Author: Nick Appice

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Theater

Doris Dear is Back with “Doris Dear’s MORE Gurl Talk”!

Oh Doris Dear, “MORE” is never enough for us!

“Doris Dear’s MORE Gurl Talk”

On the heels of her Telly Award-winning streaming series “Doris Dear’s Gurl Talk”, the show filled with stories, interviews with some of Broadways brightest, and totally fab cocktail recipes, Doris brings us a new theatrical concert-show filmed at The Triad Theater in NYC, “Doris Dear’s MORE Gurl Talk”

We’ve followed Doris Dear and her musical journey for several years now. From solo shows to holiday variety shows, Doris always brings us to a place of retro nostalgia with a twist. We’ve said it many times, we always leave a Doris Dear show with a smile on our face.

Doris’s Tender Stories

Doris has taken some of the best bits from her other shows and combined them with new material and music to create a unique theatrical experience. This show is fully scripted and has more stories of her parents Taffy and Duke. It has also added in some tender mentions of her sister Nancy who passed away suddenly just a few years ago. Doris has a way of catching us off guard in her shows. She has a habit of juxtaposing light-hearted readings from books and magazines with deep-seated family stories and this show is “chock a block” full of that (as Doris would say!).

The musical numbers in the show always come directly out of her stories, which is never an easy task. The stories are generally of another time in NYC combined with life with her family. From the touching version of “Somewhere That’s Green” to the oddly funny “Schrafft’s”, (Did anyone know there was a song about Schrafft’s?!) I always look forward to her singing. Doris has a voice that fills the room at full belt. However, it also caresses us when needed with a lighter tone such as with her heartfelt “You’re My World” or the touching “I’m Becoming My Mother”. Her final rendition of “I’ll Plant My Own Tree” must be heard. That last note is a killer and Doris doesn’t shy away from it and belts it for all its worth. I even found myself cheering by the end!

Life Lessons Served with a Cocktail

Doris’s shows are all about family and how growing up in a positive environment really sets us on a strong path in life. The show is about 75 minutes in length and has an intermission about three-quarters of the way through, which gave me time to refresh my cocktail, which by the way is a Doris Dear favorite, a Whiskey Sour (recipe taken from her own website!)

There comes a truly unexpected moment when she tells what is clearly an emotional story of her father Duke having an affair. It’s mixed beautifully and artfully within the song “I Can’t Be New”, written by the acclaimed singer-songwriter, Susan Werner. Doris promised us some deeper delving into her life, and here it is, served as only Doris can. This can’t be an easy story to tell I would suspect, but it’s respectful and sincere. The moment caught me off guard, but it ends up in a lesson of love. One of the great strengths of Doris is how she combines her retro-campy drag style with touching meaningful stories. She really brings us an entertaining musical journey of a show.

Doris’s Musical Counterparts

This is a solo show, but there’s a special appearance by the great all gal group “Those Girls”. They bring a special moment to Doris by saluting her sister Nancy in a fun way that could only happen during this Covid world… they actually call in! “Those Girls” have appeared before in a Doris Dear show and it was a nice surprise to hear them sing a fun version of “Chattanooga Choo Choo”. Their modern twist to older material is joyful and playful and is brought to the show through this new Covid virtual reality!

Doris has a new musical director, Blake Allen, who makes Doris shine even more brightly than in the past. The band is made up of Magda Kress on Bass, Rob Guilford on drums, and Michael Raposo on reeds. The sound is pitch-perfect, and Mr. Allen’s compositions enrich the show with a slightly nostalgic feel while still keeping it modern. The pairing seems fresh and new. I am hoping they stick together for more shows. Mr. Allen wrote the theme song to Doris’s series and apparently it’s a streaming hit album! Furthermore, direction by Lina Koutrakos is on point. Lina has been directing Doris for years now, and it obviously works well.

“America’s Perfect Housewife”

This is definitely a more theatrical show than what Doris Dear usually gives us. I hope she continues to create these new experiences and broadens what the idea of “cabaret” is. It’s a well-crafted “theatrical concert” that filled my heart with joy from start to finish. Doris Dear, you truly are “America’s Perfect Housewife”. We thank you for sweeping clean the dust and dirt from the past year and giving us a fresh start! I look forward to seeing Doris Dear in person at her Holiday show which is always a sold-out success in December at The Triad Theater. Please Doris Dear, keep giving us “MORE”!

“Doris Dear’s Gurl Talk” is streaming 2 seasons now on Broadway on Demand, and “Doris Dear’s More Gurl Talk” is a pay-per-view available through June 30th. The streaming service is available on Apple TV and Roku. Follow Doris Dear at dorisdear.com and IG @DorisDearNY.

For more on Doris Dear from Downtown, click here.

Categories
Entertainment Theater

Doris Dear Like Mother, Like Daughter!

Doris Dear Like Mother, Like, Daughter audiences can’t seem to get enough of Ray DeForest and his character, The Perfect American Housewife”. Doris has developed quite a following and audiences clamor to get a seat in The Rumpus Room. In her latest production, Doris Dear Like Mother, Like Daughter,

Doris took us to new heights with “her” buttery smooth vocals, comedic tales, and soaring ballads.

Doris Dear Like Mother, Like, Daughter started the show in front of a screen singing “Mother’s Day” from “Snoopy the Musical”. Doris is an aficionado at finding a deeper meaning to each lyric and present them in a way that hooks the audience right in. Halfway through the song, the screen went up, and we were introduced to his guests in the Rumpus Room – Meg Flather, Lina Koutrakos and the wonderful

Sidney Myer, each holding pictures of themselves and their mothers. Next up, Doris and Sidney Myer graced us with one of the most charming, hilarious duets we have seen in a while, the rollicking “Together Again” from “Young Frankenstein, the Musical”.

Doris with her over the top comedy and Sidney with his quiet charm wowed the audience that broke into applause halfway
through! What a way to start a show!

As the evening progressed, Mr. DeForest in Doris Dear Like Mother, Like, Daughter had the audience hysterical with his stories, and each guest came back and shared tales about their own mothers. Meg Flather showed off her comedy chops with her original “A Song of Roses”. Lina Koutrakos, also the director of the show, gave us a bluesy, deeply moving rendition of “Because of You” and Sidney Myer came back with a touching song from 1929, “My Mother’s Eyes”. Doris, Meg and Lina did a fun version of “If Mama Was Married” from “Gypsy” and Rick Jensen, Doris Dear’s musical director, and piano player, sang his touching original song “Dusty Rose”.Rounding out the cast was Steve Doyle on bass.

Ray DeForest writes each of the shows himself and invites top-level performers to come and be a part of the Rumpus Room. These “Specials” show how deep Mr. DeForest’s understanding of lyrics, music, scripting, and casting is when it comes to giving his audience more than just another run of the mill cabaret show.

Mr. DeForest moved from 54 Below to The Triad Theater on 72nd Street, and what a smart choice this was.
The Doris Dear shows are emotionally connected through and through. Each song, each story, the comedy… it all
melds together to bring a theatrical experience not to be missed which seems at home under the Triad’s proscenium arch.

Whether Doris is giving us tips on dieting (the Wesson Oil diet has to be heard!), belting out a number from
“Hairspray” or bringing his audience to tears with “Mama a Rainbow”, Doris Dear is truly a pro.

Doris Dear may be a “drag queen”, but this gal goes beyond the usual snarky delivery of that genre and delivers a first-class theatrical production. One of the highlights of the evening was an original arrangement of “Just a Housewife/Becoming My Mother”. Clever use of quotes from Doris Dear’s mother Taffy mixed into the songs, gave this rendition a very personal and
poignant touch.

As I hailed my cab after the show, I couldn’t help but smile. Thank you Doris Dear Like Mother, Like Daughter for making the world perfect again, if only for 75 minutes!

Doris Dear will be appearing next at The Triad Theater in December for 3 nights of Holiday Shows.

Check her out at www.DorisDear.com

Categories
Entertainment Theater

Better Homes and Gardens, or as Doris likes to call it….

A must add to your 2018 Holiday list-

December and Winter in NYC mean many things … festive window displays, chilly temperatures and lots of parties, but the best party of all is my annual trek to see “The Doris Dear Christmas Special” starring Ray DeForest as Doris Dear. This year, Doris Dear had her ‘rumpus room’ set up at the Triad Theater on 72nd Street. It might have been cold outside, but at this party, everyone was welcomed with a whiskey sour and a wonderful evening of songs and stories. This now annual event was sold out, as Doris Dear welcomed us all into her party full of surprise guests.

 

This year’s show was full of that special Doris Dear good-natured humor as only Doris Dear can serve us. She wrapped us in her plush winter white coat (a nod to our First Ladies look for this year’s holiday pictures!) and took us on a fun-filled sleigh ride. The character of Doris Dear is inspired by Ray’s mother after she passed away from Alzheimer’s 2 years ago. His special bond with his mom inspired him to tell his stories of growing up in Staten Island with his parents Taffy and Duke. As Ray has said to me… “With parents named Taffy and Duke, the material writes itself!”

This year Doris welcomed into the rumpus room amazing performers to share the spotlight with. As Doris says, it’s a special show that is inspired by the old TV Holiday Specials of the 60’s where friends gather and have some fun. Doris Dear told stories throughout the show and brought her Better Homes and Gardens, or as Doris likes to call it…. “the bible of the American Housewife”, with her to give us some hilarious ideas for holiday gifts and traditions. Sean Harkness came by and played an amazing arrangement of holiday favorites on his guitar that charmed the audience. Singer/director Lina Koutrakos and singer Lisa Yaeger came in and hung out all evening with Doris, baking cookies, sharing stories and singing some holiday favorites and an original holiday tune. Musical director and piano player Rick Jensen gave us an original holiday song as well as a salute to Bruce Springsteen that the audience sang along with! Even bass player Steve Doyle got into the act with his funny yet charming rendition of an Elvis classic. It all ended with a sing-along of some holiday favorites and a touching story from Doris Dear.

Doris Dear is by no means only a comedian, she is a MAC Award-winning vocalist and gave us some holiday favorites and some surprises as well. Her duet of “Happy Days/Get Happy” with Lisa Yaeger was amazing and elicited applause as the notes soared. Her comedy duet with Lina Koutrakos, “I Wouldn’t Trade Christmas”, was a song most had never heard, and as Lina exclaimed, “This song stinks ladies and gentlemen!” Far from the truth, it brought the house down and I hope they keep for future shows.

Doris Dear knows showbiz and her shows have that perfect mix of great singing, clean wholesome comedy and leave you with a warm fuzzy feeling that is hard to find these days. I would recommend a Doris Dear show any time of the year. Few evenings at a show fill you with so much happiness and make you leave with a smile like a Doris Dear show.

Doris is setting up shop at The Triad this year, and is planning several shows throughout 2018… so sign up for her email list here to keep updated: https://dorisdear.com/contact

 

Categories
Fashion Featured

Chic in Red on the Runway

The red dress has always been a staple for the modern, independent woman. Confident and committed, a woman in a red dress exudes a sexiness when she walks into a room.

This season, we are seeing red everywhere. The trend is bold, flirty, but yet soft. Red Grecian dresses with plenty of pleating, and bold reds with soft cutouts–a must have for the modern women, who have it all!

Be sure to add red to your wardrobe this season. These are some of our favorite red looks from the runway.

Marchesa

Photo by Don Ashby

Giambattista Valli

Elie Saab

Photo by Marcus Tondo / Indigital.tv

Zuhair Murad

Photo by Kim Weston Arnold / Indigital.tv
Categories
Events Fitness Health

A Taste of Tennis with Citi and W Hotels

Last night, Citi and the W Hotels hosted A Taste of Tennis in anticipation of the US Open, which starts next week.

The event attracted tennis stars like Venus Williams, tennis enthusiasts, and chefs from some of NYC’s top restaurants. Guests dined on sushi from Morimoto, truffles from Davio’s, and burgers from 5 Napkin Burger.

LG SIGNATURE showcased some of their best new technology and just when you thought you had seen it all, there was virtual reality tennis. Poised on Centre Court, you were serving for the match against virtual tennis stars. Citi literally transported attendees to a world of tennis, food, and music.

Venus Williams showcased her cooking skills as she and chef Jonathan Waxman served up a culinary ace. And as if that wasn’t enough, Etihad Airways teamed up with Royce Leather to create personalized luggage tags. Game, set and Match.

Categories
Fashion

Gucci Bloom Hits Macy’s

This Tuesday capped a week filled with Bloom. The much anticipated new fragrance from Gucci — Gucci Bloom — made a big impact at Macy’s Herald Square. The fragrance features an ad campaign shot right in front of Macy’s with actress Dakota Johnson and famed photographer Glen Luchford.

It is Alessandro Michele‘s first women’s fragrance for the fashion house, blended by master perfumer Alberto Morillas. Gucci Bloom features notes of tuberose, jasmine, and Rangoon Creeper–a unique flower discovered in South India. Its white floral fragrance captures the essence of the contemporary women exquisitely using subtle notes that make every woman feel like they are on top of the world.