Drag Me to the Opera

What. A. Delight!! Most folks who know me know the deep love and appreciation I have for drag, but they may not also know how much I love operas. Put them both together and you have a show filled with heartfelt stories, soaring arias, and a delightful number of wig and costume changes. Fans may also be surprised to discover that opera has been made even more accessible to the typical Canadian audience member with lyrics in English, something I was both shocked and delighted by. Aida/Steven navigated the tiny stage like a true maestro of the arts, and as a vocalist who has also often wondered if the art I love is the career for me, I truly appreciated the story of the life that led them to finding their voice.

Absolutely loved this performance. Well known arias were performed fabulously and paired with a heartfelt commentary on their journey with music.

I then went down to the Stardust Bar + Kitchen to see Steven Morton’s show Drag Me To the Opera. This show is so clever, beautiful and multilayered. We are introduced to Aida Cupcake, a drag queen who performs soprano opera roles, but she is telling the true autobiographical story of Steven Morton, the writer and performer of the piece, who dropped out of business school in University quite abruptly to switch into studying voice with the dream of someday becoming an opera singer. Inter-spliced between the parts of this story that take Steven from Calgary to British Columbia to Weimar, Germany, and back to Calgary Aida Cupcake sings a selection of arias from Romeo and Juliet to Dido and Aeneas, which is interesting because Steven himself is performing tenor roles during this time in his life. But, there’s something wrong. The feedback that he gets from a panel in Germany has the power to careen his singing career all together. The discrepancy between what his voice can do in these soprano roles and what he’s being told is lacking in his performance as a tenor is beautifully illustrated through Aida Cupcake. Click the link for the full review

This show does an incredible job of weaving together drag, opera, acting, comedy, and heartfelt storytelling. It's one of those shows were you don't have to know anything about any of those elements because it's accessible and enjoyable for everyone. It was a packed house and it seemed like everyone walked away in love with the show.

Every time I have the chance to see this show, I realize how poignant, funny and brilliantly performed it is. Moreover, I have seen how this Fringe actor continues to level up the show - - it just gets better and better. The venue is perfect - the tech work is on point - and Aida Cupcake is AMAZING. The gorgeous singing is matched by the strong acting (and comedic timing) - and the moment of vulnerability in the show always makes me cry. NO SPOILERS - just suggesting that you need to see this show… more than once! I’m going for a second helping of cupcakes - will I see you there?

What an absolute delight to watch this performance. Touching one-man show, brilliantly timed comedy, touchingly genuine drama, and high caliber opera singing blended with multiple on-stage costume changes, all while telling the story of a young man finding his voice. The audience is guided through beautifully written prose and smooth transitions to tell the young man's tale. Each musical number is seamlessly brought into the story, with context for the non-musically informed. Aida Cupcake entertains with wit and class, and just enough camp to really bring on the giggles, without losing the thread and gravitas of the tale. Brava.

The performance was funny and astounding. Absolutely wonderful voice. I highly recommend seeing this show. The songs tell the story and it certainly was a story of a determined young man.

Great performance

Aida Cupcake takes us through their life of pursuing a career in opera with stories both tragic and triumphant, all wrapped up in a glorious voice and delicious frosting. This was my fourth time seeing this wonderful performance.

As a connoisseur of solo shows and a fan of both music and drag, this production should’ve been right up my alley. And while it turned out not to be my particular cup of tea, the audience I sat in seemed to be quite taken by this unique diva who zestily drove through a cavalcade of arias, wigs, costume changes, characters (and lifechanging events) before our very eyes.

This production is the true personal account of a man who tries to find his way in a particular musical world with very peculiar standards. There is much in our hero’s journey here that we can relate to: the self-doubt we battle when following our dreams, the expectations we put on ourselves and others, and the price of authenticity in a world that can’t always handle what makes us unique.

As a gay person myself, I have a very real connection to the art of drag and have certain tastes (and opinions) about what makes it good (for me). This is definitely a queen whose audience makeup was majority straight-presenting couples of middle age (and older), so I learned that I wasn’t necessary the target demographic for this one. At some level though, I was hearted to see how responsive the audience was to a man singing earnestly in a dress. They were laughing in one breath and captivated in another. And for that, in the year 2025, I can only call that a success.

Drag Me to the Opera delivers plenty of laughs and glitter, but what makes it stand out is the honesty underneath. Aida Cupcake blends drag, comedy, and soaring opera with a moving story about chasing big dreams while wrestling with doubt. The mix of humour and vulnerability keeps the show both entertaining and relatable. It’s bold, heartfelt, and one of those Fringe shows that stays with you long after the final note.

In just 60 minutes, Drag Me to the Opera takes you on a ride that’s dramatic, hilarious, and heart-piercing in equal measure. Aida Cupcake sashays through arias and trauma with effortless bravado—only to stop, wig in hand, and remind you that behind all the glitter, there’s a human story worth savouring. It’s the kind of show that makes you cheer, weep, and leave whispering, “If only all opera were this fun.”

I went in expecting camp and comedy — and I got that in spades — but Drag Me to the Opera surprised me with how deeply it hit. The story of a young man chasing his dream of becoming an opera singer while battling imposter syndrome and self-doubt felt achingly real.

I laughed, I cried. The mix of fun facts, drag performance, and beautifully sung arias pulled me right in. The arias especially cut through — those moments where the music lifted the emotions so high I felt them in my chest.

What I loved most is how the show celebrates finding your authentic self. It doesn’t just tell you “be yourself,” it shows the messy, funny, heartbreaking journey of what that actually looks like. By the end, I felt like I’d been taken on a ride that was equal parts fabulous and profound.

For anyone who loves opera, drag, or simply a story that makes you feel seen, this is one not to miss.