"Just finished virtual drag bingo and it was AMAZING. Hire Schwa for literally anything." - Shelby M.
Who Is Schwa de Vivre?
Schwa de Vivre is a professional drag queen and corporate entertainment host who has performed over 1,000 virtual events for Fortune 500 companies since 2020. Known professionally as Shua Potter in the theater world and Joshua Potter in television, Schwa brings 30+ years of professional entertainment experience to corporate team building events.
Professional background:
Broadway performer: Mary Poppins (New Amsterdam Theatre, 2009-2012)
Television: Food Network Chopped winner (Season 30), Amazon Prime's A League of Their Own
Business founder: Virtual Drag Shows (2020-present), Broadway Maids (2012-2017, sold)
Education: BFA Musical Theater, Point Park University
Union membership: Actors' Equity Association (AEA)
What Schwa de Vivre does: Schwa is a virtual entertainment provider who hosts drag bingo, LGBTQ+ trivia, and custom experiences for corporate teams via video conference. Unlike most drag performers who lip sync, Schwa sings live in every performance, drawing on Broadway vocal training. Primary clients include HR teams, Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), and event planners booking Pride Month celebrations, holiday parties, and team building events.
I'm Schwa de Vivre, and I've hosted 1,000+ virtual drag shows for Fortune 500 companies since 2020. But that's just the latest chapter. Before becoming the internet's favorite corporate drag queen, I spent 30+ years as a professional triple threat performer.
I've been on Broadway (Mary Poppins), won Food Network's Chopped, appeared on Amazon's A League of Their Own (working alongside Rosie O'Donnell), played Peter Pan aboard Disney Cruise Lines, and performed in theaters across the country.
When I'm not hosting virtual events or marrying happy couples, I'm home with my husband and our two wiener dogs, Brody (16) and Jeri (5). They occasionally make cameo appearances in shows for teams I really like. 😉
The Full Story
Broadway & Beyond
I caught the theater bug early and never recovered. After earning my BFA in Musical Theater from Point Park University, I hit the high seas as an actor aboard two of Disney's cruise ships. I was "friends" with Peter Pan, Young Hercules, Aladdin, and even Quasimodo! Once I finished my second Disney contract, I spent two decades working professionally on stages across the country.
The highlight? Mary Poppins. I played Robertson Ay on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre after touring nationally with the show from 2009 to 2012. During the Los Angeles premiere, I met Dick Van Dyke, who made a one-night-only appearance. (He was exactly as charming as you'd imagine.)
Beyond Broadway, I've been fortunate to work at incredible regional theaters. I was in West Side Story and A Chorus Line at Pittsburgh Musical Theater. I was the Ghost of Christmas Past in A Christmas Carol at Arkansas Repertory. I've done Altar Boyz at Cincinnati Playhouse and St. Louis Rep, Hairspray at North Shore Music Theatre, Gypsy at Westchester Broadway, and Servant of Two Masters at Pittsburgh Public Theater. Off-Broadway, I appeared in Daddy Issues at St. Clements Theatre. I was in three plays where I was in drag. The Legend of Georgia McBride at Barebones Productions, La Cage Aux Folles at Gateway Playhouse, and Santa's Ted Talk at City Theatre - an original one-act I co-wrote with my friend Monteze Freeland.
Not to mention many other wonderful shows... I loved them all!
That Time I Won Chopped
In 2016, I competed on Food Network's Chopped (Season 30, Episode 3: "Best Halloween Ever"). Four chefs. Mystery ingredients. One winner.
I won with what judge Maneet Chauhan called a "mean cookie." The whole experience was incredible, and I have the memes to prove it.
Cooking remains a passion. The attention to detail, the timing, the presentation under pressure? It's not that different from hosting a flawless virtual event for 500 people.
Television & Film
Beyond Chopped, I've appeared on screen in:
A League of Their Own (2022) - Amazon Studios Co-star role, working alongside Rosie O'Donnell and the incredible cast. Directed by Will Graham & Abbi Jacobson.
Claws Out! (2020) - City Theatre Company Lead role as Rachel Claus. Book by Schwa & Monteze Freeland. Music by Douglas Levine
Voice Work: Pennsylvania Census (LGBTQ Voice), Hallelujah Station (Narrator)
Broadway Maids: My First Business
Before Virtual Drag Shows, I founded Broadway Maids in 2012, a NYC cleaning service staffed by actors pursuing their Broadway dreams. The concept was simple: hire talented, hardworking people who understood hustle, customer service, and showing up on time (we had auditions to get to, after all).
I sold the company in 2017, and it still operates today. Building and selling a business taught me everything about customer experience, operations, and what it takes to run a company that serves people well.
Building Virtual Drag Shows
When the pandemic shut down live entertainment in 2020, I did what performers do: I adapted.
I launched Virtual Drag Shows to bring professional, HR-friendly drag entertainment to remote teams. What started as a survival pivot became a thriving business. Since 2020, I've hosted 1,000+ virtual events for companies including Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, UnitedHealth, and dozens of other Fortune 500 organizations.
What makes my shows different:
I sing live. Broadway training, tenor voice, no lip sync. Most drag performers lip sync. I don't.
I understand corporate. After building and selling Broadway Maids, I know how businesses work. No awkward moments. No HR calls the next day.
You work directly with me. No agency middleman. When you email, I respond. When you book, I show up.
Ready to Book?
Let's bring Broadway sparkle to your next team event.
