'Arias With a Twist': REDCAT homecoming for the outrageous Joey Arias

It used to be--well back in the 1980s at least--that Joey Arias was one of New York's best-kept secrets. His outrageous drag and cabaret performances--often channeling doomed jazz chanteuse Billie Holiday with uncanny accuracy--made him the talk of the town. Arias became a bit of a Gotham legend with noteworthy appearances with Klaus Nomi (the pair sang back-up for David Bowie on "SNL") at the annual Wigstock drag festival and with his arch portrayal of Joan Crawford in a staged Christmas spoof of "Mommy Dearest." Arias also took memorable turns in films like "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Love Julie Newmar" and "Big Top Pee-wee" as Shim, the half man/half woman. Eventually, even Manhattan got too small to hold Arias' unique talents and the performer made the move to Las Vegas as the Mistress of Seduction at the adult-themed Cirque du Soleil show, Zumanity.

Now Arias is preparing to make a Los Angele homecoming--he was raised here and was a founding member of the Groundlings comedy troupe--with an extended run at REDCAT of his new show, "Arias With a Twist."

The "twist" in question is famed puppeteer Basil Twist (who is also collaborating with Pee-Wee Herman for his comeback shows). A "one person show" with six hidden puppeteers, "Arias With a Twist" seems sure not to disappoint Joey's admirers. The show begins with Arias being probed by aliens while performing Led Zeppelin's "Kashmir" before being ejected from their spacecraft and landing in a jungle. Costumes for the show were designed by Thierry Mugler and Chris March. The show, which just completed a run in Stockholm, has been nominated for a 2009 Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience.

--Richard Metzger

Photo credit: Steve Menendez, courtesy REDCAT