Talking Drag Heals with Tracey Erin Smith

For those who haven’t tuned in, what is Drag Heals all about?

Drag Heals is what happens when storytelling gets into bed with drag. It’s a beautiful combination of drag with the power, spiritual depth and human connection created through storytelling. We also showcase such a diverse group of artists each season. People of ages ranging from 19 to 74, different cultural backgrounds and different gender identities all come together and learn from each other’s stories. By the end of the process, they create a one person show that combines their drag artistry with their personal stories in a very entertaining and impactful way.

Drag Heals is unique in that it’s not a competition show, it’s not even a reality show…it’s a documentary. That’s an important distinction to make. The artists share such personal information and they share personal stories and experiences. They’re granted final say on what makes it into their episode, so we encourage them to dig as deep as they can throughout the process and if there’s anything they don’t feel comfortable with, we cut it out. This is what the whole messy creative process is about, encouraging people to take risks and then take what they’ve learned from their own story and shape it into their final show.

What makes this season stand out?

This is our youngest cast yet. They’re so brave and are dealing with material that sometimes can be too difficult to process until you’re older. I watched them push through their fears and their masks. We create these masks in our early years to keep us safe, and that’s a very important part of how we grow. As we become older these masks and defensive mechanisms become more like gargoyles. We become prisoners of these masks that we’ve created, and they often become the thing that stands between us and what we want. In order to build true meaningful human connections, we need to let go of our masks and be vulnerable with each other.

We’ve also had amazing support from our guest coaches. Costume designer Lucinda Miu, Choreographer Steven Chau and Drag Icon Farrah N. Hyte gave everything they could to help the artists shape their stories and they just did a fantastic job. I think it’s been really inspiring for the audience to see these young people go through the process. It’s been able to show us the possible levels of human connection that can be reached when we let our guards down.

Now that the show is wrapping up it’s fourth season, what are your hopes for the future of the show?

I would love to do a season five. I think the show just gets better and better and I  want to expand our reach of diversity. There are so many more stories out there that we can all learn from. We haven’t gotten to showcase a disabled person’s story yet and I think it would be great to continue amplifying our message that drag is for everyone.

We would also really like to take the show out of Toronto, and give the artists the opportunity to do their one-person shows on a stage in a city like New York. It could be the field trip of a lifetime!

What does it mean to be an ally?

There are four things that all allies should do; show up, listen, support, and speak up. We must speak up for  people who have it harder than us. We also need to show up for all the members of our communities. March in marches that aren’t necessarily for you. One of the most powerful things you can do for another human being is to show them they are not alone.  You can change and save lives by doing that.

I was doing a workshop with some students (grade 6, 7 and 8) in Alberta, a Canadian province where parents might be a little more conservative. When I was speaking to the students, I made sure that I wore my rainbow skateboard pin. I thought that if there were any kids in that group that already knew they were queer, or were thinking that they might be, I wanted them to know that I was a safe person to talk to and that what they were feeling is okay.

What does Pride mean to you?

I think it ties in with what I said about wearing the pin, but also when my partner and I are out, sometimes we’re the only same-sex couple or a queer couple in a space. I just make sure that we show that we’re close physically, and when I talk about my partner, I say her name because sometimes when people look at me, they may assume that I’d be with a David instead of a Sarah. For me, pride is just normalizing it. Having pride is a beautiful way to live a life and to love someone and I feel so lucky I’m able to live that way.

How did you become a TV Host? Was that something you always saw yourself doing?

I find it interesting that I’m called a TV host for Drag Heals because really what I’m doing is what I’m trained in. I’m an actor, I’m a playwright, I’m a solo performer. I’ve written six or seven full-length solo shows that I performed across Canada and in New York, and I’m a director.  I’ve directed literally hundreds of solo shows, as well as main stage shows for theatre which is exactly what I’m doing here on Drag Heals. It’s a world where theatre and television collide, which I think is so exciting because the viewer is seeing how a theatre show comes together.

Why is it so important for everyone to find a way to tell their own story?

A friend once shared a story with me a few years ago that I never forgot. He asked, “Do you know where the term masterpiece comes from?”

He told me it’s from the olden days. When someone who wanted to learn how to do an art form or a certain technique, they would study with a master. Every day an apprentice would work with the master and be taught different skills and learn how to create their own art and once their art is good enough, the apprentice becomes the master showcasing their “masterpiece.” Isn’t that interesting?

I tell this story because I want everyone to know that when you think about the process and take time out of your everyday life to reflect, what you’re doing is healing. The sharing of the story and having others witness it is also healing. The process can truly transform you, and you become your own teacher, and then go on to be a teacher or guide for others.