'RuPaul's Drag Race' star Gottmik is ready to 'truly thrive' on tour this Halloween

Gottmik is ready to celebrate Halloween across the country this fall.

The “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 13 star is hitting the road for “Night of the Living Drag,” a fiercely festive seasonal extravaganza launching Friday, Oct. 15, at Boston's Orpheum Theatre.

“If anyone has noticed, I am a little bit on the spooky side of things all year round," Gottmik told the Asbury Park Press, which is a part of the USA TODAY Network. "So I felt like, ‘Girl, this is the time where I can truly thrive.’ ”

Presented by Voss Events, "Night of the Living Drag" also features "Drag Race" winners Violet Chachki (Season 7), Aquaria (Season 10) and Jaida Essence Hall (Season 12), in addition to series favorites Alyssa Edwards, Kandy Muse, Plastique, Rosé and Kim Chi.

The macabre merriment of the show — with proof of vaccination required in order to attend — is part of Halloween's grand return following the disruption and distance caused by the COVID-19 pandemic last year.

“I feel like everyone has to realize, and probably does realize, we just cannot take being together and going to events for granted ever again," said Gottmik. "It’s just so amazing to be in a room and sharing artistry together. And the fact that it is a spooky time to come together for the time is just beyond, and I feel like it’s just meant for me to come forward and show my artistry to the highest level.”

If any proof of Gottmik's Halloween season bonafides is required, just look to April's "Drag Race" Season 13 finale. The competitors were tasked with rocking black-and-white runway looks, and Gottmik responded with a stunning ode to Pinhead, the icon of shock from Clive Barker's "Hellraiser" (1987).

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“Obviously I love horror across the board, but I really just resonate with horror movies that have these weird underlying gender ambiguity," Gottmik explained. " ... Pinhead is just like this crazy demon wearing a dress, they mess with femininity and masculinity with the costuming and how they’re acting the whole time and that’s inspired me."

'It's a really special time'

Gottmik, a 25-year-old, Los Angeles-based performer and makeup artist, made headlines this spring as the first transgender male contestant to compete on "RuPaul's Drag Race."

"Night of the Living Drag," with dates across North America, is a return to the road at a particularly meaningful time for the rising star.

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“Halloween is just such an important time in my life," said Gottmik. "I grew up with Halloween just being the best time of year, and it’s the time when you just get to go out and be in the craziest outfit and practice your artistry. And I feel like a lot of my friends started drag at Halloween and a lot of my friends will continue to start drag at Halloween.

"So I feel like in the queer community it’s a really special time, for me it’s a childhood fantasy for me to thrive at Halloween."

It's the time of year that invites bold self-expression, encouraging revelers to manifest the versions of themselves that they want to see in the world.

“It’s so important for everyone, because a lot of times, I feel like people are scared to be themselves or be extra-flamboyant or try new things because they’re scared of what people think," Gottmik said. "And then, Halloween’s just the perfect time to say (forget) it and do whatever you want, look however you want, try things out, see how it lands."

For a full listing of "Night of the Living Drag" tour dates, tickets and more information, visit vossevents.com/night-of-the-living-drag.

Alex Biese has been writing about art, entertainment, culture and news on a local and national level for more than 15 years.

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This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Gottmik of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' shines on Halloween