San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
‘ORANGE’ STAR ON BOWIE & BUTCH
In Lea DeLaria’s four-decade career, she has done everything from stand-up comedy to classical theater to singing jazz, but since her role as Carrie “Big Boo” Black on the Netflix series “Orange Is the New Black,” she has experienced a new stratosphere of fame.
“Getting mobbed is my life post‘Orange,’ ” DeLaria, 60, said by phone from New York. “Once I got used to the extremeness of that — there was literally nowhere I can go (without getting recognized) — I accepted it.” With scene-stealing turns in films “The First Wives Club” and roles in Broadway musicals such as “The Rocky Horror Show” (she did a drag turn as Eddie/Dr. Scott), DeLaria wasn’t exactly flying below the radar before the 2010 series. She was already in the history books as the first openly gay comic to appear on late-night television, on “The Arsenio Hall Show” in 1993. DeLaria’s world tour is bringing her to San Francisco June 13 for “Bowie, Jazz and Comedy” at SFJazz, part of the San Francisco Jazz Festival. The tour is in support of her album “House of David,” where the jazz chanteuse gave David Bowie’s catalog her signature smoky growl. Appropriately, “House of David” also includes a cover of Bowie’s hit 1975 ode to celebrity, “Fame.”
Q: Why a David Bowie album and concert?
A: I loved Bowie from when he came to America in 1974 with “Starman.” He completely influenced me as a performer. I remember seeing him singing in the skirt on “Saturday Night Live” and squealing “Oh my God!” as a little queer. There’s isn’t anyone under 70 who doesn’t know who Bowie is. He was very traditional in his approach to rock ’n’ roll and R&B. He was a huge supporter of “House of David” — he even put it on his website and helped me crowdfund when Warner Jazz went under. It’s horrifying he never got to see me do it live. He really encouraged people; it was kind of amazing.
Q: There are so many unexpected people who have covered Bowie’s music, even Barbra Streisand recorded “Life on Mars.” Did you listen to other musicians’ takes on him?
A: Have you heard Streisand’s cover? It’s very odd, more Streisand than anything. When you look at the people who have covered him, you think again, that’s how much he was an influence over all pop music. I never look at other things people have done. Like if I did “Gypsy,” I wouldn’t watch the movie first. And I’d love to do “Gypsy!” Q: You began your career in San Francisco comedy clubs in the 1980s. Do you have favorite hangouts when you’re in town from those days?
A: Taqueria el Toro, every time I’m here. Not La Cumbre; that’s always been a thing since the ’80s — I love the carnitas. Wild Side West used to be called Wild Side Women. It’s still there, and I always went to the (now closed) Lex, one of the few true dyke bars. I like Zuni. It’s not like it used to be. It’s difficult to walk around San Francisco; everyone carries their camera with them. The last time I was there, I went to Castro and walked out of HRC (Human Rights Campaign) and got half a block away and someone goes, “Oh my god, can I get a picture?” Next thing I know they were lined up around the block. Finally, a cab showed up. I don’t get to have anonymous fun, I gotta call ahead. I did stop at Wild Side West when I got my HRC award. That was fun,
Friday late evening with my buddy as my wingman. I sat with a bunch of old dykes and it was great.
Q: Can we talk about your great, queer personal style?
A: My stylist is Chelsea Fairless; she does the Every Outfit on Sex & the City Instagram account, too. Jake Mueser makes most of my stuff on Christopher Street for the past five years; my red carpet stuff is all Jake. For this performance, because it’s San Francisco and I’m doing Bowie, I’ll be wearing my “F— Trump” slippers from Italy. If I wear a monotone outfit, I’ll do matching Docs. I am a vintage (clothes) whore. Tonight I’ll wear a ’70s Dior matching tie and hankie set with a new black suit Jake made, and this set, which is blue and brown and yellow with yellow Doc Martens. I always have something funky going on; I have vintage Lagerfeld glasses I’ll wear, too. I’ve been into vintage since it was retro.
What other projects do you have coming up?
A: I’m on “Shameless” now, and I’m doing a new play, “Collective Rage” by Jen Silverman, (that) opens in September. It’s a comedy, and the cast is impressive: Vanessa Williams, Stephanie Beatriz from “Brooklyn 911.” “Orange” season 6 is in the can — we’re not filming season 7 yet, but 7 is expected. The new play is a farce — it’s in the Beckett vein — it’s surreal. I love classical theater; I want to do all Shakespeare’s clowns. I’m a theater nerd. That’s the kind of stuff I love to do.