margaret cho

Margaret Cho returns to the stage in a whole new way with her stage show The Sensuous Woman. The production is at the Zipper Theater starting tomorrow (more details here) and is bringing burlesque back. The variety show will feature some famed burlesque performers, along with stand-up and sketch comedy acts. And of course, Margaret -- who we had a few questions for recently.

Tell us about your new burlesque-style variety show The Sensuous Woman.
It is inspired by variety shows like Sonny and Cher or Donny and Marie and also the big stadium tours Madonna does, but totally x-rated.

How will this show be different from your past performances?
I am doing some different stuff! Not just stand-up comedy, which is still prominent in the show, but lots of dancing and some music.

Who will be accompanying you on stage?
Some of the most exciting burlesque performers and comics out there!

What was your inspiration for this show?
Paper Mill Playhouse, during its 2007-2008 season, will explore six outstanding titles with intergenerational appeal � some new to the Paper Mill stage and some returning favorites:

September 26 � October 28 Happy Days: The Musical A New Jersey Premiere "Goodbye gray skies, hello blue! Happy Days are here again with Richie, Potsie, Ralph Malph and the unforgettable "king of cool" Arthur "The Fonz" Fonzarelli. Based on the hit Paramount Pictures' television series, Happy Days: The Musical reintroduces one of America's best loved families, the Cunninghams, and the days of 1959 Milwaukee complete with varsity sweaters, hula hoops, and jukebox sock-hoppin'. The famed drive-in malt shop and number one hang-out, Arnold's, is in danger of demolition, so the gang teams up to save it with a dance contest and tv-worthy wrestling match against former Phister prison members Count Jacques and Jimbo, aka the infamous Malachi Brothers. Even the daredevil diva Pinky Tuscadero returns to help and perhaps reunite with her 'Legend in Leather.'"

The show is adapted by creator Garry Marshall (director of Pretty Woman, Beaches, and The Princess Diaries and producer of "Laverne & Shirley," "Mork & Mindy" and "The Odd Couple") with music by Oscar, Grammy and Golden Globe winning songwriter Paul Williams.

On Sept. 19, Margaret Cho and a line-up of burlesque performers will bring The Sensuous Woman show to the Lakeshore Theatre, 3175 N. Broadway. The variety show, part burlesque and part comedy, will run for four consecutive days. Cho, a seasoned comedian who started doing stand-up at the age of 16, has developed a loyal fan base throughout the United States. Most recently, Cho traveled throughout the country on the highly successful True Colors tour. The tour, conceived by Cyndi Lauper in support of the Human Rights Campaign, brought together to the stage an array of artist like Erasure, Debbie Harry, The Gossip, and Rufus Wainright. Cho emceed the event, bringing the comedic component to the show.
Cho is the creative mastermind behind The Sensuous Woman, which features a handful of dancers and burlesque performers like Princess Farhana while incorporating comedy into the act. Cho isn't the only comedian in the show; also set to perform is comic actor Liam Sullivan as Internet rock star Kelly. Cho took time out to answer 10 fabulous random questions.


Emmanuel Garcia: What can we expect from The Sensuous Woman?

Margaret Cho: I love burlesque and I love the whole experience of bringing this whole art form back. I think the audience is really going to appreciate what we are doing and how important it is for woman and for feminism. Stripping, burlesque and belly dancing! It's about women who are beautiful and sexy. There's some playing with gender and wild stuff.

EG: What's your opinion on the current immigration debate?


Read more story below....


MC: A lot can be said about this issue...it's hard because when you're Asian, when you're an immigrant, your welcome in this country is really conditional. And it depends on your good behavior and your achievements. We're not considered a part of the country like white people are.

EG: What was your experience like singing alongside Cyndi Lauper?

MC: She's a beautiful person. She's so funny. She's so in love with artists and so warm and supportive. She really loved all the people she brought together for the tour. She's also very much in charge. ... She taught me how to sing. How many people can say that?

EG: Favorite song to punch someone in the stomach?

MC: Hit Me With Your Best Shot by [ Pat ] Benatar.

EG: Are you a martini or beer girl?

MC: A martini girl, but I don't really drink at all. I can't. I have that Asian intolerance. I get really red.

EG: If you were a gay man, what advice would you give a straight woman?

MC: How to give good head. It's something that's been passed on to me and I would want to pass that on to someone else.

EG: Would you be a top or a bottom?

MC: Definitely a bottom; I'm such a bottom. [ Laughs ] I'm a very submissive person.

EG: What qualities do you look for a in a fellow queer?

MC: The qualities I look for in every person who I associate myself with, an open mind and a the ability to express and articulate anger, love, and passion.

EG: What does queer mean to you?


The performance schedule for the 2007-2008 season at Paper Mill Playhouse is: Wednesdays at 7:30PM, Thursdays at 2:00PM & 7:30PM, Fridays at 8:00PM, Saturdays at 2:00PM & 8:00PM and Sundays at 2:00PM & 7:30PM. Single tickets go on sale on August 13th and range in price from $25-$92. Tickets may be purchased by calling (973) 376-4343, or at the Paper Mill Box Office on Brookside Drive in Millburn, or online at www.papermill.org. Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express accepted.

The Sensuous Woman - 9/26/2007

Margaret Cho will appear Off-Broadway in her new burlesque-style variety show The Sensuous Woman, set for a special limited four-week engagement beginning Wednesday, September 26 at The Zipper Factory (336 West 37th Street). Official Opening Night is set for Saturday, October 6.

In describing her inspiration for this show, Margaret Cho ("Notorious C.H.O.," "State of Emergency," "I'm the One That I Want") explains, "The Sensuous Woman is an evening of comedy, dance and music celebrating women's bodies. I have suffered from eating disorders and a horrendously distorted body image for my entire life, and I think the biggest reason is a lack of images of real women's bodies. Where are they? We don't see them in movies, on TV, in magazines. Instead, we are force-fed a steady diet of unattainable ideals, a tyranny of slenderness and youth, goals we can't even aspire to, they are so far out of reach. When we see dancers who enjoy their bodies, who are sexy and having fun, it gives us permission to enjoy our bodies and to enjoy ourselves in the process. We are presented with a new ideal, not one that is about dieting ourselves down to a smaller size, but expanding our notion of what is beautiful and to allow ourselves to be included there too."

Prior to the New York engagement, The Sensuous Woman will play in Chicago at the Lakeshore Theater from Wednesday, September 19 � Saturday, September 22. For more information, please visit www.MargaretCho.com.

The Sensuous Woman will play as follows: Wednesday through Saturday at 8:00 PM, with late shows on Friday and Saturday at 11:00 PM. The Zipper Factory is located at 336 West 37th Street. Tickets are $45.00 (Wednesday & Thursday) and $55.00 (Friday & Saturday). Ticket fees may apply. To purchase tickets, visit www.thezipperfactory.com or call (212) 352-3101 or (866) 811-4111 (toll free). Visit www.margaretcho.com for more on Cho.

Love Sucks - NYMF - 9/26/2007

The New York Musical Theatre Festival and Courthouse Repertory will present the world premiere of Love Sucks, a punk rock musical with book and lyrics by Stephen O'Rourke (Peas and Carrots at FringeNYC, Vital Dirges at Courthouse Theatre in Cape Cod) and music and lyrics by Brandon Patton (album "Should Confusion," Atrainplays, Jukebox Stories at Berkeley's Impact Theatre). The production is directed by Andrew Goldberg (The Bomb-Itty of Errors) and is being presented at the Julia Miles Theater.

"Love Sucks, a sexy, new, punk rock musical, uses the premise of Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost as a springboard for this modern day story. The musical is set in the burgeoning underground scene of the 1970's East Village. Two competing rock bands, The Molotovs and The Guttersnipes, swear off love because they've lost too many musicians to jealous lovers. In order to stay focused on the music, each band member can have sex with someone only three times. But when the guys and girls meet up, their rule comes back to bite them in the ass," state press notes.

Performances are Wednesday, September 26th at 8:00 pm, Thursday, September 27th at 8:00 pm, Sunday, September 30th at 8:00 pm, Monday, October 1st at 4:30 pm and Saturday, October 6th at 4:30 pm and 8:00 pm. All tickets are $20.00. For reservations please call (212) 352-3101 or visit www.nymf.org to purchase tickets online. The Julia Miles Theater is located at 424 West 55th Street between 9th and 10th Avenues.

I saw a burlesque show a couple of years ago and it utterly changed my life. Seeing real women with curves being sexy and beautiful cured me of a lifetime of eating disorders. Watching someone with a big booty shaking it like they just don't care is good for all that ails you.

Early in your career you opened for Jerry Seinfeld. What was that experience like?
It was a college comedy competition that I lied my way into and won. He told me I should drop out of college and be a comic. It was perfect because I wasn't even in college at the time.

What is it like to be a woman in the comedy world?
Very difficult. Not a lot of other women, so not a lot of support. Still my favorite comics are women. Rosie O'Donnell, Roseanne, Wanda Sykes, Kathy Griffin, Sarah Silverman.

Are there any new, up and coming, comedians you are enjoying a lot right now?
I love Ian Harvie, who is in our show. also I am semi obsessed with Katt Williams. Amazing.

You've been vocal about your political beliefs in the past, do you have anything planned on getting your voice heard in relation to the 2008 elections?
I am going to be touring with my new stand-up show, so I will be hitting the road. I haven't decided who I am backing yet. There are too many candidates. It is like a reality show. It's 'America's Next Top President'.

Please share your strangest "only in New York" story.
Um, I don't have one yet. I am hoping to get one!

Which New Yorker do you most admire?
David Bowie. He's my hero. And he just gave $10,000 to the Jena 6 defense fund!

Given the opportunity, how would you change New York?
I would like to change it by having me live in it!

Do you have a favorite celebrity sighting or encounter?
One time I saw this soap opera star, who I think was on General Hospital, I don't remember. Anyway I saw him at the gym and his ball fell out of the bottom of his shorts and they were really big like an octopus was coming down his leg.

What's your current soundtrack?
I am all about Whiskeytown, which is Ryan Adams' first band. I love him!

Favorite headlines: NY Post or Daily News?
I don't even know!

Favorite place to eat in New York.
I just love the dirty water hot dogs at street corners all over the city.