Lea DeLaria is a butch lesbian who has the voice of an angel. One of the most groundbreaking and talented performers in show business, DeLaria will be gracing the stage at Feinstein's at the Hotel Nikko on June 28.
DeLaria has worn many hats over the course of a multi-faceted career. She's a hilariously raunchy stand-up comic . Her 1993 appearance on the "Arsenio Hall Show" marked the first time an out lesbian appeared on a late night talk show. Ellen DeGeneres' historic coming-out was still four years away.
DeLaria has starred in Broadway musicals, recorded jazz/pop standards, appeared in numerous films, played a dual role on the soap opera "One Life to Live," and headlined at cabarets to much acclaim.
Born and raised in Belleville, Illinois, her father was a jazz pianist and social worker. Through it all she was remained true to her identity as an out, proud lesbian who speaks her truth plainly.
"I don't have an issue with the mainstreaming of the queer community as long as we don't deny the reality of who we are," DeLaria said in a phone interview. "A lot of people ignore our history and try to emulate straights."
She said that she has no desire to get married.
"It's assimilation," she said. "But I'm not against it. If you tell me that I can't do something, then I'll be in your face fighting for it. I don't think it's for me, but if you want to do it, then I'll fight for your right to do it."
DeLaria is equally blunt about her decision to drop out of her recent scheduled appearance at the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival, an annual women-only event that has come under fire recently when the promoters reportedly requested that transgender women not attend. Sparks flew on both sides of the debate.
"The biggest problem we have is that we're a bunch of factions who don't trust each other," she said. "I cannot be involved with infighting, or with groups fighting each other. Both sides are wrong. I would mediate, but how can you mediate when no one is listening? This has been my stand for years. What the fuck is wrong with us? If we'd stopped fighting with each other we could have had our rights twenty-five years ago."
For DeLaria, the past twenty-five years have been filled with diverse performances and projects, including recordings (Bulldyke in a China Shop, 1994, and Box Lunch in 1997, and 2008's Live Smoke Sessions) and a book (Lea's Book of Rules for the World), plus many films like the endearing Edge of Seventeen in 1998.
DeLaria starred Off-Broadway ("The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told"), and on Broadway in the 1998 revival of "On the Town" (where she wooed a sailor played by gay actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who would later star in "Modern Family") and the 2000 revival of "The Rocky Horror Show" as Eddie. Her TV guest spots range from episodes of "Matlock" to "Saved by the Bell."
DeLaria currently appears as Carrie "Big Boo" Black, a colorful supporting character on Netflix's popular lesbian-centric prison drama "Orange is the New Black."
"Boo is me," said the 56-year-old multi-talent. "They knew they were writing it for me, and it's one-hundred-percent me. What I like most about Boo is that she's a three-dimensional butch character. She has feelings and emotions, and she's the smartest character."
DeLaria recalls her meeting with Piper Kerman, upon whose memoir the series is based.
"She wanted to meet me!" DeLaria said. She recalled what Kerman said to her: "When I was a 'drug dealer' (Kerman made quotes in the air) my girlfriend and I used to come see your shows in Provincetown all the time."
Like most of the characters on "Orange is the New Black," Boo is based on a real person. "I know enough about her to build my character, but I don't know who Boo actually is," she said. "I believe she's out of prison."
DeLaria invited fans of the show, and her music, to come and see her Feinstein's concert.
"I'll be doing songs of my first three records, like Bruce Springsteen's 'Philadelphia,' and Cole Porter's 'Love For Sale,' and some Broadway and American Songbook stuff."
She bemoans the fact that instrumental and traditional vocal music can no longer find an audience.
"It's a big shame," she said. "My favorite song when I was a sophomore in high school was Edgar Winter's 'Frankenstein.' It's a ten-minute instrumental! It's such a great piece of music. I've tried to get a jazz troupe to do it. We'll never see music like that again."
The chanteuse cited jazz sax players like Miles Davis and John Coltrane among her musical influences. Vocalists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Dianne Reeves, Mel Torme and Manhattan Transfer inspire her singing.
There will be an added treat: the Feinstein's audience will hear a few tunes from her soon to be released album DeLaria + Bowie = Jazz.
So, find some time for a classy night amid the rainbow festivities, and hear Lea's love for singing.
Lea DeLaria performs at Feinstein's, Saturday June 28, 7pm, $45-60, Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason St. www.leadelaria.com www.ticketweb.com