Jujubee | Lally Bowelz |
Sally Bowles (Cabaret) |
BOTTOM 2 |
Jimbo | Dodo the Dog |
Toto (The Wizard of Oz) |
ELIMINATED |
Episode 12: "Moulin Ru: The Rusical"
Queen | Role | Parodied Character | Placement |
---|---|---|---|
Lady Camden | ![]() Mama Z |
Harold Zidler | WINNER |
Willow Pill | ![]() Green Fairy |
The Green Fairy | HIGH |
Daya Betty | ![]() Uniqueness |
Pink | HIGH |
Angeria Paris VanMicheals | ![]() Charisma |
Mýa | SAFE |
DeJa Skye | ![]() Nerve |
Lil' Kim | LOW |
Jorgeous | ![]() Talent |
Christina Aguilera | BOTTOM 2 |
Bosco | ![]() Saltine |
Satine | CHOC |
Episode 4: "The Drag Calling"
Queen | Role | Placement |
---|---|---|
Estrella Xtravaganza | ![]() Milagritos |
WINNER |
Marina | ![]() Mary Corn |
HIGH |
Sharonne | ![]() Sor Bernarda |
HIGH |
Diamante Merybrown | ![]() Susanal |
SAFE |
Drag Sethlas | ![]() Autenticidad |
SAFE |
Venedita Von Däsh | ![]() Carácter |
SAFE |
Onyx | ![]() Madre Fundadora |
LOW |
Juriji Der Klee | ![]() Talento |
BOTTOM 2 |
Jota Carajota | ![]() Carisma |
ELIMINATED |
Trivia
- The challenge's name is a portmanteau of the words RuPaul and musical.
- The Rusical Challenge is so far the only main challenge that was never won by any of the crowned winners of regular seasons.
- The only season winner that won a Rusical in their Drag Race journey is Shea Couleé.
- However, she won season that didn't feature a Rusical Challenge (All Stars 5).
- The only season winner that won a Rusical in their Drag Race journey is Shea Couleé.
- Rusical challenge winners usually do very well in their season. The only Rusical winners to not make it to the finale are Chi Chi DeVayne, Alyssa Edwards and Janey Jacké (who all got eliminated an episode before the finale), Pangina Heals (who placed 6th) and The Vixen (who placed 7th).
- This does not count BenDeLaCreme who quit the competition voluntarily and Veronica Green who had to leave the competition due to health related issues.
- Seasons 10 and 12 are the only seasons to include two Rusicals.
- However, Season 12's second Rusical was a mix of Rusical and a Rumix challenge since queens had to write their own verses for the final act.
- Eureka! and Ginger Minj are the only queens to appear in four Rusicals.
- However, Ginger only competed on three of them.
- Eureka! competed on Kardashians: The Musical, PharmaRusical, Cher: The Unauthorized Rusical, and Hall of Fame Halftime Show.
- Ginger Minj competed on Glamazonian Airways, HERstory of The World, and Hall of Fame Halftime Show while her remaining fourth appearance was as a guest, starring on Trump: The Rusical on Season 11 as Trump himself.
- Gigi Goode and Janey Jacké are the only queens to win two Rusical challenges.
- Janey won Maxima: The Rusical in Drag Race Holland Season 1 and West End Wendys in UK Vs The World Season 1, whereas Gigi won both Rusicals in the same season.
- Jan's reaction to not winning Madonna: The Unauthorized Rusical has became one of the fan favorite moments of Season 12 and it was later included in MsMojo's Top 10 RuPaul's Drag Race Moments That Became Memes. [1]
- It has also become an essential part of Jan's branding after her season.
- Angele Anang, Symone and Icesis Couture are the only regular season winners to land in the Bottom Two in a Rusical challenge.
- Coincidentally, two of these three lip-syncs resulted in a Double Shantay and featured queens, who would later become their Runner-Ups, Kana Warrior and Kandy Muse, respectively.
- Katya is the only queen to land in the Bottom Two in a Rusical twice.
- Ginger Minj and The Vixen have the biggest placement discrepancy between the two Rusicals they participated in. They both won the first one (Glamazonian Airways and PharmaRusical respectively) and were eliminated on the second (HERstory of the World and Cher: The Unauthorized Rusical respectively).
- However The Vixen did this on one season.
- Alaska, Alyssa Edwards, Detox, Phi Phi O'Hara, Roxxxy Andrews, Bebe Zahara Benet, Shangela, Kylie Sonique Love, Pandora Boxx, Yara Sofia and Jujubee all competed in their first Rusical on their All Stars Seasons, because the Challenge wasn't invented yet during their first competitive season.
- Every queen who has been eliminated on a Rusical on All Stars has placed in the top for the Variety Show.
References
- ↑ Top 10 RuPaul's Drag Race Moments That Became Memes | MsMojo, YouTube, March 5, 2021