Christmas’ Time
Photo of Lucifer Christmas by Mélis Kouyomjian Kemp
From drag at Jacque's to DIY parties at JP’s Midway Cafe, Boston has long been home to a thriving, creative cabaret scene. Now, one veteran performer / producer is bringing their love of all things queer and fantastic to MetroWest with Hot & Heavenly Cabaret on February 11.
atac: What does someone named Lucifer Christmas do, exactly?
LC: I'm an events producer, performer, instructor, ecdysiast, musician, emcee, pickle enthusiast, and all around queerdo based in Central Massachusetts. I've been performing for most of my life and became a professional drag and burlesque entertainer a little more than a decade ago. I've been lucky enough in my performance and "civilian" career to have traveled all over the country and world making art, getting weird, and most importantly, making people smile—even if just for an evening or afternoon.
atac: It’s nice to know Lucifer is bringing joy to the people. Where are you originally from and what set you on a path to performance?
LC: I moved around a bit when I was younger, but I settled in Massachusetts right after graduate school. I tell people I'm from here because this is the longest I've ever lived anywhere (almost twenty years).
I've always been a gender bender and performer—as a kid we never had enough boys for theatrical productions and I was always more than happy to take those on. When I moved to Boston, I met my queer family, had my first exposure to drag of all sorts (queens, kings, monsters, "things"), and the rest is history. I started out as a volunteer, working behind the scenes for my drag dad and family, and also playing pickup artist for local burlesque troupes. The gals worked with me and encouraged me to audition and try my first competitions. My drag dad put me in my first show by showing up at my day job with a stack of show posters with my name on them and saying "Do you know how much this cost me? Now you have to get on stage."
atac: Who you love to have on during a set? Music-wise?
LC: I'm all over the place when it comes to music—but if I had to pick three artists based on who I like to perform to, I'd most definitely have to go with Queen, Led Zeppelin, and David Bowie. Offstage I listen to quite a lot of heavy metal, as well as Lady Gaga, but I rarely perform to either.
atac: What artists are you looking to; who is inspiring in the burlesque scene?
LC: Look up Alternatease Boston if you want a taste of some truly glorious, off-the-wall New England entertainment. In terms of burlesque and performance art, my favorite performers include Tigger! the godfather of boylesque, Pearl Noire (take her classes-they will change your life!), and pretty much anyone I've shared a stage with in Boston. There's a ridiculous amount of hidden talent here.
The most influential burlesque show I ever saw was my first one: a midnight movie and Black Cat Burlesque production. It was not at all what I was expecting or thought burlesque was. And it was fabulous. It changed my life--seriously--in a big way. Shoutout to local legends Mary Widow and Devilicia who continue to inspire me on and offstage since.
atac: What about MetroWest / outside of Boston?
LC: As I’ve mentioned several of them, I'll use this space to encourage folks to support OutMetrowest and your local GSAs. Anything that gives LGBTQIA youth space to be themselves is necessary and needed. I wish I'd had something like that when I was younger. And book drag kings! My brother, Jayden Jamison KA St. James, a former Mistah Boston Pride, teaches an incredible drag king workshop called Kingdom that culminates in a show in April. Please go support these entertainers—kings are incredible and still underrepresented in queer spaces.
L. Christmas on the floor with Ian Syder-Blake at the very first drag kings night at the Austin International Drag Fest in 2014/15. Photo byMélis Kouyomjian Kemp.
atac: What’s been your toughest gig?
LC: A few years ago, between being on tour as an artist and working a day job where I was also on camera talent. I had a month where I was in multiple states and something like five different countries. With all the travel, at one point I realized I'd been awake and working for more than 26 hours straight. Another person on the talent crew and I were literally slapping each other in the face to try to stay awake before going on stage.
atac: Twenty-six hours is too many hours in a row to be working. Any advice to help emerging acts…avoid face slapping. Or just to be prepared?
LC: Find a mentor, and also, be bad. Make bad art. Make mistakes. Put the worst thing possible on stage first just to get it over with and say you did it. Go to an open stage, check things out, throw your hat in the ring. Be kind, be humble, and have fun.
atac: When traveling, what do you seek out or avoid. Like tourist stuff, off stage…
LC: Two pieces of advice from time on the road: always hit up the flea markets. Take early morning walks when you can. And don't stay somewhere just because it's listed as "haunted." Unfortunately I've learned the hard way that "haunted" is often actually code for "we don't clean very well."
Pictured above Leather Pixie (green costume), Pearl Buttons (red robe with blonde hair), Jolie LaVie, black corset and skirt. Photos by Roger Gordy.
atac: What are you up to when you put the metaphorical pitchfork down?
LC: I'm very lucky to have a creative day job, but making work and writing for other people is not the same as creating for oneself. Offstage I like to make vegan boas and pasties for other entertainers, cook, brew fire cider, forage, and chill at home with my family. My civilian-real life-persona is incredibly different from who I am on stage.
atac: What’s the vibe going to be on Feb 11th?
LC: When you come to one of my shows, I like to pretend that we're sitting together in my living room and you're all dear friends that I've invited to see some truly incredible performances. I view producing as a way to share what brings me joy with others, and to create a space where everyone feels included, and maybe even learns something about themselves—or about life in general. My biggest goal, when you come to a Lucifer Christmas show, is that you leave smiling and with something you want to Google once you're back home.
atac: Lucifer, the mic is yours. Any final thoughts?
LC: Support local artists! Support weirdo art made in basements, support femmes, trans people, and off the wall productions. If you're not able to attend shows, contact venues and ask to sponsor tickets for folks who don't have the means to pay. Write letters of support for LGBTQIA+ programming. And tell your queer kiddos you love them.
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Hot and Heavenly Cabaret is taking place on Saturday Night, February 11. You can get a full list of performers and grab tickets here.
