Full Transcript for Basil Twist: Puppet Magic, Joey Arias & Old-School NYC

Anyway. 00:03:39.759 --> 00:03:40.400 We're here. 00:03:40.560 --> 00:03:41.039 We're here. 00:03:41.599 --> 00:03:45.520 So we had your dear, our dear sister, Miss Harry Ass on, Joey Garrison. 00:03:45.840 --> 00:03:46.080 Yes. 00:03:46.240 --> 00:03:49.280 And she leaked out something that I think uh you can elaborate on. 00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:51.759 Is it true that you guys have a show coming up this fall? 00:03:51.919 --> 00:03:52.000 Yes. 00:03:52.400 --> 00:03:53.199 Please, please, please. 00:03:53.919 --> 00:03:56.319 Reviving Aries with a twig. 00:03:56.560 --> 00:03:57.039 Yay! 00:03:57.680 --> 00:03:58.960 Oh my god, amazing. 00:03:59.280 --> 00:03:59.759 I did not see it. 00:04:00.319 --> 00:04:00.879 You didn't see it? 00:04:01.039 --> 00:04:01.759 I did not see it. 00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:02.400 Oh shit. 00:04:02.560 --> 00:04:03.360 Well, that's why we're doing it. 00:04:03.759 --> 00:04:03.919 Hello. 00:04:05.199 --> 00:04:05.599 Yeah, yeah. 00:04:05.840 --> 00:04:06.639 Well, that's why we're doing it. 00:04:06.800 --> 00:04:07.039 Gorgeous. 00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:07.439 Gorgeous. 00:04:07.759 --> 00:04:08.080 What location? 00:04:08.479 --> 00:04:08.639 Gorgeous. 00:04:09.199 --> 00:04:12.879 The original site where we first did it, which is at the Here Artists. 00:04:13.120 --> 00:04:14.800 Here space where we did Charlie. 00:04:15.520 --> 00:04:16.079 Yes. 00:04:16.240 --> 00:04:17.920 But we did Charlie Upstairs. 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:18.720 This is downstairs. 00:04:18.959 --> 00:04:19.360 The downstairs. 00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:22.319 The downstairs, which is the theater named after my grandmother. 00:04:22.560 --> 00:04:22.800 No. 00:04:22.959 --> 00:04:23.439 Oh my gosh. 00:04:23.759 --> 00:04:28.879 It's where I did Symphony Fantastique and that opened that space, and it has my grandmother's name. 00:04:29.360 --> 00:04:29.920 What's the name? 00:04:30.240 --> 00:04:31.360 The Dorothy Theater. 00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:33.040 Not a friend of Dorothy. 00:04:33.839 --> 00:04:34.959 Oh my god, that's so gorgeous. 00:04:35.360 --> 00:04:36.319 I'm a grandson of Dorothy. 00:04:36.639 --> 00:04:37.839 Literally coming back home. 00:04:39.279 --> 00:04:40.800 Basil, that's amazing. 00:04:41.199 --> 00:04:41.920 No, it is. 00:04:42.319 --> 00:04:43.360 It's a special place. 00:04:43.600 --> 00:04:48.480 Yeah, that that theater has there's new, a fabulous new leadership team there. 00:04:48.959 --> 00:04:52.160 Um, but it's part of like the continuity of this. 00:04:52.399 --> 00:04:55.439 I mean, I've been doing puppet shows there for 30 years. 00:04:56.000 --> 00:04:56.800 Oh my god. 00:04:57.040 --> 00:04:58.160 Damn, Gina. 00:04:58.319 --> 00:04:58.639 I know. 00:04:58.959 --> 00:05:03.680 So so it's now a cavalcade, a cavalcade of your uh of your art. 00:05:03.920 --> 00:05:04.160 Yes. 00:05:04.399 --> 00:05:07.040 That is hosted at this wonderful theater. 00:05:07.279 --> 00:05:08.720 Yes, and other puppeteers do. 00:05:08.879

--> 00:05:10.000 I bring lots of other people there too. 00:05:10.240 --> 00:05:11.519 Okay, Cecil, that's amazing. 00:05:11.759 --> 00:05:13.839 What are the dates, sweetheart for Basil with a twist? 00:05:14.240 --> 00:05:15.600 Opens Arias with a twist. 00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:16.480 Oh, yes. 00:05:17.279 --> 00:05:18.800 Oh, Freddy and Slip. 00:05:20.959 --> 00:05:22.639 It opens September 17th. 00:05:23.120 --> 00:05:23.759 September 17th. 00:05:23.839 --> 00:05:24.879 What day is that fall on? 00:05:24.959 --> 00:05:26.879 Is that a I think it's uh Thursday? 00:05:27.519 --> 00:05:28.000 It's a Wednesday. 00:05:28.160 --> 00:05:28.800 It's a Wednesday, right? 00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:29.519 Yeah, Wednesday, yeah. 00:05:29.839 --> 00:05:30.720 No, we're all coming. 00:05:30.959 --> 00:05:31.600 We're all coming. 00:05:32.079 --> 00:05:32.959 We're bringing the whole family. 00:05:34.319 --> 00:05:34.720 It's there. 00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:36.079 Yeah, and it's gonna run. 00:05:36.240 --> 00:05:40.639 I mean, we're we are on sale into November, but we want to go. 00:05:41.360 --> 00:05:42.639 Oh, you're gonna be starting an opportunity. 00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:44.800 Yes, exactly. 00:05:45.040 --> 00:05:46.319 Yeah, fuck, that's amazing. 00:05:46.480 --> 00:05:47.439 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:05:47.519 --> 00:06:02.079 And we're now we're like taking all this stuff out, polishing it off, adding more rhinestones, you know, just like but it is the original show that fit in that space, which is still like the space is tiny. 00:06:02.240 --> 00:06:08.879 So you well, I've been doing stuff there over the years since it was 18 years ago that we did the show. 00:06:09.360 --> 00:06:14.560 And whenever I'm in the space, I'm like, how did we fit all this stuff? 00:06:14.959 --> 00:06:16.319 But you know it's how did we do that? 00:06:16.800 --> 00:06:17.920 You know how to manipulate it, yeah. 00:06:18.079 --> 00:06:19.680 Well, I know that we did it, right? 00:06:19.839 --> 00:06:20.240 That's all. 00:06:20.480 --> 00:06:23.759 I don't actually remember how we did it, yeah. 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:30.800 But we did it, and we have the stuff, and there are there are there's a film, and so we know we can do it. 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:31.120 Wow. 00:06:31.279 --> 00:06:34.399 And Joey, as you saw, yes, looks amazing. 00:06:34.639 --> 00:06:38.959 She looks amazing, yes, and just gets better and better and tinier and tinier. 00:06:39.120 --> 00:06:39.279 Yeah. 00:06:39.439 --> 00:06:39.759 I know. 00:06:39.920 --> 00:06:40.160 Hello. 00:06:40.480 --> 00:06:45.519 Yeah, everybody's regenerating backwards a whole don't get too tiny when I see your eyes. 00:06:45.759 --> 00:06:47.439 Yeah, well, see, hello by then, exactly. 00:06:47.519 --> 00:06:47.839 Hello. 00:06:48.160 --> 00:06:49.040 But she looks amazing. 00:06:49.360 --> 00:06:50.319 She does look amazing. 00:06:50.480 --> 00:06:50.720 Yeah. 00:06:50.879 --> 00:06:56.399 Um, going back to the your

amazing puppeteering, we were speaking about this before we went on. 00:06:56.639 --> 00:07:01.439 Basil and I did um a number together back in the day when I was doing swirl at crowbar. 00:07:01.839 --> 00:07:05.360 And he matched my um puppet to what I had on. 00:07:05.439 --> 00:07:14.319 And I had a snakeskin skirt on with a Gucci silk, that whole moment that was going on, all buttoned down to here, the same hair, the whole situation. 00:07:14.639 --> 00:07:17.839 No, it was your head on a little puppet body. 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:19.920 So you like strapped it around your neck on the back. 00:07:20.079 --> 00:07:21.839 Oh, that's right, and then you worked the legs. 00:07:22.160 --> 00:07:24.800 The legs, which you, of course, you did very well. 00:07:25.759 --> 00:07:28.480 And we did a duet with the with my pussy cat. 00:07:28.959 --> 00:07:29.600 We gotta find this. 00:07:29.680 --> 00:07:33.600 We got and Michael Wakefield, if you're watching, and we make certain that you will see this. 00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:35.519 We need because you have this episode. 00:07:35.600 --> 00:07:44.000 He has this episode on the he was telling me about his storage space upstate that has all of the archives. 00:07:44.160 --> 00:07:45.519 So he's gonna look and find that puppet. 00:07:45.600 --> 00:07:46.879 And we're gonna re-jush her. 00:07:47.040 --> 00:07:47.920 Yes, yes, we shall. 00:07:48.079 --> 00:07:48.639 Oh my gosh. 00:07:49.839 --> 00:07:51.920 She would make a wonderful opening. 00:07:52.079 --> 00:07:53.600 She would make a great opening. 00:07:57.120 --> 00:07:58.240 I walked her into that. 00:07:58.639 --> 00:07:58.879 She did. 00:07:59.439 --> 00:08:00.079 She's so learning now. 00:08:00.240 --> 00:08:02.560 She is so learning, but my sister's so good about her in. 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:06.480 Giving me a good opening into the openings. 00:08:06.879 --> 00:08:07.279 Yes, yes. 00:08:07.519 --> 00:08:09.600 And I love when she does a nasty before leanish. 00:08:10.879 --> 00:08:12.079 All before noon. 00:08:12.240 --> 00:08:12.879 Yay. 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:19.600 So, Basil, tell us some of the amazing um collaborations that you've done with some people throughout the years. 00:08:19.759 --> 00:08:21.600 Because you've done some great shit. 00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:23.680 Yeah, gosh, I don't know. 00:08:23.839 --> 00:08:31.360 I've had such an amazing, I've had an amazing um uh life in what I've done. 00:08:31.439 --> 00:08:34.240 I and all these amazing adventures show up for me. 00:08:34.320 --> 00:08:35.039 So I don't know. 00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:38.559 Let's see, I could tell you about the time I worked with Kate Bush. 00:08:38.720 --> 00:08:39.360 Wow! 00:08:39.759 --> 00:08:44.960 Um who uh had her comeback concert. 00:08:45.039 --> 00:08:46.799 This was in 2014. 00:08:47.200 --> 00:08:47.519 Wow. 00:08:47.759 --> 00:08:48.720 And where was it? 00:08:48.960 --> 00:08:49.519 It was in London. 00:08:49.759 --> 00:08:50.159 London, yeah. 00:08:50.639 --> 00:09:02.720 And um I had done this big show, I did this uh version of The Rite of Spring, which used a lot of silk, these huge silk curtains, and somehow she saw it and called me. 00:09:03.120 --> 00:09:06.960 Just cold called me and said, Hi, this is Kate Bush. 00:09:07.200 --> 00:09:07.919 Oh my god. 00:09:08.399 --> 00:09:10.639 Would you come help me with my show? 00:09:10.879 --> 00:09:12.960 And I and I worked with Kate Bush. 00:09:13.120 --> 00:09:19.600 And let's see, I worked with um, I don't know, I have another show that's playing in I've done a lot of stuff in London. 00:09:19.679 --> 00:09:23.440 Um there's a show playing in London right now, which is My Neighbor Totoro. 00:09:23.759 --> 00:09:24.320 Do you know this film? 00:09:24.399 --> 00:09:24.960 It's a Japanese. 00:09:25.279 --> 00:09:26.399 Yes, yes, yes, yes, I've heard of it. 00:09:26.639 --> 00:09:27.679 I haven't seen it, but I've heard of it. 00:09:27.759 --> 00:09:27.919 Yeah. 00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:32.320 So it's a very like it's a cult uh anime film. 00:09:32.559 --> 00:09:32.799 Yes. 00:09:33.039 --> 00:09:37.360 And there's a stage production in London with my giant puppets. 00:09:37.600 --> 00:09:37.919 Okay. 00:09:38.320 --> 00:09:38.799 Oh my god. 00:09:39.120 --> 00:09:41.919 Created with the Jim Henson Company, who I'm meeting later today. 00:09:42.240 --> 00:09:42.960 Mazel Talk. 00:09:44.159 --> 00:09:57.919 So I know I've done um uh you know, opera and ballet in Broadway, and of course off, off Broadway and downtown and clubs and all of the disciplines. 00:09:58.159 --> 00:09:59.200 Yes, yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:09:59.440 --> 00:10:00.080 All of the disciplines. 00:10:00.559 --> 00:10:20.639 Yeah, well, the real, you know, I my real training was in the clubs, like at Hello Boy Bar and Jackie60, and having to like get an audience who's been dancing and drinking to stop and pay attention while they're standing and get on stage and off quick and clean and blow their minds. 00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:22.879 Yeah, that's so fiercely, honey. 00:10:23.120 --> 00:10:24.399 That was the best training I had. 00:10:24.480 --> 00:10:27.840 Yes, yeah, and that'll keep you on your toes and ready for anything. 00:10:28.000 --> 00:10:28.159 Yeah. 00:10:28.320 --> 00:10:31.600 Because we know, especially at boy bard days, honey, a wrench is coming. 00:10:31.840 --> 00:10:32.480 Dumb bitch! 00:10:33.279 --> 00:10:35.679 A post-it stamp size stage. 00:10:35.759 --> 00:10:39.679 Yes, and utilizing and really using it if you really get it. 00:10:39.840 --> 00:10:40.080 Yeah, yeah. 00:10:40.720 --> 00:10:42.480 Working in miniature, you can really turn that out. 00:10:43.039 --> 00:10:50.080 So But what you do is just it's so I need you to uh I forget what's the name of the gentleman who works with Madam now. 00:10:51.039 --> 00:10:53.120 Oh let's see, it keeps changing. 00:10:53.279 --> 00:10:53.919 It does change. 00:10:54.240 --> 00:10:56.480 It was Joe Kovax for a

while, but it's not him anymore. 00:10:56.879 --> 00:11:01.600 It's not no um, but amazing that that legacy continues. 00:11:01.840 --> 00:11:03.600 I I live because I lived for Madam. 00:11:03.759 --> 00:11:07.759 I gotta tell you, I've been modeled modeled after Madam. 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:09.120 Oh, come on. 00:11:09.440 --> 00:11:18.879 And then he held no because Madam was so filthy and fierce, and I used to sneak and watch her, and I'm like, there's something about this nasty puppet woman that speaks to me. 00:11:19.039 --> 00:11:20.480 Yeah, and I live for her. 00:11:20.720 --> 00:11:22.480 Yes, well, Wayman Flowers was a genius. 00:11:22.639 --> 00:11:23.360 He was genius. 00:11:23.519 --> 00:11:23.919 Oh my god. 00:11:24.080 --> 00:11:26.399 And when she was on solid gold, and remember Madam's place? 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:27.120 Yeah, yeah. 00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:28.639 Madam's place was everything. 00:11:28.799 --> 00:11:31.919 No, uh, uh a puppet had had a prime time. 00:11:32.879 --> 00:11:33.200 Prime time. 00:11:33.600 --> 00:11:33.759 Hello! 00:11:34.240 --> 00:11:35.279 A box on Hollywood Square. 00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:37.279 Thank you, and a box on Hollywood Square. 00:11:38.240 --> 00:11:40.000 Yes, different than Miss Piggy. 00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:42.960 Miss Piggy's fierce, but Madam was like her own thing. 00:11:43.279 --> 00:11:46.639 So Miss Piggy, so you know, I did this show Symphony Fantastica. 00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:47.600 Yes, yes, yes, yeah. 00:11:47.919 --> 00:11:51.279 10 years before Aries with a Twist, um, my underwater show. 00:11:51.360 --> 00:11:54.240 And I had that was a show that I was a puppeteer in. 00:11:54.399 --> 00:11:55.440 I I performed in. 00:11:55.600 --> 00:12:00.480 I'm not in Aries with a twist, I'm just the director designer in Presario. 00:12:00.960 --> 00:12:04.960 But um Symphony Fantastica, I was in it, but I needed an understudy. 00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:08.240 And I had a kid, his name was Eric Jackson. 00:12:08.960 --> 00:12:14.080 He now, Eric Jacobson, I'm sorry, Eric Jacobson now is Miss Piggy. 00:12:14.320 --> 00:12:16.240 He he does he took over Miss Piggy. 00:12:16.320 --> 00:12:18.480 He took over Miss Piggy from Frank Oz, who originated. 00:12:18.799 --> 00:12:19.200 Right, right. 00:12:19.519 --> 00:12:21.679 He now does, you know, Jimmy Kimmel. 00:12:21.919 --> 00:12:24.960 Anytime Miss Piggy makes an appearance at the at the World Cup. 00:12:25.360 --> 00:12:28.799 I don't know if you saw the Muppets tour at the World Cup uh halftime show. 00:12:28.960 --> 00:12:33.919 That's this guy who used to work with me on Symphony Fantastic in my in Dorothy's theater, in that little theater. 00:12:34.159 --> 00:12:36.720 Baby, look at all your children going off and doing other things. 00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:37.120 I know. 00:12:37.279 --> 00:12:39.120 You really got your hand in everybody's ass. 00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:39.679 There you go. 00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:40.639 Yes. 00:12:42.720 --> 00:12:45.279 Well, that's it. 00:12:45.759 --> 00:12:46.799 I mean, come on. 00:12:47.679 --> 00:12:48.159 It's true. 00:12:48.480 --> 00:12:48.960 It's true. 00:12:49.279 --> 00:12:49.679 It's true. 00:12:50.080 --> 00:12:51.600 I wasn't being filthy. 00:12:52.399 --> 00:12:53.279 Just technical. 00:12:53.679 --> 00:12:54.000 Ish. 00:12:55.679 --> 00:13:08.159 So um speaking of Jim Henson, it um who who are your um sort of, who whom do you, whom did you or do you look up to in puppetry? 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:08.480 Yeah. 00:13:09.360 --> 00:13:15.200 Well, of course, Jim Henson was a huge influence, and I'm totally like of the Sesame Street generation. 00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:18.960 And that was like uh so that had a huge influence on me. 00:13:19.200 --> 00:13:22.879 Um I there was a puppeteer I used to see. 00:13:22.960 --> 00:13:23.919 I grew up in San Francisco. 00:13:24.080 --> 00:13:24.240 Right. 00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:28.559 So there was a puppeteer who used to perform on the street at work at Fisherman's Wharf. 00:13:28.960 --> 00:13:29.279 Gorgeous. 00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:41.679 Who was his name was Bob Hartman, and he did these hysterical skits, and he would draw huge crowds of adults who were laughing wildly at the they weren't nasty or watching them, but it was just smart. 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:45.360 And and um he m had this huge influence on me. 00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:46.080 Bob Hartman. 00:13:46.399 --> 00:13:47.519 You saw the power, yeah. 00:13:47.679 --> 00:13:57.120 And then I came to New York when I was a when I was 10, and I saw this puppet troupe um Moominshans. 00:13:57.279 --> 00:13:57.679 Do you remember Moon? 00:13:58.000 --> 00:14:00.720 Yes, Moomin Shawn's, yes, wow the toilet paper. 00:14:00.799 --> 00:14:10.960 I was like, Moominshawns had been this big hit, but then there was another um kind of artist who came and filled the theater that they were in. 00:14:11.039 --> 00:14:11.360 Right. 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:13.919 Named Philippe Chanti, who was French. 00:14:14.080 --> 00:14:14.240 Uh-huh. 00:14:14.320 --> 00:14:14.399 Yeah. 00:14:14.559 --> 00:14:23.679 He was a French puppeteer and he did this kind of existential, um, surreal stuff with lots of fabric and kind of a little bit spooky. 00:14:23.919 --> 00:14:26.159 And it was not at all, it was like the opposite of the fish. 00:14:26.320 --> 00:14:27.759 So different from everything you'd seen, yeah. 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:37.120 And that actually that journey, that my admiration for that artist led me to France, which is where I actually was trained. 00:14:37.279 --> 00:14:44.480 I went to the École Supérieure Nationale de la Marionette, the Superior National School of Puppetry. 00:14:46.960 --> 00:14:48.320 Oh, but we poulet. 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:56.159 So I so I was I had my training at the um sort of the Hogwarts of puppetry in France. 00:14:56.399 --> 00:14:57.200 That is everything. 00:14:57.440 --> 00:15:01.440 And that was because of

this Philippe Gentil, actually, who who inspired me. 00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:07.600 So those were my big, and then of course, I'm I I worked with Julie Tamor, who did The Lion King. 00:15:07.679 --> 00:15:10.320 I worked with her early on. 00:15:10.720 --> 00:15:13.120 And um she's she's amazing. 00:15:13.519 --> 00:15:28.960 Shit, and and I I don't know, I I get inspiration from also just the world of visual art and nature and absolutely um uh so because puppetry is the original interdisciplinary art form. 00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:35.279 Yes, yes, yes, it involves and a puppeteer is someone who wears all the hats. 00:15:35.600 --> 00:15:36.639 All the hats, yes. 00:15:36.879 --> 00:15:39.519 Um and that's how I, you know, that's how I used to do it. 00:15:39.840 --> 00:15:42.879 And I s now I I have a lot of people who help me. 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:43.759 I love that. 00:15:44.080 --> 00:15:47.919 But I still have that I think I still bring that spirit. 00:15:48.480 --> 00:15:50.879 Yeah, you do, you absolutely do, you know, at at Boy Bar. 00:15:51.120 --> 00:15:51.759 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:15:52.159 --> 00:16:01.200 No, the essence, the essence of uh of how your art comes comes to fruition and blossoms is with your hands. 00:16:01.360 --> 00:16:02.559 Yes, yes, yeah. 00:16:02.879 --> 00:16:09.039 And and and it's so it's tactile, so it has to be in there for it to be you. 00:16:09.360 --> 00:16:16.320 Yes, yeah, and and and it's it's the essential thing that it is, it's about bringing something to life. 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:34.320 Yes, it's making something come to life that maybe isn't what we call a live, but it's some so it's some summoning spirit, yeah, bringing it and bringing, you know, and creating a moment that and all three of us do that that we enjoy live, right? 00:16:34.399 --> 00:16:34.799 Exactly. 00:16:35.120 --> 00:16:41.919 Concon when she does her um uh illustrations, me from playing with my barbies, literally curating my life, you know, as a kid. 00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:46.000 You know, I was putting these stories together and now I have woman-fested it. 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:46.639 You know what I mean? 00:16:46.799 --> 00:16:46.960 Uh huh. 00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:50.159 But what was the name of the um did you clack that children? 00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:53.120 Yes. 00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:55.120 Um, who lamb chop? 00:16:55.440 --> 00:16:57.919 Oh, Sherry Lewis. 00:16:58.080 --> 00:17:01.120 Sherry Lewis was so fierce, honey, and I live for Lamb Chop too. 00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:01.440 Yeah. 00:17:02.320 --> 00:17:27.359 Because that that's the thing about puppetry, it um the uh the the character itself is childlike, yeah, but the person and the voice and the creator behind it can interject so much adult sort of subtext and sort of like you know, narrative in there that everyone can enjoy. 00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:27.839 Yes. 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:41.519 Yeah, and like, you know, shows like Avenue Q, they show that's actually a long honored tradition of puppetry can kind of go there in a way that sometimes you can't, or people can't. 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:44.000 And the one that was on uh Comedy Central too. 00:17:44.160 --> 00:17:48.880 Oh crank callers, crank yankers, crank yankers, crank yankers, crank yankers. 00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:50.799 I did that in the 80s, honey. 00:17:51.359 --> 00:17:53.200 Healthy motherfucker, yeah, yeah. 00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:59.920 No, but it's the but that like but political satire or speaking to subjects that make people uncomfortable. 00:18:00.079 --> 00:18:18.240 Like, that's actually there's a lot of like therapies or a lot of like age education in Africa that's done with puppets is amazing because you can get through to people in a way that sometimes people are it opens up a it opens up something, like opens a portal. 00:18:18.480 --> 00:18:20.240 Yeah, yes, one of those. 00:18:20.559 --> 00:18:21.839 Remember the one that was on Mr. 00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:23.279 What am I doing? 00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:24.240 I can't help it. 00:18:24.319 --> 00:18:25.680 You know I can't, con, con. 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:27.599 Well, the the one that was on Mr. 00:18:27.680 --> 00:18:30.400 Rogers, that one who uh the what was that one's name? 00:18:30.480 --> 00:18:32.079 The who do the the train. 00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:35.200 Well, there was uh uh Mr. 00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:37.039 Rogers, you know, he did all of those voices. 00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:38.400 Yes, yes, yes, yes. 00:18:38.640 --> 00:18:41.599 He did all of those voices King Friday Friday, yeah. 00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:42.799 Um the little cat um. 00:18:43.119 --> 00:18:46.960 Um my Daniel Tiger. 00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:48.880 Daniel Tiger was a lady. 00:18:49.119 --> 00:18:49.599 Lydia Lane. 00:18:49.920 --> 00:18:50.319 Lady Lane. 00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:54.000 Lady Elaine was shady and fierce, honey. 00:18:54.240 --> 00:18:57.119 I didn't she was so shady and the nose gave it. 00:18:57.200 --> 00:18:58.880 The nose was all like dark. 00:18:59.920 --> 00:19:00.400 Yes. 00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:02.480 But he did not know how to contour, honey. 00:19:02.559 --> 00:19:04.480 It's before contouring, Children of the Corn. 00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:06.559 But he didn't, he I didn't know. 00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:10.079 He did all of he was the puppeteer and did the voices. 00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:10.559 Yes. 00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:14.799 I oh I watched that as a kid and I was like, oh, Sesame Street is better. 00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:16.799 But um he was doing that. 00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:17.759 That's so amazing. 00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:19.200 I had such a crush on him. 00:19:19.359 --> 00:19:19.519 Yeah. 00:19:19.759 --> 00:19:20.319 I really did. 00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:22.079 I thought there was just something so fierce about him. 00:19:22.319 --> 00:19:25.519 And and then when I got older, I was like, oh my god, he's totally giving me the Smith. 00:19:25.599 --> 00:19:26.160 You know what I

mean? 00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:28.559 He likes totally giving that in the Smiths, you know what I mean? 00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:30.559 Yeah, meet his burger. 00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:35.519 Also, just with the with the with the socks and with the and putting on the shoe and everything like that. 00:19:35.839 --> 00:19:37.839 Oh, yeah, yeah. 00:19:38.319 --> 00:19:39.839 And you wanted to change his shoes. 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:41.440 Yeah, and I was like, why can't I see your feet? 00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:43.279 But it was the sock too, honey. 00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:44.160 Oh, sorry. 00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:46.559 Yeah, you can get it, honey. 00:19:46.640 --> 00:19:47.839 You can get it, honey. 00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:48.480 Yeah. 00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:50.480 But he knew the power of that. 00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:51.200 He certainly did. 00:19:52.079 --> 00:19:54.079 Yeah, he knew the power of the children's of mind. 00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:54.400 Yeah. 00:19:54.559 --> 00:20:04.319 And there's something that I've always I've always benefited from with my puppetry, is that somehow people always underestimate it. 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:05.599 Oh, oh, oh, absolutely. 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:14.559 They think it's for kids, they think it's for they think it's something that's they no longer are interested in, or it's and they they think it's for children. 00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:14.880 Yes. 00:20:14.960 --> 00:20:18.559 Yeah, or grown, grow, grown past it, yeah, or grown out of it. 00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:22.960 And so that's like when I would come and do it on nightclub stages. 00:20:23.119 --> 00:20:24.079 People were like, What? 00:20:24.400 --> 00:20:39.440 Yeah, and every time, still, now I've done, you know, four Broadway shows, but I still come in always as an outsider and an underdog, which is kind of a really good place to be. 00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:41.680 Always, and the engine, yeah. 00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:43.359 That fuels you're gonna do it. 00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:44.079 Yeah, exactly. 00:20:44.319 --> 00:20:48.160 That runs you is that oh, you think this is bullshit. 00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:49.359 Yeah, hold on. 00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:50.000 That's right. 00:20:50.160 --> 00:20:50.720 Yeah, yep. 00:20:51.039 --> 00:21:04.240 Because in fact, what's happening in this is sort of serious, but what's happening in puppetry is quite profound because it's between it is playing with this line between life and death. 00:21:04.400 --> 00:21:21.279 Yes, it is this it's that frontier that's kind of a special place that is between worlds that's neither one or the other, and it makes people it uh it kind of confronts them with this existential question of what it is to be alive. 00:21:21.680 --> 00:21:26.640 That happens even in the silliest, goofy, yeah, nasty little puppet show. 00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:36.720 There's somehow people completely fall for it immediately, and it's surprising to everybody when it happens still. 00:21:37.119 --> 00:21:38.240 It's amazing, it's true. 00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:40.720 But it it's like Pinocchio, yeah. 00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:46.400 And in that, like, you know, you can sprinkle the stardust, and then it just comes to life. 00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:47.039 Yeah, yeah. 00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:54.960 And then it sh it it um in that moment you get to see life. 00:21:55.119 --> 00:21:55.599 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:21:59.119 --> 00:22:02.400 And it's just like You're taught something. 00:22:02.559 --> 00:22:03.119 You really are. 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:03.440 Yeah. 00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:04.480 Which is so beautiful. 00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:09.839 It's a moment of beautiful fantasy of like leaving reality and going into a different one. 00:22:10.160 --> 00:22:11.440 But it's and it's magic. 00:22:11.680 --> 00:22:16.720 It is magic, it's real magic, and it's very simple, pure magic. 00:22:16.799 --> 00:22:16.960 Yeah. 00:22:17.119 --> 00:22:18.880 And it has nothing to do with AI. 00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:19.359 No. 00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:20.319 The goddesses. 00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:21.759 Computers, all that. 00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:24.000 It's actually ancient. 00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:32.799 It's like connected to the ancient rites and the ancient that where there's this stone or an icon that has power. 00:22:33.440 --> 00:22:34.960 It goes back as deep as that. 00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:36.240 Basil, what's your sign? 00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:39.119 I'm a Cancerian with a Leo rising. 00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:40.799 Oh, hi, Leo. 00:22:41.200 --> 00:22:42.319 Hi, so I'm dish. 00:22:42.720 --> 00:22:43.920 Leo season, bitches. 00:22:44.240 --> 00:22:44.799 That's right. 00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:45.359 Yeah. 00:22:45.680 --> 00:22:47.119 Kankan just had hers. 00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:47.599 Oh. 00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:49.039 That's fucking fabulous. 00:22:49.119 --> 00:22:50.000 And you're absolutely true. 00:22:50.079 --> 00:22:56.319 It is very old school art of uh, what am I thinking of? 00:22:56.480 --> 00:22:57.440 Almost Mayan-ish. 00:22:57.920 --> 00:22:59.359 Yeah, it's pri it's primal. 00:22:59.519 --> 00:22:59.839 It's old. 00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:03.359 It's an ancient oral tradition. 00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:03.839 Yes, thank you. 00:23:03.920 --> 00:23:04.559 That's what I was trying to do. 00:23:04.960 --> 00:23:13.920 Oral tradition, which even just the the word marionette comes from, it's actually from it's a little Mary, which is like a religious icon. 00:23:14.319 --> 00:23:18.640 And and they would have like a little religious icon and maybe put strings on it. 00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:18.960 Yeah. 00:23:19.119 --> 00:23:19.839 People would freak out. 00:23:20.079 --> 00:23:20.559 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:23:20.799 --> 00:23:32.559 That's that it comes from old like the Venus of Willendorf, those kind of like icons that are like little stone figures that are that are charged with meaning. 00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:32.960 Yes. 00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:34.160 That's that's where it comes

from. 00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:34.880 I love that. 00:23:35.039 --> 00:23:35.119 Yeah. 00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:36.400 Wait, there was also one too. 00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:39.279 Remember um the magical garden? 00:23:39.759 --> 00:23:40.000 Magical. 00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:43.119 With the two lesbians on the on the swing with the chuckle patch. 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:45.119 They were lesbians, girls. 00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:46.079 Wait, I don't know this one. 00:23:46.319 --> 00:23:48.480 You don't know the chuckle patch and the music review. 00:23:49.279 --> 00:23:50.079 Oh, how about that one? 00:23:50.799 --> 00:23:51.440 The magical garden? 00:23:52.799 --> 00:23:54.400 The newsy review with animals. 00:23:54.640 --> 00:23:55.359 Yeah, was that it? 00:23:55.680 --> 00:23:56.240 What they do. 00:23:56.720 --> 00:24:02.720 Yeah, I knew that one with the hippo, Henry and Hippo, and the and the I can't remember the song though. 00:24:02.960 --> 00:24:03.680 But the magic garden. 00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:04.480 Magic garden. 00:24:04.640 --> 00:24:04.960 Yes, yeah. 00:24:06.079 --> 00:24:07.119 They were lesbians, girls. 00:24:07.599 --> 00:24:07.759 Okay. 00:24:07.920 --> 00:24:08.640 They come on. 00:24:08.880 --> 00:24:09.200 Okay. 00:24:09.440 --> 00:24:10.240 That's cool. 00:24:10.559 --> 00:24:11.039 Girl. 00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:11.920 I knew, honey. 00:24:12.079 --> 00:24:14.960 I was like, these women are puppet munchers, honey. 00:24:15.200 --> 00:24:17.440 I knew they were licking a lot of pusses, honey. 00:24:17.519 --> 00:24:20.640 I knew it, I knew it, I knew it at the age of four, honey. 00:24:21.599 --> 00:24:24.480 It's like you ain't fooling nobody up on that swing. 00:24:25.440 --> 00:24:27.440 But anyway, they had a puppet. 00:24:27.680 --> 00:24:28.000 Okay. 00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:30.079 All right, I'll have to check that out, the magic garden. 00:24:30.319 --> 00:24:31.200 I was like, no, they weren't. 00:24:31.440 --> 00:24:33.119 Who was the puppet on the magic garden? 00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:34.240 I don't remember. 00:24:34.400 --> 00:24:35.839 But I remember there being puppet. 00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:37.039 There was like a segment or something. 00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:38.880 It was in the chuckle patch. 00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:39.519 Oh. 00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:40.240 Yeah, yeah. 00:24:40.640 --> 00:24:43.839 And the chuckle patches, they were all basically puppets because they were all like key ki. 00:24:44.319 --> 00:24:45.119 They all kikied. 00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:45.359 Yeah. 00:24:45.759 --> 00:24:46.480 True, true, true, true. 00:24:46.799 --> 00:24:46.960 Yeah. 00:24:47.119 --> 00:24:47.279 True. 00:24:47.359 --> 00:24:48.240 Okay, I'll have to check that out. 00:24:48.319 --> 00:24:49.200 Yeah, go back and watch that. 00:24:49.519 --> 00:24:50.079 Yeah. 00:24:50.559 --> 00:24:51.200 Magic garden. 00:24:51.519 --> 00:24:52.079 Magic garden. 00:24:52.319 --> 00:24:52.960 Yeah, they're totally. 00:24:53.200 --> 00:24:53.920 You have to go back and look. 00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:55.680 I promise you they're lesbians, honey. 00:24:55.839 --> 00:24:56.160 Okay. 00:24:56.400 --> 00:24:56.720 Okay. 00:24:56.880 --> 00:24:58.880 I I th I just thought they were hippies. 00:24:59.039 --> 00:25:00.640 Well, they were hippie lesbians. 00:25:00.880 --> 00:25:01.440 Well, that's true. 00:25:01.680 --> 00:25:02.799 You never seen a hippie lesbians. 00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:03.200 Okay. 00:25:03.359 --> 00:25:05.039 All hippies were lesbians or gay. 00:25:05.200 --> 00:25:05.359 Yeah. 00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:05.839 They were. 00:25:05.920 --> 00:25:07.200 Everyone's like free love, man. 00:25:07.359 --> 00:25:07.440 Er. 00:25:07.839 --> 00:25:08.079 Hello? 00:25:08.400 --> 00:25:08.480 Er. 00:25:09.200 --> 00:25:11.359 Let us sing cross-legged by the fire. 00:25:11.599 --> 00:25:13.759 Or uncrossed and sing cum by ya. 00:25:14.640 --> 00:25:15.279 Open your womb. 00:25:15.680 --> 00:25:16.799 Open your legs to my womb. 00:25:17.440 --> 00:25:17.680 Yeah. 00:25:17.839 --> 00:25:18.079 Right. 00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:20.000 Because you'd have to open your legs to get to the womb. 00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:21.599 What were we talking about? 00:25:23.359 --> 00:25:24.319 Lesbians and puppeteers. 00:25:24.640 --> 00:25:26.319 Lesbians and puppeteering, yes. 00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:29.759 Speaking of lesbian and puppeteering, do you have a trailer? 00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:30.799 Uh yes. 00:25:31.599 --> 00:25:32.720 Yes, I do. 00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:34.720 Did you live in a trailer? 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:38.559 I have a good, uh we have the reveal of Joey. 00:25:38.640 --> 00:25:39.599 That'll be our trailer. 00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:43.440 Let's see if we can go to can we go to a clip of that, Pomolliff? 00:25:43.519 --> 00:25:44.559 All right, we're gonna go to a clip to that. 00:25:44.640 --> 00:25:45.440 We'll be right back. 00:25:45.920 --> 00:25:50.960 She is the C, the last of the alphabet. 00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:56.079 So C is what you get tonight. 00:26:15.519 --> 00:26:15.839 Amazing. 00:26:15.920 --> 00:26:16.480 I cannot wait. 00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:18.160 We're all, like I said, we're all coming. 00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:22.640 We're gonna be there to support you, sweetheart, and especially to be there in the legacy of Dorothy. 00:26:22.880 --> 00:26:23.440 Yes, thank you. 00:26:23.599 --> 00:26:23.839 Thank you. 00:26:23.920 --> 00:26:25.359 Yeah, that means that's so beautiful. 00:26:25.599 --> 00:26:28.319 I need to see a picture of her because I know she smiled with her eyes, didn't she? 00:26:28.480 --> 00:26:28.799 She did. 00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:29.119 See? 00:26:29.440 --> 00:26:30.240 You got that from her. 00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:30.720 Yes. 00:26:30.880 --> 00:26:31.759 Come on, Dorothy. 00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:40.480 She was, she was, so I don't know if you remember this at the theater, because I know you both have been there, but there's these puppets, these old puppets that

belong to my grandfather. 00:26:40.880 --> 00:26:42.559 And they're in the show, right? 00:26:42.720 --> 00:26:44.079 They're in the show with Joey. 00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:45.839 They're like the band that plays. 00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:46.640 Oh my god. 00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:47.440 That plays back. 00:26:47.920 --> 00:26:52.480 Oh, this is because I I've seen I've seen little things on YouTube. 00:26:52.960 --> 00:27:11.839 So it looks like these these little men in the distance, but it's actually they're they're these beautiful hand-carved wooden faces of famous band leaders from the 40s because my grandfather was a big band leader in the 1930s and 40s. 00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:13.519 His name was Griff Williams. 00:27:13.839 --> 00:27:29.440 And and Dorothy married Griff, the bandleader, and traveled around the country with the band and met in San Francisco, eventually settled in Chicago, and Griff um loved puppets also. 00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:34.160 So had these puppets made of famous band leaders like Harry James, Cab Callaway. 00:27:34.559 --> 00:27:36.640 So I never met my grandfather. 00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:43.680 He died before I was born, but my grandmother Dorothy gave me those puppets when I was like 10 years old. 00:27:43.920 --> 00:27:45.200 Wow, this is a legacy. 00:27:45.440 --> 00:27:48.720 And I've been carrying them around, and they finally found a home. 00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:49.119 Yes. 00:27:49.359 --> 00:27:53.519 When this theater was formed around Symphony Fantastique. 00:27:53.680 --> 00:27:55.920 And they lived in this case. 00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:58.240 Um and they're antiques. 00:27:58.319 --> 00:28:02.240 So and they're a little bit, they're they're I didn't use them that much. 00:28:02.319 --> 00:28:03.839 They're kind of a little spooky. 00:28:04.079 --> 00:28:04.960 But they're perfect for this. 00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:06.079 They're perfect for the show. 00:28:06.160 --> 00:28:09.920 And what happened once was that Joey was doing, he was in Zoomanity in Vegas. 00:28:10.079 --> 00:28:10.480 Yeah, yeah. 00:28:10.799 --> 00:28:14.640 And he came back to New York and he was doing a party for Mao magazine. 00:28:15.119 --> 00:28:17.039 And he wanted to do something special. 00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:21.359 And, you know, as much as Joey is um Joey. 00:28:21.599 --> 00:28:21.920 Joey. 00:28:22.160 --> 00:28:24.880 And he's, you know, and he's Joey. 00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:25.599 Joey. 00:28:26.720 --> 00:28:28.960 Joey is essentially classy. 00:28:29.119 --> 00:28:29.279 Yeah. 00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:31.039 He's so classy and elegant. 00:28:31.119 --> 00:28:35.519 And there was something I thought, I can put Joey with my grandfather's puppets. 00:28:35.920 --> 00:28:45.359 And we did this performance, and Joey was so I had set them up as a little band behind Joey and Joey did his Billy Holiday thing, and the and he flirted with the puppets and the puppets. 00:28:45.680 --> 00:28:45.920 Yes. 00:28:46.240 --> 00:28:47.920 They had such amazing chemistry. 00:28:48.319 --> 00:28:51.519 It's like you know, you would see on the Muppet show, like people, there were some people. 00:28:51.839 --> 00:28:54.799 Yeah, something really dumb had chemistry with the puppets. 00:28:55.279 --> 00:28:59.119 Joey had chemistry in a way that brought the puppets even more to life. 00:28:59.440 --> 00:29:03.359 Like the puppeteers brought them to life, and Joey's interaction brought them even more to life. 00:29:03.519 --> 00:29:04.720 So the era flirting, honey. 00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:05.039 Hello. 00:29:05.200 --> 00:29:05.359 Yes. 00:29:05.519 --> 00:29:06.720 You can raise the dead. 00:29:06.960 --> 00:29:14.799 And it's also um that sort of relationship with lead singer and fan and band leader. 00:29:14.960 --> 00:29:15.119 Yeah. 00:29:15.359 --> 00:29:18.480 And that sort of big band, sort of, you know. 00:29:18.720 --> 00:29:18.880 Yeah. 00:29:19.440 --> 00:29:20.480 So it was perfect. 00:29:20.720 --> 00:29:24.319 It was perfect for for that um Billy Holiday persona. 00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:24.720 Yeah. 00:29:24.960 --> 00:29:28.000 It was, and then it was perfect to do it in the Dorothy Theater. 00:29:28.640 --> 00:29:34.160 And kind of the story of the show as it was created, because Joey had been away for years in Vegas. 00:29:34.400 --> 00:29:40.559 The show begins with my grandfather's music and his theme song, which is called Dream Music. 00:29:40.880 --> 00:29:44.640 And the band is playing alone into outer space. 00:29:44.799 --> 00:29:45.359 It's going to be great. 00:29:45.519 --> 00:29:47.039 And then we find Joey in the spaceship. 00:29:47.920 --> 00:29:51.279 And he has his crazy adventures and he eventually reunites with the band. 00:29:51.440 --> 00:29:52.000 That's the work. 00:29:53.200 --> 00:29:53.680 That's the journey. 00:29:54.480 --> 00:29:55.680 And the arc of the story. 00:29:55.920 --> 00:29:59.279 You guys, you'll be getting these tickets because we will all be there, honey. 00:29:59.519 --> 00:30:02.720 September 17th at the Here Space. 00:30:02.880 --> 00:30:03.119 Yes. 00:30:03.279 --> 00:30:05.200 The legendary Dorothy Dandres. 00:30:07.359 --> 00:30:08.880 The legendary Dorothy Theater. 00:30:09.119 --> 00:30:09.359 Hello. 00:30:09.680 --> 00:30:09.839 Yes. 00:30:10.079 --> 00:30:10.799 Hyphenated. 00:30:11.119 --> 00:30:12.480 Basil, you're everything. 00:30:12.640 --> 00:30:15.200 Oh we're not done with you yet, but I'm just you're everything. 00:30:15.440 --> 00:30:18.559 And I love knowing this history about him that we did not know. 00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:23.680 I mean, we knew you were legendary with the puppetry, but to see that there was this legacy of your family. 00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:24.000 Yeah. 00:30:24.400 --> 00:30:26.720 I'm all at hands in entertainment. 00:30:26.960 --> 00:30:27.039 Yes. 00:30:27.279 --> 00:30:27.759 Yes, exactly. 00:30:28.160 --> 00:30:28.640 Show business. 00:30:28.880 --> 00:30:32.240 So now we're gonna let you

take a little dip into the fishbowl, sweetheart. 00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:32.880 Okay. 00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:33.440 Okay. 00:30:35.920 --> 00:30:37.119 Steal that fish. 00:30:38.400 --> 00:30:39.680 Those gorgeous hands. 00:30:40.880 --> 00:30:41.680 What'd you get? 00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:42.960 What did I get? 00:30:44.079 --> 00:30:46.160 Um that's a fish. 00:30:46.880 --> 00:30:47.519 Is that an octopus? 00:30:47.839 --> 00:30:48.720 That's an octopus. 00:30:49.839 --> 00:30:51.200 I've never seen that one before. 00:30:51.440 --> 00:30:57.839 Who was my first gay mom in the scene? 00:30:58.240 --> 00:31:00.160 Who was my first gay mom? 00:31:01.519 --> 00:31:03.440 Well, that's pretty easy for me. 00:31:04.559 --> 00:31:05.359 Oh, well, no. 00:31:05.599 --> 00:31:06.559 There's two, actually. 00:31:06.880 --> 00:31:07.039 Okay. 00:31:07.200 --> 00:31:07.839 Sorry, go ahead. 00:31:08.640 --> 00:31:10.960 Well, who was who was your gay mom? 00:31:12.240 --> 00:31:16.799 Oh, well, my my first one was um uh cookie who is now passed on. 00:31:16.880 --> 00:31:21.680 I love you, uh, up in Montreal when I lived in Montreal, and then of course Mona Foote was my second one. 00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:22.319 Yeah. 00:31:23.119 --> 00:31:23.519 Yay. 00:31:24.640 --> 00:31:25.119 Mona! 00:31:25.519 --> 00:31:26.400 Big Lisa! 00:31:27.920 --> 00:31:29.680 Who would be my first gay mom? 00:31:30.160 --> 00:31:35.920 I mean, of course, I I I know you all through Bobby Miller. 00:31:36.319 --> 00:31:37.119 Oh, Bobby! 00:31:37.440 --> 00:31:38.319 Yeah, she was, yeah. 00:31:38.720 --> 00:31:43.039 Who was, you know, the drag nurse downstream to everybody at the time. 00:31:43.200 --> 00:31:48.400 And I met I met all the beautiful, uh-huh. 00:31:48.640 --> 00:31:49.759 All the beautiful people. 00:31:49.920 --> 00:31:51.680 And um She was very Mrs. 00:31:51.759 --> 00:31:52.960 Garrett, honey, if you think about it. 00:31:54.400 --> 00:31:55.359 Bobby Miller was Mrs. 00:31:55.519 --> 00:31:56.160 Garrett, honey. 00:31:56.799 --> 00:31:57.359 Girls. 00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:00.319 God. 00:32:01.359 --> 00:32:05.279 So, but I can't say that my my my boyfriend was my gay mom, of course. 00:32:05.519 --> 00:32:09.680 But um, I don't know, let's see who um Bobby Miller's a good one. 00:32:09.920 --> 00:32:31.039 Bobby Miller's a good one, but there was that, I mean, that whole world of of um, I mean, I met Sherry, of course, right away through um through Bobby and uh and that whole world with with Pat Field and and Chi Chi Valenti and these incredible women who would held space for all kinds of people. 00:32:31.279 --> 00:32:33.039 So that's a good one. 00:32:33.200 --> 00:32:33.279 Yeah. 00:32:33.440 --> 00:32:37.039 I mean, and also Matthew Casting was kind of everybody's mother, yeah. 00:32:37.200 --> 00:32:37.359 Yeah. 00:32:37.599 --> 00:32:37.839 Yeah. 00:32:38.559 --> 00:32:40.240 Because that that would be mine. 00:32:40.559 --> 00:32:40.960 Yeah, absolutely. 00:32:41.119 --> 00:32:41.839 I was about to say this. 00:32:42.079 --> 00:32:44.559 Would be um Matthew and Chrysis. 00:32:44.799 --> 00:32:47.119 I was about to say Matthew and Chris is definitely for you. 00:32:47.680 --> 00:32:48.960 Would be my two moms. 00:32:49.119 --> 00:32:49.920 Yeah, that's a good question. 00:32:50.240 --> 00:32:50.880 My two moms. 00:32:51.039 --> 00:32:53.839 You're back to the show theme. 00:32:54.240 --> 00:32:54.480 Yeah. 00:32:54.799 --> 00:32:59.359 Speaking of lesbians and the chuckle pad. 00:32:59.759 --> 00:32:59.920 True. 00:33:00.160 --> 00:33:00.319 See. 00:33:00.640 --> 00:33:01.039 Oh my god. 00:33:01.359 --> 00:33:03.680 Sister, you came from lesbians, honey. 00:33:04.319 --> 00:33:06.480 You were lesbiana by a Jay Sish. 00:33:06.880 --> 00:33:07.359 It's true. 00:33:07.599 --> 00:33:07.839 See. 00:33:08.079 --> 00:33:08.880 It's true. 00:33:10.160 --> 00:33:11.119 Just saying. 00:33:11.599 --> 00:33:13.039 What happened was. 00:33:14.079 --> 00:33:15.440 Oh, wait, so do you want to go? 00:33:15.599 --> 00:33:15.839 I'll go. 00:33:16.319 --> 00:33:16.400 Okay. 00:33:16.799 --> 00:33:17.039 Okay. 00:33:17.680 --> 00:33:18.799 Shake the shake things. 00:33:19.200 --> 00:33:19.359 Nice. 00:33:19.759 --> 00:33:20.960 Kill that fish. 00:33:21.440 --> 00:33:23.039 Ooh, is that a warrant? 00:33:23.519 --> 00:33:24.160 Oh, wow. 00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:26.720 Okie dokie smokies, let's see here. 00:33:27.119 --> 00:33:31.519 Ever made a snap decision that changed your life? 00:33:33.359 --> 00:33:34.319 Wearing this dress. 00:33:34.559 --> 00:33:34.960 Sorry. 00:33:37.359 --> 00:33:40.640 Uh, have I ever made a snap decision that changed my life? 00:33:41.039 --> 00:33:49.119 Um yeah, when I decided to go to um puppetry school in France. 00:33:50.319 --> 00:34:02.720 I I was living here in New York and um and I was I had met Julie Tamore and had met some puppeteers and was kind of doing my thing a little bit. 00:34:03.680 --> 00:34:08.880 And I had I had started going to college, but I left it behind. 00:34:09.119 --> 00:34:09.280 Right. 00:34:09.440 --> 00:34:11.519 I was like, this isn't working for me. 00:34:12.239 --> 00:34:14.639 And I wasn't sure what I was gonna do. 00:34:16.079 --> 00:34:19.920 And then I found out about this school in France, and I said, I'm gonna do that. 00:34:20.239 --> 00:34:23.360 I'm gonna I'm gonna throw all my eggs into this basket. 00:34:23.599 --> 00:34:23.920 Literally. 00:34:24.159 --> 00:34:31.039 And um, or place them gently in this basket and and and move forward with this plan to be a puppeteer. 00:34:31.679 --> 00:34:33.760 Which seemed like some I was into it as a kid. 00:34:33.920 --> 00:34:34.239 Right. 00:34:34.480 --> 00:34:38.159 But that was like the move I made to be like, I'm really doing this. 00:34:38.400 --> 00:34:39.119 And here you are. 00:34:39.280 --> 00:34:44.079 And it's still I every day I know that that was the right move to make. 00:34:44.400 -->

00:34:46.159 That yeah, stunning. 00:34:46.480 --> 00:34:46.719 Con? 00:34:48.159 --> 00:34:49.519 Oh what was the question? 00:34:49.840 --> 00:34:52.480 Um what was the question? 00:34:53.119 --> 00:34:58.639 Um, what what snap decision did I make that changed my life? 00:34:58.960 --> 00:34:59.760 Yes, good. 00:35:01.679 --> 00:35:09.360 I remember but what was that I can't help you with. 00:35:10.320 --> 00:35:10.880 Come on. 00:35:11.039 --> 00:35:12.159 What was the snap? 00:35:12.559 --> 00:35:16.639 I um I love you so much, girl. 00:35:19.679 --> 00:35:20.159 Snap. 00:35:20.320 --> 00:35:20.800 Snap decision. 00:35:21.519 --> 00:35:22.000 Snap. 00:35:22.880 --> 00:35:23.199 Okay. 00:35:23.599 --> 00:35:26.079 Um did you answer yet? 00:35:26.400 --> 00:35:26.639 No. 00:35:26.880 --> 00:35:28.639 Okay, go answer and then I'll think. 00:35:28.880 --> 00:35:30.719 Snap decision that changed my life. 00:35:32.639 --> 00:35:39.199 Oh, uh this is very true, and I yeah, and still to this day it still changed my life. 00:35:39.519 --> 00:35:50.239 The decision that I made to go onto Fire Island in 2005, it is one of those things that constantly gives me a gift every single day, you know. 00:35:50.400 --> 00:35:53.840 Um best decision I ever made that I didn't want to make. 00:35:54.159 --> 00:35:55.119 Okay, that helped. 00:35:55.360 --> 00:35:56.079 Does that help, sister? 00:35:56.559 --> 00:35:58.079 That helped I'm just trying to help sister. 00:35:58.480 --> 00:35:58.880 Oh, thank you. 00:35:59.119 --> 00:35:59.519 You're welcome. 00:35:59.840 --> 00:36:00.480 Thank you. 00:36:01.280 --> 00:36:18.239 Well, I guess the decision not to go to art school and to sort of go in and try and find myself. 00:36:19.039 --> 00:36:19.199 Right. 00:36:19.280 --> 00:36:21.519 Oh, that's that was that that was a snap. 00:36:21.599 --> 00:36:25.920 But because I was like, okay, I'm gonna go to art school and I'm going to stay in one line. 00:36:26.159 --> 00:36:31.280 Try and ink out and just be like, you know, silently miserable. 00:36:31.519 --> 00:36:32.159 Right, right, right. 00:36:32.400 --> 00:36:35.440 Because it's true, because when we did come up from that time, we had to pick one. 00:36:36.159 --> 00:36:44.880 You weren't really encouraged to do so many things, but now look, we've all managed to kind of juggle, if you will, all of these wonderful qualities that we were very talented in. 00:36:45.280 --> 00:36:45.599 You know? 00:36:45.920 --> 00:36:50.400 And look at how you have flourished in your in my snap decision. 00:36:50.480 --> 00:36:54.239 In your snap decision, and how it has been amazing how you've done it now. 00:36:54.400 --> 00:36:54.880 Yeah. 00:36:55.119 --> 00:36:58.000 Well, you still get to do that in so many other things while looking stripping. 00:36:58.239 --> 00:36:58.480 True, true. 00:36:59.760 --> 00:37:00.880 It was a full circle moment. 00:37:01.119 --> 00:37:01.360 Exactly. 00:37:01.760 --> 00:37:03.199 I just come back

around to art. 00:37:03.440 --> 00:37:03.679 Wow. 00:37:04.159 --> 00:37:04.320 Yeah. 00:37:04.480 --> 00:37:05.440 Do we have time for one more? 00:37:05.760 --> 00:37:05.920 Con? 00:37:07.280 --> 00:37:12.880 Oh this brought me good luck. 00:37:14.400 --> 00:37:16.800 I am giving you very tropical fish bowl, honey. 00:37:17.039 --> 00:37:18.400 I am a tropical fish. 00:37:18.559 --> 00:37:20.159 Ooh, that matches my dress. 00:37:20.320 --> 00:37:20.880 Ooh. 00:37:21.360 --> 00:37:23.440 Um, and she is a whale. 00:37:23.760 --> 00:37:27.119 Excuse me! Oh, you're calling a whale. 00:37:27.760 --> 00:37:34.719 Thing about me that is not a trait of my astrological sign. 00:37:35.199 --> 00:37:35.440 Oh. 00:37:36.559 --> 00:37:39.119 A trait that is not a part of my astrological sign. 00:37:40.480 --> 00:37:44.239 That is not a trait of my astrological sign. 00:37:44.639 --> 00:37:44.880 Ah. 00:37:45.280 --> 00:37:46.320 Okay, cancer. 00:37:46.719 --> 00:37:54.639 Yes, well, cancer is um uh sensitive and uh homey. 00:37:55.440 --> 00:38:11.599 Um uh I am I I I haven't been able to have all these adventures and experiences I've had without being um out adventurous and and ambitious. 00:38:12.000 --> 00:38:12.239 Exactly. 00:38:12.400 --> 00:38:14.079 Yes, and that's and not be home. 00:38:14.239 --> 00:38:21.280 Yeah, yeah, not be home, go around the world and and and be uh risky to throw it out there. 00:38:21.760 --> 00:38:26.559 Yeah, which makes it even special when he is at home and you can do it to kind of reboot your browser in a sense. 00:38:26.800 --> 00:38:27.599 Oh, I love being at home. 00:38:27.760 --> 00:38:28.400 Oh, absolutely. 00:38:28.559 --> 00:38:28.960 Who doesn't? 00:38:29.039 --> 00:38:31.119 Yeah, I mean hello, we're working from home today. 00:38:32.320 --> 00:38:32.960 Yeah. 00:38:35.360 --> 00:38:36.719 That was so puppet-ish. 00:38:37.679 --> 00:38:38.159 Thank you. 00:38:38.480 --> 00:38:39.119 Con, con. 00:38:39.360 --> 00:38:40.000 You clapped it. 00:38:40.079 --> 00:38:40.559 You clapped it. 00:38:40.880 --> 00:38:41.519 For you, hello. 00:38:41.760 --> 00:38:42.000 Thank you. 00:38:42.239 --> 00:38:43.039 What about you, Con? 00:38:43.519 --> 00:38:44.719 Uh yeah, okay. 00:38:48.000 --> 00:38:49.119 That is not a trait. 00:38:49.519 --> 00:38:50.800 That's a little sign. 00:38:51.440 --> 00:39:09.440 Um I uh um I guess my introverted personality because at the core, I am super introverted. 00:39:09.679 --> 00:39:10.000 Right, right. 00:39:10.400 --> 00:39:12.559 But you've managed to work through that, obviously. 00:39:12.800 --> 00:39:13.039 Yeah. 00:39:13.280 --> 00:39:15.440 But no, I I just have a different persona. 00:39:15.599 --> 00:39:16.719 Well, yeah, well, yeah, exactly. 00:39:17.039 --> 00:39:17.920 As opposed to your Leo. 00:39:18.159 --> 00:39:18.480 Me too. 00:39:18.639 --> 00:39:19.199 Your Leo, yeah. 00:39:19.440 --> 00:39:20.159 Yeah, Leo. 00:39:20.719 --> 00:39:23.440 Leo are is supposed to be more

gregarious. 00:39:23.679 --> 00:39:24.159 Right, right, right. 00:39:25.440 --> 00:39:26.320 No, you're absolutely right. 00:39:26.639 --> 00:39:26.880 Okay. 00:39:27.280 --> 00:39:27.920 Yeah. 00:39:28.400 --> 00:39:28.800 Yeah. 00:39:29.039 --> 00:39:29.760 We did that. 00:39:30.000 --> 00:39:30.800 Yes, we did. 00:39:31.039 --> 00:39:32.320 We got through that. 00:39:32.880 --> 00:39:39.360 I'm going to piggy, actually, piggyback onto you because Aries, as you know, we're very um outgoing and social. 00:39:40.320 --> 00:39:45.039 Um, but I think that very few people know that I am actually very shy. 00:39:46.159 --> 00:39:46.719 Uh-huh. 00:39:47.760 --> 00:39:49.280 Oh my god, I am. 00:39:49.440 --> 00:39:50.559 I'm really shy. 00:39:50.800 --> 00:39:52.559 No, I know that about you. 00:39:52.800 --> 00:39:54.880 You don't believe me, Luke Skywalker. 00:39:57.199 --> 00:39:58.960 But I've learned to work through it. 00:39:59.039 --> 00:39:59.199 Yeah. 00:39:59.679 --> 00:40:00.800 You certainly have. 00:40:01.199 --> 00:40:02.800 And a snap decision. 00:40:03.039 --> 00:40:03.360 Okay. 00:40:06.719 --> 00:40:12.639 No, but yeah, I I you know what it was because when I was younger and I would be in um uh uh what was it? 00:40:13.280 --> 00:40:14.880 Uh uh uh dance class. 00:40:15.119 --> 00:40:18.880 And and we would have a um a rehearsal uh or a what a recital. 00:40:19.360 --> 00:40:20.000 I think a recital. 00:40:20.719 --> 00:40:24.400 And um, I would get such stage fright before getting on stage. 00:40:24.639 --> 00:40:28.880 And then I realized throughout the years that it was all the energy that I was about ready to put out. 00:40:29.039 --> 00:40:30.559 And you know who taught me that lesson? 00:40:31.039 --> 00:40:48.719 I can honestly cry because I remember it was one of the last big wig stocks that we had on the water, and it was um uh I I remember I had the I was doing Latin Lover. 00:40:49.039 --> 00:40:50.880 Oh no, no, no, the white, not the light. 00:40:51.199 --> 00:40:54.960 Uh uh it was before we left the uh the West Side Highway. 00:40:55.119 --> 00:40:57.679 It was one of the last ones before it ended there. 00:40:58.000 --> 00:41:04.079 It was like early 2000s, and um, I remember I was having the only panic attack. 00:41:04.320 --> 00:41:06.800 And Jackie B, bitch was fierce. 00:41:07.280 --> 00:41:10.000 She saw what I was going through, whatever, and I I don't know. 00:41:10.079 --> 00:41:15.679 I was just for some reason I was so in my head and just giving a great performance and whatnot. 00:41:15.920 --> 00:41:20.000 And she just took me aside, she's like, sister, she's like, You've got this, you're so amazing. 00:41:20.159 --> 00:41:24.719 When you get on that stage, just burst and give them all that energy, and it stuck with me every single day. 00:41:24.880 --> 00:41:36.639 And it doesn't matter, and then you know, I obviously stopped performing way back in the day, but even DJing or public speaking or any of the things, it still always got in my head, and I've remembered that every single day that guess what? 00:41:36.800 --> 00:41:42.320 I black out, I do my mantra, and I go into the set, and I don't know what happens once I'm there. 00:41:42.639 --> 00:41:43.280 And I love that. 00:41:43.360 --> 00:41:49.119 And then afterwards, if I see a video or a photo, I'm like, wow, I was really dialed in. 00:41:49.199 --> 00:41:51.039 And Jackie B, I love you, bitch. 00:41:51.280 --> 00:41:54.960 You help me every single day when I have to go into that place. 00:41:55.039 --> 00:41:58.559 I remember that, and it's just that love that you gave me and that hug was everything. 00:41:58.719 --> 00:42:00.079 So yeah, gorgeous. 00:42:00.320 --> 00:42:01.119 Yeah, that yeah. 00:42:01.360 --> 00:42:02.079 Oh wow. 00:42:04.559 --> 00:42:05.679 Yeah, okay, guys. 00:42:05.840 --> 00:42:08.960 Not a let's talk about no. 00:42:09.519 --> 00:42:11.599 Oh, I had to bite my tongue on that one. 00:42:12.159 --> 00:42:13.840 You guys, we're here every Thursday. 00:42:13.920 --> 00:42:15.039 I'd like to thank Basil. 00:42:15.119 --> 00:42:16.320 You are everything, sweetheart. 00:42:16.400 --> 00:42:18.400 Wow, you're welcome anytime. 00:42:18.559 --> 00:42:22.159 And I cannot wait to see you shine at Dorothy's Theatre. 00:42:22.320 --> 00:42:23.679 Yeah, I can't wait to have you there. 00:42:23.760 --> 00:42:31.920 And oh my god, it's so wonderful to be in this space with you and to remember our our art and our culture and our families. 00:42:32.079 --> 00:42:34.719 Yeah, and please tell your husband we cannot wait to meet him. 00:42:34.880 --> 00:42:36.480 Yes, he's gorgeous, Ken. 00:42:36.800 --> 00:42:39.039 Yes, he's he is in the gelico ball. 00:42:39.360 --> 00:42:40.239 The jellico ball, yes. 00:42:40.639 --> 00:42:41.760 He did you see the jellico ball? 00:42:42.079 --> 00:42:44.480 Yeah, she went yeah, he's the he's the the the DJ, right? 00:42:44.719 --> 00:42:45.360 Yeah, he's the DJ. 00:42:45.679 --> 00:42:47.519 Oh, that that was in the original cats. 00:42:47.920 --> 00:42:50.000 He was in the original company of cats. 00:42:50.079 --> 00:42:54.320 He was the original McCavity of Cats 44 years ago. 00:42:54.719 --> 00:42:55.519 Come on, Cavity. 00:42:56.079 --> 00:42:56.320 I know. 00:42:56.480 --> 00:42:57.199 Wait, McCavity. 00:42:57.599 --> 00:42:58.079 McCavity. 00:42:58.559 --> 00:42:59.119 McCavity. 00:42:59.440 --> 00:43:00.480 Dentures, I don't know. 00:43:00.960 --> 00:43:01.280 Work. 00:43:01.519 --> 00:43:02.239 That's fierce. 00:43:02.320 --> 00:43:02.480 Yeah. 00:43:02.639 --> 00:43:03.280 All right, you guys. 00:43:03.519 --> 00:43:03.920 Oh, wow. 00:43:04.159 --> 00:43:04.559 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:43:04.639 --> 00:43:05.760 So say hello for him. 00:43:06.159 --> 00:43:06.400 Absolutely. 00:43:07.360 --> 00:43:07.679 I will. 00:43:07.760 --> 00:43:11.119 We were Sydney was talking about you less Sydney Harcourt. 00:43:11.440 --> 00:43:11.920 Yeah. 00:43:12.400 --> 00:43:12.719 Yay. 00:43:13.280 --> 00:43:15.440 Well, we will see you at the theater. 00:43:15.760 --> 00:43:16.159 At the theater. 00:43:16.559 --> 00:43:20.000 Theater, at the Here Theater, at the Dorothy Theater for Aries with the Twitter. 00:43:20.239 --> 00:43:20.800 September 15th. 00:43:22.400 --> 00:43:23.760 And we're gonna have to Arias with the twist. 00:43:24.079 --> 00:43:25.440 Arias with the twist, you guys. 00:43:25.599 --> 00:43:26.719 You guys like, subscribe. 00:43:26.800 --> 00:43:30.960 We're here every Thursday, sending you blessings, love, and light, and always some brown sugar kisses. 00:43:31.039 --> 00:43:31.840 What you got? 00:43:32.079 --> 00:43:36.000 I got some puppety shoes. 00:43:36.480 --> 00:43:41.199 Oh, puppety shoes for my sugar dumplings and deuce. 00:43:42.960 --> 00:43:43.760 Love you, Basil. 00:43:44.559 --> 00:43:45.440 Oh, shoe camp chat. 00:43:45.519 --> 00:43:46.320 Everybody kick up your shoes. 00:43:46.480 --> 00:43:46.960 Shoe camps. 00:43:47.039 --> 00:43:48.400 Basil, kick up your legs, baby. 00:43:48.880 --> 00:44:00.000 Shoe can our show is produced by Josh Rosenspack and Matthew Green. 00:44:00.320 --> 00:44:03.679 Our gorgeous graphics are by Daryl Raymond. 00:44:03.760 --> 00:44:06.079 Our theme music is You Need It. 00:44:06.320 --> 00:44:10.960 Produced and written and performed by 808 Beach, John J.C. 00:44:11.119 --> 00:44:12.719 Carr, and Bill Coleman. 00:44:12.960 --> 00:44:15.599 Courtesy of Peace Biscuit. 00:44:15.760 --> 00:44:19.199 Our perfect production designer is Daryl Dickens. 00:44:19.360 --> 00:44:24.960 This season's hair has been done by the heavenly hair goddess herself, Mariah. 00:44:26.320 --> 00:44:30.480 Our very special thanks to Jason Canner for all your wonderful support. 00:44:30.639 --> 00:44:34.079 The cutting up is a Pride House Media production.