Drag persona Sapphira Cristál was invented from the creative mind of O’Neill Nichol Haynes and his life was forever changed. Supremely talented, as both an opera singer and composer, Haynes grew up in Texas and studied music in New York. Living in Rochester led to becoming a drag artist and traveling the world while performing. Cristál identifies as pansexual, polyamorous and non-binary, and is open about any pronouns.
Winner of four challenges on season 16 of RuPaul’s Drag Race and Cristál also took home the Miss Congeniality trophy along with casemate Xunami Muse. She also placed as runner-up to Nymphia Wind in the close race.
Ready to take her act out on the road with The Cristál Ball Tour these days which is an interactive and multifaceted musical experience for fans in venues starting in Vancouver and landing in her hometown of Philadelphia.
Haus of Cristál plans on burning the house down at House of Blues this coming week and talked about the tour by phone before arriving in Chicago.
Windy City Times: It was great seeing you perform at Pride Fest last month.
Sapphira Cristál: I loved it!
WCT: Where in the world are you at the moment?
SC: I am on tour so today I am in Des Moines. Tomorrow is Minneapolis and then after that Wisconsin.
WCT: Do you like all the traveling?
SC: I like it because I can see so many wonderful things, but going up through the mountains in Denver was crazy. Utah and Arizona are so gorgeous.
WCT: You are from Texas?
SC: Yes, I grew up in Houston. I was born in Bryan, Texas.
WCT: You went to church with Beyonce?
SC: Yes. We went to St. John’s United Methodist Church together, along with her father Matthew, her mother Tina, sister Solange and Kelly Rowland.
WCT: What was the choir like in the church?
SC: It was a beautiful choir, although she wasn’t in choir when I was there. By the time I got there, they were already Destiny’s Child.
I was in the choir though. I remember seeing Beyonce when I would sing there. She was always on the second floor and right in the front. One time I met them and it didn’t dawn on me who they were. They were just two girls at the church! [laughs]
I learned many things about drag when I was in church because I was in departments for mime, singing, theater and dance.
WCT: I never thought about it until now, but there is a lot of drag in every church. There’s makeup and costumes in heels.
SC: Honey, miming is basically lip-synching.
WCT: How hard was it to be cast on RuPaul’s Drag Race?
SC: I auditioned 11 times, so they saw me many times. The last time I guess I was finally ready in their opinion.
WCT: I recently met several of your cast members in LA. I thought Dawn was the sweetest person.
SC: Dawn is my drag daughter. She is my sweet, little gremlin angel. The cast of season 16 is a big family and we really do love each other.
WCT: When did first take to singing opera?
SC: I have sung classically since I was 11 years old. My mom took me to the opera and ballet a lot. My mom played classical music to me in utero while she was pregnant.
I have always heard it ruminating in my head, but it didn’t manifest itself for a while. I started studying up on Paul Robinson and was in a show with a solo for “Wade in the Water.” When the director wanted more soul from the performer who originally had the solo, I started singing it on the side. I was given the solo and the director encouraged me to go to the performing arts school there. I got into the school and the rest is history. I have sung classical music ever since then.
WCT: Have you seen the opera Champion by Terence Blanchard?
SC: Yes, my good friend Stephanie Blythe was in it at the Met not too long ago.
WCT: Let’s talk about your show Cristál Ball. It’s been described as interactive…
SC: Yes, an interactive comedy musical. Think about things that could be in a show and you will see it there. There’s a bit of magic and singing. There’s pop music, rap and opera. Look for a little lip-synching and impersonations. There’s everything and people get their money’s worth with this ticket!
WCT: How did creating this show come together?
SC: I have a lovely writing partner named Harrison Greenbaum. He structured the show and after months of work gave it to me and then I had to bring it to life. My director Eric Jaffe helped me accomplish that along with my choreographer Michael McCrary and fabulous dancers Mark and Mikey, who I call M&M.
We rehearsed and went to Provincetown to run it for a week. We got the kinks out and made a perfect first show for Seattle. The audience loved it from day one and it’s been a smash hit.
WCT: I remember you being very outspoken politically at Pride Fest. Is that a part of this show also?
SC: It is. Anything that you know about me being kind, generous and outspoken is part of this show. Honestly, this show will make people laugh, cry and be turned on. It will take audiences on a rollercoaster of human emotions.
WCT: With the title surrounding a crystal ball will there be some songs from Wicked or Wizard of Oz?
SC: Well, I want the audience to write suggestions or questions for me at the show. It can be words of encouragement or anything they feel like writing. This all goes into a crystal ball and how the show is structured. Every show is different, every single time.
WCT: That must keep it fresh.
SC: Yes, and it keeps me on my toes. I have to be quick to answer these questions and keep the audience engaged. My friends came to the show in Houston and they stayed until the very end, which they normally don’t do. They said they didn’t even go to the bathroom until it was over. It’s fast-moving and has a lot going on at the same time.
WCT: So our readers should come to the House of Blues ready with questions?
SC: Yes, they should think about what they want to see me do and say. My album is part of the show so they get a sneak peek at The Cristál Ball album.
One of my songs called “Get Your Flowers” will be playing on the radio in Chicago on Dance Factor 92.7 FM. The song is about how everyone deserves to be given recognition and know they are cherished. It’s for the ones we love, be it romantically or platonically.
The first place for it to hit the airwaves will be in Chicago!
Catch Cristál at House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St., on Aug. 15 at 8 p.m. Snatch tickets at houseofblues.com before it’s too late for this 18 years and over show.