Jinkx Monsoon to play Judy Garland in major musical revival

Jinkx Monsoon is taking over the rainbow in the role of Judy Garland for the revival of Peter Quilter's End of the Rainbow musical. As expected, Friends of Dorothy (the gays) around the world couldn't be more excited.

Monsoon has been on a mind-blowing and fabulous winning streak in the world of musical theater since 2023. From Matron Mama Morton in Chicago, to Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, to Ruth in Pirates! The Penzance Musical, to Mary Todd Lincoln in Oh, Mary!, the actress has now been cast in the End of the Rainbow stage musical revival for dates in 2026.

In case you know: Quilter's End of the Rainbow musical previously served as the source material for the 2019 biopic Judy, starring Renée Zellweger, for which she won an Academy Award for Best Actress. Now, a revival of that stage production is scheduled to open in 2026 at the Soho Theatre Walthamstow in London.

"Judy Garland came into my life, like many, through entertainment — but she stays in my life because of her story," Monsoon wrote in a statement. "We know all too well, the toll that fame took from her. Looking back, we can see more clearly the many factors that played a part in her storied life."

The actress, who competed in and won RuPaul's Drag Race twice, delivered a hilarious impersonation of Garland in the Snatch Game of All Stars 7. However, she noted that her approach to playing Garland in End of the Rainbow will obviously be different.

Monsoon explained, "I know people know me for impressions and imitations — but I'm thrilled for this chance to explore beyond the laughter and into the heart of why we still think so much about Judy today. Her tale is one that we can't forget, especially as women in entertainment are still fighting for autonomy and agency in their own careers. I'm ready to bring new aspects of her story to the stage, and to share what I find so tragically beautiful about her life, with my UK audiences."

The team behind this new production of End of the Rainbow in London also issued a statement about Monsoon's casting:

"Step into the dazzling, bittersweet world of Judy Garland in Peter Quilter's End of the Rainbow, reborn in a stunning new production directed by Rupert Hands and starring Broadway sensation and two-time RuPaul's Drag Race winner, Jinkx Monsoon, as she takes center stage for a thrilling, heartbreaking and unmissable portrait of one of the greatest performers the world has ever known."

The musical will have a strictly limited run from May 15 through June 21, 2026 at the Soho Theatre Walthamstow. For pre-sale tickets and more information, visit End of the Rainbow's official sign-up page.