Directed by Adam Shankman and starring Mother Ru herself, Stop! That! Train! has a fabulous cast of RuPaul's Drag Race queens like Ginger Minj, Jujubee, Latrice Royale, Brooke Lynn Hytes, Symone, and Marcia Marcia Marcia. This is no Drag Race acting challenge, however; this is a film with a theatrical release. Together, these queens hit their comedic, camp, and even dramatic notes as actors portraying stewardesses aboard the Glamazonian Express as its speeds toward the potential disaster of a Stormaganza.
Though MonĆ©t X Change and Angeria Paris VanMicheals are also in the movie ā in pretty hilarious scenes, one might add! ā they make cameos in Stop! That! Train! that feel similar to the other guest actors popping in and out of the story.
And while Ru is a scene-stealer as President Gagwell, the emotional core of this story belongs to Ginger Minj and Jujubee. As Tess and DeeDee, respectively, they navigate friendship; mean-girl coworkers in the characters played by Brooke Lynn Hytes, Symone, and Marcia, Marcia, Marcia; the survival of their passengers; and even some romance. (Royale, amusingly, seems to wear 100 wigs as Barbra, a former colleague of Tess and DeeDee's who pops up in different jobs throughout the film.)
Out interviewed these six queens ahead of the film's premiere this Friday, and the result is a fabulous conversation about creating these characters, filming the movie, and setting expectations for the fans to come out and see what they've all created.
Ginger Minj as Tess
Ginger Minj as Tess
World of Wonder/Bleecker Street
Describe! Your! Character!
Tess dreams big, "but she's not quite sure how to get it," Ginger Minj notes, adding that her friendship with DeeDee is "a little codependent" at times. "In the face of the Stormaganza, they both learn a little bit more about themselvesā¦it helps them get to their full potential."
Favorite! Moment! Filming!
"We were on a little bit of a break, and Jujubee started making whale sounds," Ginger says of her favorite day on set. "And then, from behind us, RuPaul started making whale sounds." The bit "went on and on for a very long time," Ginger says, which put them at ease. "RuPaul was there just to play with usā¦We really clicked with her as a coworker, instead of her being the almighty RuPaul that she always is."
Bonus: Invite! The! Fans!
"I would say come and see it in the theater, because that's where it's playing. It has everything! It's got drag queens, it's got disasters, it's got musical numbers, it's got Raggedy Ann dollsā¦ well, unbranded Raggedy Ann dolls. [Laughs.] What more could you want? We all need to laugh right now. Honestly, this is the best way to do it."
Jujubee as DeeDee
Jujubee as DeeDee, RuPaul as President Judy Gagwell, Ginger Minj as Tess
World of Wonder/Bleecker Street
Describe! Your! Character!
DeeDee "lives in a fantasy world where everything is perfect," Jujubee says. However, the Stormaganza changes everything. "This film is a real coming of age story for DeeDee" she muses, estimating that the character is probably 27. "Does she find love? Does she have time to pee? Does she listen to her new EP, Mess For You, released June 5? Does she actually Stop! That! Train!? There's only one way to find out."
Favorite! Moment! Filming!
Jujubee loves the reconciliation scene between her character and Ginger's. "We had truly embodied Tess and Dee, two best friends and train stewardesses who had a fight in real life but came back together and became better versions of themselves," she notes. "For it to be captured in a comedy movie ā it really grounded us. Not just as drag queens, but as fierce actors. Oh, and Adam loved it."
Bonus: Invite! The! Fans!
"Well, sweetie, what else are you gonna do? Stay home on the couch and watch nothing and eat potato chips? Come out to the movies, Stop! That! Train!, and have some popcorn with extra, extra butter. Honey, mmmkayyy!"
Latrice Royale as Barbra
Latrice Royale as Barbra, director Adam Shankman
World of Wonder/Bleecker Street
Describe! Your! Character!
Latrice Royale's character has a hilarious omnipresence in Stop! That! Train!. "Barbra is that girl! One thing about her is that she's always going to keep a job," Latrice teases. "She's witty, funny, got lots of life experience. Sounds familiar?!"
Favorite! Moment! Filming!
Latrice recalls Adam telling her, "'Ya know what makes my job easier? Having the right people in the right role,'" she recalls. "I took that as high praise! Truly a compliment and testament to my work." We know that's right!
Bonus: Invite! The! Fans!
"I was saying it before I even saw the movie, 'Run, don't walk, to grab tickets.' Now that I've seen itā¦ I'm doubling down! It is exactly the escape we need."
Brooke Lynn Hytes as Amber
Marcia Marcia Marcia as Alli, Brooke Lynn Hytes as Amber, Symone as Ayshleiygh
World of Wonder/Bleecker Street
Describe! Your! Character!
"Amber is so much fun. Everyone loves a Mean Girls moment, and no one is as iconic as Regina George," Brooke Lynn Hytes says. "I guess that makes me the Rachel McAdams of drag? [Laughs.] She's bitchy, yeah, but she's a perfectionist. She wants everything done properly. I can relate to that."
Favorite! Moment! Filming!
"I mean, everyone dreams to be read to filth and slapped by RuPaulā¦ Come on!" Brooke teases. "People always ask me if I've ever had an 'I made it moment,' and I think that counts, no?"
Bonus: Invite! The! Fans!
"Get ready to laugh! You film these things with incredible writers, cast, and the Adam Shankman, and you know it's funny. But being in the room with all that joy and laughter really solidified it for me. Gather your best Judys, go to a fancy dinner, dress up, and make it whole night. You'll be so glad you did."
Symone as Ayshleiygh
Brooke Lynn Hytes as Amber, Symone as Ayshleiygh, Marcia Marcia Marcia as Alli
World of Wonder/Bleecker Street
Describe! Your! Character!
"Ayshleiygh is the definition of a dedicated train attendant," Symone confesses. "She's running purely on vibes, beta blockers, and whatever helps her survive the chaos of the day. Beneath all the comedy, she's just trying to keep it together in the midst of the train derailing. Which, honestly, feels very relatable right now." That's tea!
Favorite! Moment! Filming!
Symone loved filming Ayshleiygh's "beta-blocker, falling-down scene" in Stop! That! Train!. "We had to shoot it multiple times," she says, noting that the cast and crew kept laughing and "coming over to hype me up." Symone adds, "It was one of the first moments where I really settled into the character. I felt like, 'OK, I'm in here now. Let's keep that feeling going.'"
Bonus: Invite! The! Fans!
"This movie has comedy, action, drama, satire, and drag queens trying to stop a train from derailing during a Stormaganza. But, at its core, the goal was always joyā¦I think audiences are really craving that kind of laughter and escape right now. It's the perfect movie to see with friends, family, community, or even on a first date."
Marcia Marcia Marcia as Alli
Marcia Marcia Marcia as Alli, Ginger Minj as Tess, Brooke Lynn Hytes as Amber, Jujubee as DeeDee, Symone as Ayshleiygh
World of Wonder/Bleecker Street
Describe! Your! Character!
"Alli is a combination of Gretchen and Karen in Mean Girls," Marcia says. "She's not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but she's eager to please her queen bee, Amber."
Favorite! Moment! Filming!
Marcia, who played Victor on Broadway's Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club (billed as Marty Lauter) and was an understudy for the Emcee ā played by actors Eddie Redmayne, Orville Peck, and Billy Porter ā felt "the most seen during the musical numbers" and loved to "weaponize my BFA for the man who created one of the greatest movie-musical adaptations in history: Hairspray."
Bonus: Invite! The! Fans!
"Amber, Alli, and Ayshleiygh believe punctuality is very important, so if you want a shot at being a stewardess on the cuntiest railroad in these United States, you better buy at least five tickets to the opening weekend of Stop! That! Train!."
Stop! That! Train! rides into theaters June 12.
