Thorgy Thor is a New York City-based drag performance artist, entertainer, musician and event host. Since appearing on season 8 of RuPaul's Drag Race and All Stars season 3, Thorgy has been traveling the world, bringing to audiences her trademark wit, sense of humor and musical charm.  

On Saturday, June 21, Thorgy Thor & the Thorchestra will collaborate with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in a performance that combines drag, music and comedy. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are available here.

Thorgy studied music at the University of Hartford in Connecticut before graduating from the State University of New York, Purchase, with a Bachelor of Music in both viola and violin performance. 

Thorgy has appeared on Amazon’s “Mozart in the Jungle,” where she showcased her violin skills in drag. Thorgy has also been a repeat guest on Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live,” appearing alongside Goldie Hawn, Amy Schumer, Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda. 

In 2018, the show “Thorgy Thor and the Thorchestra” was created in collaboration with Canadian conductor Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, blending orchestral performances of traditional and modern classical repertoire and contemporary pop songs. Since then, Thorgy has performed with Pittsburgh Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Seattle Symphony and many more.

Recently, OnMilwaukee had the opportunity to chat with Thorgy about her life, music and Milwaukee.

OnMilwaukee: When did you start playing violin? Did you come from a musical family?

Thorgy Thor: My family is not very musical, but I have a very musical aunt on my mother’s side. She is ridiculous, gorgeous and funny. And we have the same birthday. Geminis!

I was a very theatrical kid, but mostly I had a LOT of energy. My mom loves to tell the story of when I was 5 or 6 and she took me to MoMA (Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan) and I knocked a piece of art off the wall. So my parents put me in anything they could to keep me busy. They started with swimming lessons, but I was allergic to chlorine. 

In 4th grade, I started to play the violin, and my teachers said I was very talented. So my parents were smart enough to push me and get me private lessons. I got very long, very quickly – I’m 6-foot-3-inches – and I started playing viola because I had very long arms. I later taught myself the cello.

I am very lucky to have a family who supported me. Reaching out to young people is a very important part of my work today. Creating a family-friendly show was very important to me. And it definitely is.

Your stage name “Thorgy” (pronounced THOR-G) comes from the middle name given to you at birth by your parents. What did you think of that middle name growing up?

I realized very young that it was a very cool name. My first name is Shane, but a lot of people called me Thor. My mother is 100 percent Norwegian, and my grandfather’s name was Thor and my grandmother’s name, Thora.

What should people expect who come to your show? 

I’ve been doing this show since 2018. I realize the audience is really mixed. Some are there for a classical music show, some for a drag show. Some for both. Everyone should expect to be welcome. I open every show with, “Hello everyone! My name is Thorgy. How many of you bought a ticket because you saw me on RuPaul? How many of you have season tickets and have no idea who I am?” They clap, they laugh. Then I say, “You are sitting next to someone you might never sit next to at any other concert.”

They should also expect humor. The show is funny. No one needs to be nervous about (the sound of) unwrapping a throat lozenge. It’s drag and humor paying homage to the orchestral space.

What is the show about?

The show tells the story of music and fashion, from Bach to Beyoncé. It’s educational, comical and beautifully symphonic.

What do you hope to receive from Milwaukee?

I want to meet the queens after the show. I wanna meet the people of Milwaukee. (There is a meet-and-greet after the performance.)

How would you describe your experience on RuPaul’s Drag Race?

Traumatic. I was eliminated twice. And I loved it. Season 8 was so much fun. RuPaul is wonderful. She always remembers me when we cross paths. She always asks, “Thorgy, how are the strings going?” I’m honored. There have been more than 300 queens on the show, and she remembers me.

What do you want to share with Milwaukee about the art of drag?

I know drag is not for everyone. That’s fine – I’m not here to force anything. But what I do protest and get angry is when people try to prevent me from doing what I do. But I always respond with honey. I’m an intellectual. I like to sit down and talk. We can meet in the middle. It’s OK. 

Get tickets to Thorgy Thor & The Thorchestra with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra here.