Analisa Bell

Mark Dundas Wood
Australian-born performer Analisa Bell was originally set to perform Off the Rails—her Duplex show about the blessings (few) and banes (innumerable) of the New York City subway system—back in June. A seemingly unfortunate postponement moved the show to late July, but, in fact, that turned out to be a lucky break for the singer. Here's...

Meow Meow

Robert Windeler
In her recent show at Joe's Pub, she came on stage both tentatively and as if expecting to be showered with roses by her adoring fans. The woman who was once known as Melissa Madden Gray from Australia sported a black Medusa hairdo, and was dressed outlandishly in a shredded black organdy overskirt not quite...

Leslie Jordan

Gerry Geddes
Leslie Jordan is probably best known as Beverley Leslie, the tart-tongued, flamingly fey foil to Megan Mullally's Karen in Will & Grace. Though a recurring character, his performance was so immediate, so funny, and so memorable that it seemed as though he were a regular. In his first season, he won an Emmy for the...

Penny Arcade

Gerry Geddes
Susana Ventura grew up in Connecticut. At the age of 13 she ran away to Provincetown and quickly became the darling of the gay mecca, and a particular favorite of the "older queens" because she "took an interest" in them. The girl had no ulterior motive; she was legitimately curious and interested, and she soaked...

Byron St. Cyr

Mark Dundas Wood
Byron St. Cyr stepped onstage for his recent Don't Tell Mama show (directed by Jim Brigman) looking spiffy in jacket and tie. Well, sort of. The tie he wore was actually an untied bowtie, draped scarf-like from the back of his neck. Though it was an unusual choice, there seemed to be method in it: on...

Anthony Wayne

Gerry Geddes
Anthony Wayne is a singular talent. He has a strong, yet insinuating, voice, and his supple movements reveal his dancer past to great effect, particularly in the limited space at the Metropolitan Room where he chose to celebrate his birthday on stage in The Evolution of Anthony Wayne. Most recently lauded for his work in...

Renee Katz

Gerry Geddes
Renee Katz's story is indeed remarkable. On June 7, 1979, a crazed person threw the 17 yr old flutist in front of an E train. She managed to survive by rolling off the track at the last minute, but her hand was severed. Doctors succeeded in reattaching the hand, and over time, with much media attention...

Matt Wolfe and Lainie Munro

Mark Dundas Wood
The jazz world has long looked to Broadway for melodic fodder. Jazz singers have forever riffed on musical lines from the likes of Cole Porter and Rodgers & Hart. And that makes particularly tidy sense if you accept the often-stated proposition that the two major cultural contributions that America has made to the world are jazz...

Carole Demas and Sarah Rice

Mark Dundas Wood
The recent Carole Demas and Sarah Rice offering at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, Thank You for Your Love: Our Celebration of Tom Jones & Harvey Schmidt, was no ordinary tribute show. The singing duo, who have both enjoyed a long professional and personal relationship with lyricist Jones and composer Schmidt (and with each other), offered much...

Stephanie Trudeau

Robert Windeler
She rightly labeled Chavela: Think of Me, her recent show at Pangea, a "docu-cabaret." Indeed, Stephanie Trudeau's homage to ranchera singer Chavela Vargas, directed by Deborah Wright Houston, went far beyond the usual tribute hour or so. Vargas, who was new to me, came vividly to life thanks to Trudeau's carefully researched narration (all in...