“THIS PROGRAM CONTAINS BIZARRE EROTISM INVOLVING DRAG QUEENS”

Parental discretion is definitely advised, especially if you attended the live stage show of Möther’s Creme Diaries at the Lyric Hyperion Theater this past week.

Thank you all for the support and feedback on the show!

Some Context

In 2020, I came up with the concept for Möther’s Creme Diaries as a TV series. However, after producing a 20-minute pilot episode from a crowdfunding campaign, I realized there were some flaws in the idea.

Fast forward to 2022, my friend Marc asked if I had ever considered adapting the show into a podcast. Initially, I dismissed the idea, but after doing some research on scripted podcasts, I discovered this vast world of audio dramas and comedies. What made it even more intriguing was the discussion of studios acquiring podcast rights to develop them into TV adaptations, like Prime Video's "Homecoming" starring Julia Roberts.

I quickly convinced my good friend Christina to help me write an episode. We had some disagreements along the way with tone, but after writing a polished first episode, followed by casting, recording, and editing, we knew we had created something special. The first episode is titled "Debbie Does Discount" and stars Sherry Vine.

A nostalgic radio show where women (drag queens) call in and share their erotic adventures with radio personality Shaniah.

With eight amazing episodes and a fully produced season, I was ecstatic about Möther's Creme Diaries the podcast. The tone of this world we created was visceral, and I could vividly imagine every frame while listening to each episode.

Since time is money, I approach everything I do creatively from the lens of a small business. Unfortunately, the podcast did not yield a great Return on Investment. So, it didn't make sense to proceed with a second season without outside funding (losing rights along the way).

In January 2023, the cast of Rupaul's Drag Race season 15 was announced. To my surprise, Salina Estitties from episode two of Möther's Creme Diaries podcast titled “Rest In Bussy” was among the contestants. I was on a work break, trying to hold back tears, because A) the show is a career starter for queens, and B) I couldn't think of a more deserving person to be on that show. Salina has this rough around the edges quality, but she shows up looking incredibly professional and polished, which makes you fall in love with her quickly. Plus, she's an AMDA graduate (I have a bias for queens who can act).

The next step for Möther's Creme Diaries was to organize a live show, but I was unsure where to begin. To find inspiration, I attended various drag shows in the city and also watched a few that were available through live streaming. This helped me cobble together my ideal show, incorporating different elements.

In June, I finally figured out my recipe for the live show! I took episode 4 of the podcast titled “Paranormal Ménage à Trois” and adapted it for stage. Would it be successful? I wasn't sure, but I knew I had to take action in order to learn and grow.

To hold myself accountable, I booked the venue giving myself a month to prepare.

The show premiered on September 21 at the Lyric Hyperion Theater and was fantastic. However, initially all I could focus on was what went wrong. I quickly dismissed that thought and watched the playback of the show that my friend Julián had recorded for me. This gave me a chance to see it as a whole. I loved it! Everything I envisioned the show to be was there. I would like to turn it into a touring show. But how do I do that??

Baby steps. Firstly, I will be putting up the show again in October, incorporating the notes and feedback I received from the first show. Back to my small business talk, the first show required an investment to grow the production. I paid for talent and a few props out of pocket. Ticket sales helped some, but ultimately I contributed a significant amount of money. For the next performance, my goal is to break even. This entails having the venue host the show and cover the talent expenses.

I'm going to end my newsletter here since I haven't booked the venue for the second show yet.

But if you're enjoying what you're reading, you're in luck because you're a subscriber to my bi-monthly newsletter LOL! It will take you on my behind-the-scenes journey of monetizing creativity. If you're not interested in making money through art, then the newsletter may not be for you and you can easily unsubscribe./

Looking forward to some updates in two weeks. Thanks for reading xxx

Derek Viveiros