Tag: drag queen

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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
Events Fashion Featured

LOOKS & LAUGHS Event: What A Drag

The audience was laughing and the queens were serving them looks, but one missing element from the show was the structure for all the drag queens to have equal stage presence.

On Friday, RuPaul’s Drag Race icons Trixie Mattel and Katya Zamoldochikova hopped off the subway, bustled through the nightmare that is Times Square, and hosted an outlandish drag queen event aptly named “Looks and Laughs” at the PlayStation Theater. The queens were joined by their friends Aquaria, Asia O’Hara, Kim Chi, Naomi Smalls, and Violet Chachki as they walked the runway and revealed their looks outfitted by Klarna. The show also featured the newly-crowned winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 11, Yvie Oddly, alongside special live performances by Icona Pop and Kameron Michaels premiering her brand-new single, “Freedom.”

The show coincided with all the festivities that occurred for World Pride 2019 in New York City, but it was also the final installment of the “Shop Like a Queen” campaign launched by Klarna, an alternative payments provider for online shopping. The campaign partnered up with the five queens aforementioned to advertise the benefits of shopping using the Klarna App, provide insightful tips exclusively on the app, and help the queens curate their ideal NYC Pride look.

The campaign was created to highlight their newly redesigned app that lets users shop from any online retailer and pay for their purchases through installment plans, with as little to zero interest and fees. 

The two-hour event began with solo performances from Trixie and Katya, with each of them switching off to let the other prepare for their next number. Trixie’s numbers consisted of a standup routine of poking fun at the audience, a satirical song about rich people problems, and even a rendition of Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda.” Katya, on the other hand, told a hysterical narrative about her journey from Russia to making it in the United States and lip-syncing to American pop songs in Russian. The first hour ended with the duo lip-syncing an ABBA-inspired number with songs like “Waterloo” and “Dancing Queen” seeping into the crowd’s ears and an improved rhythmic gymnastics routine with twirling ribbons engraved in their memory. 

In hour two, the show started off strong with the crowd witnessing Yvie Oddly perform a few oddball numbers, with one having her rap to her song “Dolla Store,” which talks about her obsession with the dollar store. Kameron Michaels came out as a surprise guest and got to perform her song “Freedom,” a Pride anthem that promotes the message for listeners to find the freedom within themselves and embrace who they are. Swedish duo Icona Pop ended up being the last few performances of the night, singing some of their hit songs before ending off on their well-known single ‘I Love It.”

Photo of Icona Pop taken by Chunwoo Kae.

As Icona Pop performed “I Love It,” Aquaria, Asia O’Hara, Kim Chi, Naomi Smalls, and Violet Chachki all strolled onto the stage one-by-one and walked the runway, premiering their Klarna-curated outfits. Aquaria wore a beautiful, Marie Antoinette-inspired outfit, Kim Chi fluffed out in an obnoxiously cute cherry-print dress, and Asia O’Hara stacked with chains upon chains along her body. The presentation of all five runway looks was phenomenal and the crowd was in an uproar while each queen walked the stage, but the timing and structure of their presence felt rushed. 

  • Photo of Aquaria taken by Chunwoo Kae.
  • Photo of Kim Chi taken by Chunwoo Kae.

This impression stems after all five queens walked the runway, they were presumably confused as to what purpose they had to be on stage. They stared at one another and talked amongst each other for a minute before deciding to walk off stage before any host announced the show was over. Five drag queens, who are known for their exceptional abilities as entertainers, spent hours backstage putting together their makeup and outfits for the night only to share the stage in tune to a song that lasted roughly three minutes sounds bizarre. 

The atmosphere of the room suddenly shifted after an announcement was made that the show came to an end seconds after the queens left the stage. The music in the crowded venue toned down and the stage was wiped clean. Attendees met each other with puzzled looks on their faces, as to question the absurdity of the abrupt ending. 

Photo of Violet Chachki taken by Chunwoo Kae.

An issue on the prompt ending is met with critique, not on the drag queens, but the sponsors of the event – Klarna. This speaks on a broader issue of having artists exert an immense amount of time and energy into their artistry, but only to be met with little appreciation and space to promote their work. These drag queens are talented professionals, entertainers, artists and it should be acknowledged as such. 

The queens could’ve been given the dignity to have their own, solo segments where they performed a number in their dazzling outfits and engage with their audience. The crowd could have interacted with the queens by choosing their favorite look determined by the loudest amount of cheers and chants. The opportunities for growth and acknowledgment for each of the queens times are endless. 

It may be a drag to put down an event uplifting drag queens, but an artist’s worth deserves more appreciation. 

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Downtown Magazine also had the opportunity to interview a few of the queens prior to the show.

Categories
Culture Entertainment

It Was Whiskey Sours and Holiday Cheer at “The Doris Dear Christmas Special”

Ray DeForest was back at The Triad Theater with his now annual Christmas Party, “The Doris Dear Christmas Special.” This year, Doris performed to three nights of packed houses. Mr. DeForest is first and foremost an actor. He created the character of Doris Dear when his mother was slowly declining from Alzheimer’s and Ray wanted to salute the powerful woman he called mom. This year the show was also a fund raiser for The Alzheimer’s Association, New York Chapter. Mr. DeForest collected money after the shows and is donating a portion of the proceeds from the show. As Doris Dear said, “There comes a time in your life when giving back is more important than anything”.

dear doris 2018

This year’s show was all new. Starting with a rousing full cast number “Christmas Isn’t Christmas Till You Get Here”, we all knew we were going on a fun filled sleigh ride complete with sleigh bells! Doris of course sat down with a whiskey sour, lifted her glass with a funny toast and dished out holiday advice from her “bible of the American housewife,” Better Homes and Gardens, 1950’s style. From homemade aprons to gay decorations and parties, Doris Dear knows Christmas. We all look forward to Doris and her recollections of her parents Taffy and Duke, and this year was no exception. Doris gave us a heartfelt “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” which made us all happy to be in the rumpus room with Taffy, Duke and Doris.

Doris welcomed her usual mix of amazing singers and musicians to the Rumpus Room. Rick Jensen, Steve Doyle and Sean Harkness are all multi-talented musicians who are themselves successful solo performers that seem so in synch with Doris Dear, it’s hard to imagine them all not being together. Sean Harkness and his guitar playing is that glorious star on top of this delightful Christmas Tree. Lisa Yaeger joined Doris in a powerful duet, “Happy Days/Forget Your Troubles”. Their voices blend beautifully, and the audience cheered as their vocals both soared with the music. Lina Koutrakos, also Doris Dear’s director, joined Doris on stage to share some Greek Christmas with us and sang a heart wrenching “After the Holidays”. Lina has a voice that reaches inside you and grabs your heart and doesn’t let go. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Doris Dear Christmas show if Lina and Doris didn’t do their hilarious duet “I Wouldn’t Trade Christmas”, a Sinatra family favorite! One of the new additions to the Rumpus Room this year was the all-girl group “Those Girls”. Their “Jing-a-Ling” was so fun, and their tight harmonies so well executed, I felt like I didn’t want to ever leave this Rumpus Room.

dear doris cast 2018

Doris came out dramatically in an all-black rhinestoned gown to do her comedic take on the Rosemary Clooney song from the movie White Christmas, “Love You Didn’t Do Right By Me”. You never know where Doris will take us, and this number was no exception. Doris “brought the house down” with this old standard. Doris finished with an audience sing a long and then wrapped us in her holiday warmth with “Merry Christmas Darling”.

Ray DeForest is more than just another drag queen performer. There is no lip synching or cheap music tracks in these shows. His amazing vocals, extraordinary comedic talent, and subtle expressions consistently show us that there is more to drag than what we think. Mr. DeForest also writes the script and produces the entire show. This is family friendly fair full of advice, songs and laughs. After an evening in the rumpus room, you feel like Taffy and Duke are your friends and Doris Dear is your ultimate den mother. As I walked into the sparkling holiday lights of New York City, I knew that the world was going to be ok as long as Doris Dear had a say!

By Nick Appice

 

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 Featured

Kinky Boots Is Still A Step Above The Broadway Competition!

These “Boots’ are made for soaring!

More than four years after “Kinky Boots” first set foot on Broadway, the Cyndi Lauper-fueled musical continues to kick ass.

The now familiar tale of a dying shoe factory in working class England that gets a new bounce in its step from a clever drag queen steps in to turn it into a booming footwear for female impersonators business, is still a step ahead of any other current musical on The Great White Way!

Billy Porter soars as Lola, the kind-hearted and spirited drag dive in Kinky Boots!

 

Lauper’s soaring songs combined with a first-rate cast and Harvey Fierstein’s clever, if well-heeled storytelling makes for a rollicking rock ‘n’ roll review that is both pretty to look at and music to the ears!

The unlikely collaboration between the two leads — a charismatic Stark Sands as the straight-laced lad tasked with saving his freshly dead dad’s business — and the explosive Billy Porter as the drag queen with a heart of gold — fuels a fabulous chemistry that the rest of cast feed off.

Opposites attract as Stark Sands and Billy Porter stand tall as the leads in Kinky Boots

Sands’ Charlie Price is soon whisked away with the audience by Porter’s lyrical lessons about business — and life — delivered in stunning gowns and platform heels that allow her to stand tall and deliver Lauper’s supersonic score.

The songs range from infectious pop showstoppers like the searing “Sex Is In The Heel” to the rousing finale, “Raise You Up/Just Be,” which closes the show with the powerful desire to walk further with these infectious characters.

The rollicking score is just one gem in this jewel box of a modern show — along with dazzling staging, lighting and performances — that takes traditional musical theater a step further than you may have ever experienced!

As Broadway entertainment goes, “Kinky Boots” is still a helluva kick!

See Kinky Boots at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, 302 West 45th Street near Eighth Avenue.