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

EDGE: In your Playbill video, you talk about how your father took you to four Broadway shows on a visit to New York and how that changed your life.

Rosé: When I was 15, my dad took me to New York so I could see and feel the dream that I was formulating as a kid, which is that to be on stage and become a big Broadway star. Yeah, my dad did that when I was a kid, and it was very influential, very influential indeed.

EDGE: Do you see Broadway in your future?

Rosé: Oh, yeah, absolutely, absolutely. But I've accepted that it needs to be the right time, the right idea, the right place; but I see that coming. In fact, the only thing that will stop me from being on Broadway at some point is death. Fingers crossed, but I think it'll happen one day. But I'm not in a rush. I got lots of stuff going on that's really fun right now. And drag is being celebrated on Broadway. Drag stars are celebrated on Broadway right now. And I don't necessarily need to do it in drag. I can star as myself.

EDGE: That's true too. You are comfortable and capable of performing in and out of drag, which makes you something special as a performer.

Rosé: Thank you. Yes, before I was a drag queen, I was pursuing a performance career without ever imagining I would do drag professionally. And I would like to perform as myself because drag can be really uncomfortable. It is nice to have a break sometimes.

EDGE: You mentioned how difficult drag can be...

Rosé: Drag is hard work. It's taxing, and I have to take breaks; but I love the work so much. I love drag. I love performing. And I love Rosé so much that I don't even think about it. I think that drag is really special. It's not the only thing I want to do with my life. I don't want to do it forever, but Rosé is always going to part of my life. She will always pop up for special appearances. Drag has really showed me who I am and showed the world who I am, so that's nice.

EDGE: Did you audition for "Drag Race?" Did it take some time to get on?

Rosé: I got on my second try, which I'm so grateful for. I got on at the very right time because I needed an extra time to prepare. It would not have been good if I had gone on the first time because I had been doing drag for two or three years and was still learning, still developing who Rosé is. So it was the perfect time to go on the show.

EDGE: Was it difficult during the show, during the pandemic?

Rosé: It was very difficult. But again, it was just the only choice we had, and it was my dreams coming true. So, despite the hard work and the stress, it was worth it. I was pursuing what I love. And it was really fun.

EDGE: Were you happy with the edit that you received on the show?

Rosé: Oh, my God, I was thrilled. Are you kidding? Yeah, I didn't get in one fight. But I was very strategic with how I was going to be received, and it way worked in my favor. I don't recommend doing that, because it's really difficult to care that much. But at the time, it was a good idea. And I'm very happy with how it turned out. I think I was perceived very honestly. The goods and bads, ups and downs. I thought it was a good representation of me. I'm not one of those who feel betrayed by the edit.

EDGE: Would you go back and do another show in the franchise?

Rosé: I would love to go back. But I am also happy that the opportunity hasn't presented itself quite yet, because I wanted to grow more. Today, though, I feel now that Rosé has grown up and is ready to win. I was under a lot of pressure getting that much attention at once. All I ever wanted was to have acquired some level of fame and have people know who I am and want to see my work. But it's really hard. Being on the show was like such a double-edged sword. It was the best thing to ever happen to me, but also gave me a whole list of issues and problems. That's life, so I've been working through those issues, and I feel really at peace and confident these days. I think it would be really fun to go back and care as much, not be so strategic, and not be so obsessed with how people perceive me.

EDGE: You also did the "Werq the World Tour." How was that?

Rosé: Yes. I feel like I've been on that tour and similar shows since I did "Drag Race," which was a couple years ago. I so enjoyed it. It was amazing to travel to all these places, especially coming out of the pandemic. We were the first "Drag Race" show to tour after the pandemic. People were so hungry, not just for drag but for us, specifically – the personalities they had fallen in love with. They were just hungry to go see live entertainment. So there was amazing energy to be in those big arenas and stadiums, and to travel the world. It was just so glamorous. I love it. I love it. But again, you know, I feel like now I've matured into a place where I want to... I want to stay on center stage the whole time.

EDGE: You did a terrific Playbill video that had you dress up and talk about your favorite roles, which included the MC in "Cabaret," that was, of course, such a memorable role for Alan Cumming. And in the video you talked about how iconic Alan Cumming is as a Scottish performer. And is even more famous now as host of the Peacock reality show "The Traitors," for which he was recently nominated for an Emmy against RuPaul. The show is bringing drag stars into its mix of contestants. Would you like to be included?

Rosé: Several people have asked me that and I would absolutely entertain the idea. I think that would be really fun. And the show's amazing, and it's such a hit. People love it. I don't love reality TV for myself, but it is... it is fine. I mean, I would do it in a second.

EDGE: And, last question: If a producer wanted to bring you to Broadway and gave you the choice of a role, what would that be?

Rosé: If it was one, it would probably be a "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" revival, but we just had one of those a few years ago, and it was really successful. So I don't know how soon that'll be, but if it was one show, one role, it would be Hedwig. And what's funny is that, it's not a one-woman show – Hedwig does share the stage with others, but she's on stage by herself nearly the entire show and must carry the show. I would love to rise to that challenge, and it's very meaningful to me that it's in drag.

For more on "Rosé and the Big Pink Blunt!," click here. The show continues at the Art House, July 26 and 27. For more on "MEG4N. The Unauthorized Parody Musical," click here.