The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY)
04/04/08
The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY)
No mistaking Miss Richfield; Performer brings variety show to Syracuse for CNY Pride fundraiser.(SERIES: DAILY DOSE)(c)
Article from: The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY)
Article date: April 4, 2008
Byline: Ngoc Huynh Staff writer
Although Russ King dresses as a woman in his performance, he doesn't want Central New Yorkers to misunderstand his show.
King said his act involves a character in drag but it's not a drag queen show.
"What we think of as a typical drag show in the U.S. from the gay community is that it takes place in a bar and performers are impersonating another singer and they lip-sync," he said. "Mine would be cabaret. It's a full show with a story. A lot of my music is original. This show, we'll do a craft project together, along with telling a Bible story." A Minnesota native and former journalist, King will perform "Miss Richfield 1981," at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Palace Theatre in Syracuse. Proceeds from the event will benefit CNY Pride and SyracuseCares.
CNY Pride organizes events in the Syracuse area for the local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. SyracuseCares raises money for HIV/AIDS-related organizations such as The Friends of Dorothy House and Women's Effort.
"Miss Richfield 1981," has appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," and "Today," on NBC. She also stars at the Art House Theatre in Provincetown, Mass., and for Atlantis Events, an LGBT vacation and cruise company.
King, 46, created his character in 1996 and has been performing her full-time for six years. The youngest of four boys, King said he grew up conservative Baptist. Many of Miss Richfield's qualities stem from his upbringing, he said.
King talks about the act:
What is the difference between your show and a drag show? "The background and basis of a drag show, at its core, is burlesque. It's naughty. It's downtown. You go to a bar to see it. There's an edge to it. This has the component that it's a man in a dress. But the character is a churchgoing, bingo-calling, maiden from the Midwest who espouses good, clean living." What can the audience expect? "They can expect to be entertained and to enjoy a show that involves video, music, comedy, tap dancing and colorful outfits. It's a really fun variety show. There's no swearing. There's no nudity. There's innuendoes.
"It's safe to bring kids to the show. People can walk away from the show thinking she reminds me of a neighbor, an aunt or someone at church." Who usually attends your show? "It depends on where it is. If I'm in Providence or Minneapolis, it's 50/50 (gay and straight). It's a wide variety. Everybody from senior citizens all the way down to kids as young as 8 or 9 years old."
How would you describe your character? "The character represents a simplified view of life that we can all relate to. The character is very self-absorbed but in a very well-meaning sort of way. She almost gets it right, but she's about two steps behind. As an audience, you sympathize with her."
Miss Richfield talks about herself:
Where is Miss Richfield from? "I'm from Richfield, Minnesota, where butter is a spice and gravy is a beverage. It's a lovely first-tier suburb of Minneapolis, complete with several strip malls."
Where do you live? "Right next to my mother and dad in a lovely trailer park at the end of runway two. We love living close to Minneapolis/St. Paul International. It does create a lot of wind, but that doesn't bother me because I always wear my hair with the chinstrap when I'm gardening."
What is your religion? "I'm mostly Lutheran, attending A Mighty Fortress is Our God Lutheran Church in Richfield. A lot of people don't know that I'm half Jewish too. I consider myself a Jewtheran during high holy days."
How old are you? "Oh dear, my birthday is April 24 which is the same day as Shirley MacLaine and Barbra Streisand. A lady never reveals her age, but I will admit that I'm soon approaching my 30s. I was crowned at a very young age."
What do you do for a living? "I'm a civil servant at the United States Postal Service, Richfield, 55423. I answer the switchboard and direct people to the next available window, so of course I've got more vacation than God!
"I'm always on the Greyhound heading to interesting and exotic destinations such as Syracuse and Ithaca. I always bring my three-piece bathing suit."
Do you have a boyfriend? "I have a very nice gentleman friend that I've been dating for 17 or so years. He's hydrocephalic, so he's easy to spot in a crowd, but doesn't travel well. I don't want to mention his name because he's very private and he's mine."
What's your favorite book? "I'm not a reader. I'm too busy living life to be reading about it. But if I must read, it would be the Bible or the latest issue of Us magazine."
Any pet peeves? "Ladies in slacks after 6 o'clock at night."
If You Go:
What: "Miss Richfield 1981."
When: 8 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Palace Theatre, 2384 James St., Syracuse.
Tickets: $25 in advance, $30 general or $40 VIP at the door.
No mistaking Miss Richfield; Performer brings variety show to Syracuse for CNY Pride fundraiser.(SERIES: DAILY DOSE)(c)
Article from: The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY)
Article date: April 4, 2008
Byline: Ngoc Huynh Staff writer
Although Russ King dresses as a woman in his performance, he doesn't want Central New Yorkers to misunderstand his show.
King said his act involves a character in drag but it's not a drag queen show.
"What we think of as a typical drag show in the U.S. from the gay community is that it takes place in a bar and performers are impersonating another singer and they lip-sync," he said. "Mine would be cabaret. It's a full show with a story. A lot of my music is original. This show, we'll do a craft project together, along with telling a Bible story." A Minnesota native and former journalist, King will perform "Miss Richfield 1981," at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Palace Theatre in Syracuse. Proceeds from the event will benefit CNY Pride and SyracuseCares.
CNY Pride organizes events in the Syracuse area for the local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. SyracuseCares raises money for HIV/AIDS-related organizations such as The Friends of Dorothy House and Women's Effort.
"Miss Richfield 1981," has appeared on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," and "Today," on NBC. She also stars at the Art House Theatre in Provincetown, Mass., and for Atlantis Events, an LGBT vacation and cruise company.
King, 46, created his character in 1996 and has been performing her full-time for six years. The youngest of four boys, King said he grew up conservative Baptist. Many of Miss Richfield's qualities stem from his upbringing, he said.
King talks about the act:
What is the difference between your show and a drag show? "The background and basis of a drag show, at its core, is burlesque. It's naughty. It's downtown. You go to a bar to see it. There's an edge to it. This has the component that it's a man in a dress. But the character is a churchgoing, bingo-calling, maiden from the Midwest who espouses good, clean living." What can the audience expect? "They can expect to be entertained and to enjoy a show that involves video, music, comedy, tap dancing and colorful outfits. It's a really fun variety show. There's no swearing. There's no nudity. There's innuendoes.
"It's safe to bring kids to the show. People can walk away from the show thinking she reminds me of a neighbor, an aunt or someone at church." Who usually attends your show? "It depends on where it is. If I'm in Providence or Minneapolis, it's 50/50 (gay and straight). It's a wide variety. Everybody from senior citizens all the way down to kids as young as 8 or 9 years old."
How would you describe your character? "The character represents a simplified view of life that we can all relate to. The character is very self-absorbed but in a very well-meaning sort of way. She almost gets it right, but she's about two steps behind. As an audience, you sympathize with her."
Miss Richfield talks about herself:
Where is Miss Richfield from? "I'm from Richfield, Minnesota, where butter is a spice and gravy is a beverage. It's a lovely first-tier suburb of Minneapolis, complete with several strip malls."
Where do you live? "Right next to my mother and dad in a lovely trailer park at the end of runway two. We love living close to Minneapolis/St. Paul International. It does create a lot of wind, but that doesn't bother me because I always wear my hair with the chinstrap when I'm gardening."
What is your religion? "I'm mostly Lutheran, attending A Mighty Fortress is Our God Lutheran Church in Richfield. A lot of people don't know that I'm half Jewish too. I consider myself a Jewtheran during high holy days."
How old are you? "Oh dear, my birthday is April 24 which is the same day as Shirley MacLaine and Barbra Streisand. A lady never reveals her age, but I will admit that I'm soon approaching my 30s. I was crowned at a very young age."
What do you do for a living? "I'm a civil servant at the United States Postal Service, Richfield, 55423. I answer the switchboard and direct people to the next available window, so of course I've got more vacation than God!
"I'm always on the Greyhound heading to interesting and exotic destinations such as Syracuse and Ithaca. I always bring my three-piece bathing suit."
Do you have a boyfriend? "I have a very nice gentleman friend that I've been dating for 17 or so years. He's hydrocephalic, so he's easy to spot in a crowd, but doesn't travel well. I don't want to mention his name because he's very private and he's mine."
What's your favorite book? "I'm not a reader. I'm too busy living life to be reading about it. But if I must read, it would be the Bible or the latest issue of Us magazine."
Any pet peeves? "Ladies in slacks after 6 o'clock at night."
If You Go:
What: "Miss Richfield 1981."
When: 8 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Palace Theatre, 2384 James St., Syracuse.
Tickets: $25 in advance, $30 general or $40 VIP at the door.