From Milton Berle to RuPaul, middle America has been obsessed with drag queens for some fifty years. So it's not such a stretch that on his latest series, Drag U, RuPaul is actually transforming average housewives, moms, sister and friends into over-the-top drag queens. Among those helping Ru with the dragulation is RuPaul's Drag Race Season 2 favorite, Pandora Boxx, a kitschy platinum goddess who's part Judy Holliday, part Talullah Bankhead with a healthy dose of Kathy Griffin and Cyndi Lauper. Currently on a multi-city tour, Pandora Boxx will be performing two shows in Nashville on Friday, August 27 at PLAY Dance Bar located at 1519 Church Street. "We have watched RuPaul's Drag Race from the start and Pandora stood out for her vibrant and creative personality," said PLAY co-owner, Joe Brown. "We look forward to having her at PLAY."
Having been a big fan of Pandora's myself--my friend Suzanne and I felt she was robbed when she didn't win RuPaul's Drag Race--I was thrilled when she agreed to take part in my latest RAPID FIRE 20 Q. Taking creative license with the old adage, behind every good drag queen, there's a great man, I decided to split the interview with ten questions for Pandora and ten for the man behind the drag, Michael Steck. Since he's mostly in Pandora's shadow, I began with Michael.

RAPID FIRE 10 Q with MICHAEL STECK, the man behind Pandora Boxx

JP: Has Pandora always been around, or was letting her "out of the boxx" the result of a metamorphosis in your drag performances?
MICHAEL STECK: She's always been lingering under the surface.  She likes to hang out in dark corners and spy on me.

JP: Do you have a day job?
MICHAEL STECK: My day job has now become running the business that is Pandora Boxx.  Costumes, mixes, emails, interviews. It's a full time job!  Before Drag Race I worked at a local TV station as a video editor/photographer.

JP: Speaking of other work, tell me about the youtube hit, Pandora Boxx's GAY SHOW!  I hear it's coming back online later this year?
MICHAEL STECK: I hope so!  It takes a lot of work and a lot of time but I recently invested in a MacBook so I can do editing on the road.  It's a wacky sketch comedy show that was originally an Independent Study for my college (I got an A!) and then it was broadcast on Rochester's Public Access channel and now finds its home online.  It's a wacky sketch comedy show.

JP: You're also making a name for yourself, and Pandora in the theatre, having penned your latest play,The Lipstick Massacre, a campy tour-de-force murder mystery. Can we expect to see an upcoming multi-city road company of the play? What about a sequel?  I'll go ahead and give you the title....The Mascara Massacre.  What do you think?
MICHAEL STECK: Ha!  Well I don't have a sequel in mind but possibly a prequel.  There will unfortunately not be a tour of The Lipstick Massacre.  It has a rather large cast which makes it difficult to tour and finance.  I have learned a lot about writing and producing plays so the next one I write will have less people in it!  There is still a chance that it may go to NYC.  Fingers crossed!

JP: I understand we have something in common in that you've interviewed a number of celebrities, including Levi Kreis, who I met a few years back through my pal Del Shores.  You've also interviewed my hands-down favorite celeb, Cyndi Lauper (I've got a story about her kindness that will break your heart).  Who's been your favorite celebrity interview thus far?
MICHAEL STECK: I have to say they've all been great!  Levi is so talented and so down-to-earth.  Cyndi is wacky and kooky but it was like talking to an old friend.  I of course was thrilled to interview RuPaul, way before Drag Race.  He was amazing.  Cyndi may have been my favorite because she was such a childhood idol of mine and still is!  I couldn't believe I was talking to Cyndi Lauper on the phone!

JP: In a really revealing moment during your season of RuPaul's Drag Race, you spoke about your father and his coming to terms with you doing drag.  Because of that, and your resulting fame, you're in a position to speak to others dealing with opening up to their family members.  While each situation is different, do you have any advice?
MICHAEL STECK: Well, actually with my father the homosexuality wasn't really the problem.  He was fine with it though he never really spoke about it.  It was drag that really was the bigger issue.  That and also that he wasn't really present in mine or my sister's lives even though he was there.  I think it was hard for him to express any true emotions or feelings.  It was only towards the end that he was able to.  It's sad really.  You should live in the now.  It's taught me to appreciate all that I have and embrace it.  As far as coming out to your family, you have two choices: you come out or you don't.  You live you life in truth or you live it in a lie.  It's pretty obvious which will make you happier in the long run.  It may sound harsh but if people can't except you for who you are they don't deserve to be a part of your life.

JP: Do you think being born in New York made it easier to come out as a gay man, than say someone born here in the south?
MICHAEL STECK: I'm sure it may have.  New York is known for being pretty liberal.  It can be hard for anyone though regardless of where they live.  Some people just can't except what they fear or don't understand. 

JP: As I mentioned to you earlier, my pal Suzanne and I watch Drag Race, and now Drag U whenever we get together for what we call our Guilty Pleasures TV Night.  Other shows I Tivo just for these occasions include Little Miss Perfect and basically anything on BBC America.  Do you have any Guilty Pleasure TV Shows?
MICHAEL STECK: I do.  I'm addicted to watch any show about cake decorating.  I have no idea why but I'm obsessed with shows like Cake Boss, DC Cupcakes, and Fabulous Cakes.  I have lots of other favorite shows that are great shows like Doctor Who, Warehouse 13, Eureka... I'm a bit of a Scifi geek.  I have other favs but the fall season hasn't started yet!

JP: LOL, I totally geeked out when Lindsay Wagner guested on Warehouse 13 and I'm a huge Eureka fan.  I'm also a big fan of classic TV, and based on the classic, often kitschy look of Pandora Boxx, I get the feeling you might be a fan of all things retro.  That said, is it a coincidence that Pandora's name is very similar to the name credited for playing Samantha's whacky cousin Serena on Bewitched?  Of course Elizabeth Montgomery played both roles, but in the credits, she's listed, I think, as Pandora Sparks.
MICHAEL STECK: Pandora Spocks actually!  Funny story that Erin Murphy who played Tabitha on Bewitched is on the season finale of RuPaul's Drag U!  We make over 70's TV Stars!  Erin requested me!  She's a big Pandora fan.  How cool is that?

JP: That is cool.  When I was working for CMT, Erin was one of the celebrity stars of our Hulk Hogan wrestling show. She was an absolute doll every time I spoke with her.  Ok, one last question for you before Pandora takes over...What's next for Michael?
MICHAEL STECK: Pandora, Pandora, Pandora.  It's always Pandora!

RAPID FIRE 10 Q with PANDORA BOXX, breakout star of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 2

JP: How much of what Michael said in his portion of the interview was true?
PANDORA BOXX: None of it.  He is a filthy liar trying to steal my spotlight!

JP: Are you aware that your wiki entry totally outs you as being the oldest contestant on RuPaul's Drag Race?  Keep in mind, you can "edit" those entries yourself.
PANDORA BOXX: Well LOGO's website already did that when the show started.  As long as I didn't look like the oldest, I'm fine with it.  It's the one thing you can absolutely not change about yourself.

JP: What's the most embarrassing thing to happen to you onstage during a performance?
PANDORA BOXX: I think that changes weekly.  Most recently my CD skipped.  I've never had that happen in another city.  I was mortified but I actually just kept going and performed the skips in the song.  People thought it was supposed to do it!

JP: Your Carol Channing was the hilarious, true jewel in the crown of Season 2 as far as I was concerned.  Are there other celebs you impersonate during your act?
PANDORA BOXX: Raspberries!  I've actually never done Carol at one of my live shows before!  I'm working on a number for her but I've been traveling so much it's hard to find time to put new stuff together.  I do other celebs like Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Janis Joplin, Britney Spears and even Jan Brady.

JP: I've seen your Girls Just Wanna Have Fun parody, which features you as all of those celebs--brilliant! Your Girls parody  also includes a Pandora'd cameo of Nashville's own real-girl drag queen, Dolly Parton. Just FYI, I'll be having dinner near Dolly at a local fundraiser the night after your performances, as she's the special guest at TPAC's Fest de Ville.  Any celebs on your meet n' greet wish list?
PANDORA BOXX: Dolly of course!  I think I would pass out if I met Dolly.  She's been an idol to me since 9 to 5.  And like you said she IS a drag queen.  I would also love to meet Lily Tomlin, Carol Burnette, Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler and maybe Madonna.  I just don't want her to be bitchy to me and have my idolization of her crushed.  Oh, and Kristin Chenoweth!  She tweeted a reply to me once and I screamed like a little girl!

JP: What's the best part of doing drag?
PANDORA BOXX: The audience!  Oh, and looking fabulous.

JP: During your season of RuPaul's Drag Race, you were called the Susan Lucci of the show for never winning a challenge.  Hey, at least you weren't called the Ashlee Holland of the show, right? (obscure reference to Season 4 winner of I Wanna Be A Soap Star) Aside from getting to be interviewed by me, what's been the highlight of your career as a result of appearing on a reality show?
PANDORA BOXX: Yes, definitely this interview!  It's hard to pick one thing that has been the best.  I mean I got to perform in front of Cloris Leachman and Debbie Reynolds!  Legends!  I got to meet Kathy Griffin!  Love!  I turned on Henry Rollins!  Drool!  I'm just so excited that my brand of drag resonated with so many people and I'm able to travel all across the country.  It's amazing.  I recently headlined a show in NYC and my name was on the marquee on the outside.  Definitely a highlight.  I'm also hosting the second DragTastic comedy special for LOGO in NYC.  I'm so excited for that!  Probably one of the coolest things to happen was having Entertainment Weekly put me in their magazine on their Bullseye Chart saying, I was their America's Next Drag Superstar, even if RuPaul didn't think so.  It doesn't get much better than that!

JP: Can you tell me more about your upcoming host gig at Dragtastic NYC?
PANDORA BOXX: It is the second one.  Last year Ongina hosted it in LA.  This year it comes to NYC with fabulous queens like Biance Del Rio, Kelly Mantle, Harmonica Sunbeam and Hedda Lettuce.  It's drag stand up hosted by yours truly.  I'm excited but nervous.  It's a lot of pressure to be funny!  I do have some fabulous outfits planned!  One of them that I made is truly something... all I'll say is Rubber Ducky.  Let your mind wander!

JP: On the subject of your outlandish costumes, during the reunion episode of RuPaul's Drag Race, you wore an appropriately race car-themed ensemble that was truly inspired.  Do you design all of your own costumes?
PANDORA BOXX: I usually do.  That one was not made by me though.  I came up with the original concept and then Marco Marco, a fabulous designer in West Hollywood, took my concept, improved it and made the dress that everyone loved!  He is fabulous!  He does stuff for Fergie and Ke$ha so I was thrilled he could do it for me.

JP: Well, time's running out, we're down to one last question...What's next for Pandora Boxx?
PANDORA BOXX: My own TV show!  I just say it to as many people I can so hopefully it will conjure it up.  But if anyone wants to see where I'll be or what I'm up to you can go to my website www.pandoraboxx.com and check it out.  Remember there is an extra "X" in my last name.  The extra "X" is for "X-Factor!"

X-Factor indeed! Pandora Boxx aka Michael Steck, the man behind the mascara, is poised, ready and well on the way to being not just drag's next It Girl, but a true comedic talent bringing the art of female impersonation to the masses. Pandora Boxx will be performing two shows at PLAY in Nashville on Friday, August 27. The first show begins at 11pm and the second show starts at 1am.
If you missed Pandora on RuPaul's Drag Race, CLICK HERE to watch full episodes on LOGO's website. Be sure and tune into LOGO on Monday, August 30 at 9/8c when Pandora and the Professors of Drag U turn overworked and under appreciated Moms in drag queens, with special guest Debi Mazar.
As Pandora suggested, be sure and check out her website. CLICK HERE for more on Pandora, and to keep up with her upcoming personal appearances, including LOGO's Dragtastic NYC, South Carolina Pride Parade and the 2010 Mister New York USofA MI Competition.