EDGE Interview: Rosé's Fabulous Summer Includes Pink Blunts and Killer Robots

Fans of "RuPaul's Drag Race" happily remember Rosé, the Season 13 finalist who won three challenges, including the "Rusical" challenge in which they all but channeled Barbra Streisand in a defense of being sexually provocative on the internet. But Rosé, the alter-ego of Ross Matthew McCorkell, is no stranger to Broadway, having gotten the performance bug as a child and confirmed it when their dad took them to four Broadway shows on consecutive nights. They had come from the rural Texan town the family had relocated to when McCorkell was 10 from Scotland, and remembered learning to speak with a twang to blend in at school; then came college in Kansas, where McCorkell trained for theater. After that, they returned to New York, this time as a performer.

McCorkell worked steadily as a performer, but tuning into their queer identity, became tired of being cast as a straight man with romantic interests in women. And McCorkell always loved drag. "I was like, 'Fuck this. Fuck theater for a second. Fuck, you know, acting.' I decided to create my own character," McCorkell explains. "But I had no idea that so much of myself would just pour out of me when I created Rosé. And because of all my acting experience, I was ready to go right out the box. I knew the stage very well. I can sing, I'm an actor, I'm funny, I'm good on the mic, so I started working immediately, and I was really good at drag, and it just kept going and going. And here we are today."

That is Provincetown, where Rosé is performing a one-woman show "Rosé and the Big Pink Blunt!" at the Art House through Saturday. But don't expect Rosé to be around for Carnival. Next stop for the multi-talented drag star is the West Coast where Rosé will be starring in a tour of the hit satiric musical "MEG4N. The Unauthorized Musical Parody," which after seven stops returns to Provincetown for a week-long engagement in September.

For more on "Rosé and the Big Pink Blunt!," click here. For more on "MEG4N. The Unauthorized Parody Musical," click here.

EDGE spoke to Rosé about pink blunts, killer robots, and their dream Broadway role.

EDGE: And let's talk about "Rosé and the Big Pink Blunt!" How'd it come about?

Rosé: Well, I've just been thinking for about a year that I really need to do a big one woman show. I haven't done one since "Drag Race." I shouldn't say big, just a one woman show. It is just something that's so in my wheelhouse to do. I wrote one that gives me the opportunity to perform some of my favorite songs. And I found one, and it comes about after I smoke a hallucinating blunt – this giant glittery, bright pink blunt. The show is interrupted by my drug dealer who calls to tell me that they accidentally gave me the wrong blunt and the one I smoked contained a lot of hallucinations. So right after I've smoked the whole thing, I realize that it's going on a trip in which I hallucinating. I have a conversation with the voice in my head who tells me how to find the love of life, whom we've decided is in the audience. And I find him in every show! But I don't want to give too much away because there are surprises.

EDGE: The songs you sing are pretty much pop songs, but you don't include much from Broadway...

Rosé: Not too much Broadway. I do sing "I'll Never Fall In Love Again" from "Promises, Promises," That's in there. But, no, there's not too much Broadway. There's a little Barbra Streisand – a little "Funny Girl," so I guess I should say there's a little Leah Michelle in there. But it is mostly pop music and include songs by Amy Winehouse, Victoria Monét, Celine Dion, John Legend, Beyoncé, The Who, Troye Sivan, Kim Petras, Chappell Roan, and Patsy Cline. The accompaniment is pre-recorded tracks. I mixed the score and arranged these songs to be one long continuum. They are my arrangements that I worked on with a colleague – but they are custom arrangements of some music that you love but given the Rosé twist.

EDGE: Do you enjoy being alone on stage?

Rosé: I love it. I feel like my whole life, any time I've been on stage with other people, I've been dying to steal all spotlight, and in this show, I am in the spotlight. What is great is starring in something that I've created, something that I've conceptualized. I am excited about having the power and the choice to change things every night if I want. To improvise based on what the vibe of the of the show is feeling like.

EDGE: And you're doing another show coming up – a musical parody of the film "MEG4N"?

Rosé: Yes. "MEG4N. The Unauthorized Parody Musical." I basically do my shows this week and then go off to the West Coast to start rehearsals. It was a musical that premiered last October in Los Angeles and was a hit, so the producers decided to take it on tour. And asked me if I'd be interested to star. I was like a hundred-thousand percent! I've actually done my own MEG4N. I created my own material last year based on the film and the doll, as well as creating my own MEG4N look. So this show is a really fun fit. It's a four-person, hour-long show. There are around 10 original songs. And then, of course, I sing "Titanium," the hit that they used in the movie that's associated with MEG4N. The show is absolutely hilarious. And I'm so excited to jump into that.

EDGE: Did anyone associated with the show know you had created your own MEG4N?

Rosé: They had no idea I bring along my on Rosé-styled costume and wig. I am ready to go, sweetie! I come prepared. I've got everything I need. And it is funny that this character keeps popping up because in real life, I am kind of a robot as well.

EDGE: And you're bringing it to Ptown?

Rosé: Yes, I'm just obsessed with Ptown this season. I believe it's the first week of September, also live at the Art House. So, I better make a good impression this week!