RuPaul’s Queens Stop By Logan Square’s 'Drag Race: The Experience' For Meet-And-Greet

LOGAN SQUARE — Chicago holds a special place in Darlene Mitchell’s heart.

It’s where Mitchell came out and where she saw her first drag performance — and this week, she returned to the city as part of her “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season 18 press tour.

Mitchell, who lived in Chicago 2009-2013 while attending Columbia College, is one of the 14 queens battling for the “Drag Race” crown this season. On Thursday, Mitchell and her fellow contestants stopped by Drag Race: The Experience in Logan Square to promote the latest season, which premieres Jan. 2.

“I loved my time in Chicago. I feel like I really found myself and learned what I was capable of here,” said Mitchell, who grew up in north-central Indiana.

Drag Race: The Experience opened at the end of November at Exhibition Hub Art Center, 2367 W. Logan Blvd. The immersive residency was originally set to end Dec. 30, but it has been extended through the end of February. It features interactive challenges, exclusive unseen footage from the show and recreations of iconic locations like the Werk Room.

Drag Race: The Experience is at Exhibition Hub Art Center at 2367 W. Logan Blvd. through February. Credit: Molly DeVore/ Block Club Chicago

Ciara Myst, a season 18 contestant from Indianapolis, said walking through The Experience felt “fresh, but also somehow very familiar.”

“It looks just like the Werk Room we know,” she said. “They got it down to everything but a lipstick message from some diva who just left.”

Chicago’s Drag Race: The Experience is the first of its kind. In a statement, Bailey and Randy Barbato, the co-founders of World of Wonder, the company putting on the experience, said they chose Chicago to be The Experience’s first stop because the city is “home to some of America’s most celebrated drag queens, and during these challenging times we wanted to spread the light and joy of drag.”

Drag in Chicago dates back more than a century. Bars like the former Baton Show Lounge and Charlie’s Chicago became known as drag staples, and many Chicago queens have competed on “Drag Race” over the years.

Drag Race: The Experience is at Exhibition Hub Art Center at 2367 W. Logan Blvd. through February. Credit: Molly DeVore/ Block Club Chicago

During the Thursday event, five fans got to meet the season 18 contestants. Fans were selected after tagging their friends in a post on social media. Carlos Ortega, who lives in Little Village, said he was “starstruck” when he found out he won.

“It’s so crazy that this is the actual size of everything in the show. I almost feel like we are in the TV,” Ortega said.

Ortega, who performs drag under the name Ada la Muñeca, which loosely translates to “fairy doll,” said it’s important to support Chicago’s local drag scene. Some of his favorite drag spots are Roscoe’s Tavern in Boystown and Fantasy Nightclub in Lakeview.

“Drag is super fun and super inspiring,” Ortega said. “To have queer joy represented on TV is really cool to see.”

Tickets for Drag Race: The Experience can be bought here. General admission starts at $59, and VIP tickets, which include a meet-and-greet with a “RuPaul’s Drag Race” queen, start at $177.

Check out more photos from inside Drag Race: The Experience:

Drag Race: The Experience is at Exhibition Hub Art Center at 2367 W. Logan Blvd. through February. Credit: Molly DeVore/ Block Club Chicago