Tynomi Banks, the beloved Denver queen, is a powerhouse with a new live show set to recognize some of the most historic Black divas of all times. Raised in the city and known for her frequent movements around GTA, this local girl transformed into a superstar is all set to resume on stage with her late-night show ‘Solid Gold.’
Set to run from Oct. 10-12 at Toronto’s Crow’s Theatre, ‘Tynomi Banks: Solid Gold’ promises to be a dazzling show. It pays tribute to Black icons through performances spanning over an hour. The performances will retell tales from the lives of famous divas of the past, including Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan, Diana Ross, and Donna Summer.
Tynomi Banks, star of Canada’s Drag Race, confessed that it has been a while since her last hometown show and expressed her excitement to return to the stage. In the budding stage of her career, Banks faced considerable challenges trying to rise in the drag culture. The local 2SLGBTQ+ community did not offer her the anticipated support. She acknowledged her gratitude for the ways Drag Race reshaped public attitude towards drag performers.
A significant evolution over the years is the advent of the internet, which offers the drag performers new channels to showcase their art and gain support. The growing availability of makeup tutorials and inspiration in the form of social media apps has simplified drag culture. In her early days, Banks had to learn drag the old-fashioned way, devoid of tutorials and guidance. She had to draw inspiration from local performers like the late drag queen Michelle Ross from Toronto.
The drag scene dramatically transformed Banks’ life by opening up opportunities that otherwise seemed impossible. She shared her thrill at the prospect of singing with artists like Nelly Furtado on stage. Drag allowed her to envision herself as a star.
Further confessions revealed that the drag scene saved Banks at a time when she was unclear about her life path. As Sheldon Orlando McIntosh, Banks felt a sense of misery familiar to the queer community. The uncertainty stemmed from the fact that she’d deviated from the life her mother wanted for her. The drag scene helped her and her mother realize that there were different paths leading to unique opportunities. It essentially saved her life.
The drag legend confessed that she always aspired for more than an ordinary life and that drag offered her the platform to explore an array of opportunities. It fulfilled her desire for exciting and rewarding experiences thus leading her to the path of greatness.
As a successful performer, she offers advice to young members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community to always follow their dreams and keep negativity at bay. Also, she emphasizes the importance of family, be it chosen or biological, in providing the needed support to pursue an individual’s truth. She mentions the necessity of proving oneself to their family as a queer person, clarifying that chosen family can sometimes understand and support better because they know us in a deeper way.
Her show, ‘Tynomi Banks: Solid Gold,’ is set to run at the Crow’s Theatre from Oct. 10-12. Tickets for the show are now available for aspiring attendees.
