1. You’ve been in London for a while now. What took you there and what do you like best about it?
My girlfriend is a well-known composer/musician in England. Her latest score is for the film, The Calling, which is currently out in the independent film scene…I have a good singing career in Great Britain, being signed to Warner Jazz UK, which is how we met. She was hired to be my pianist for several projects across the pond. In 2001, I performed at The London Jazz Festival. Once again, Janette (Mason) was booked as my musical director. It was then that we finally acted on the attraction we both had felt over the years. Both of us being touring musical sluts, it just seemed to click. We have been together ever since. I had a really hot young girlfriend at the time. I find that hilarious. For once, the mid-life crisis butch dumps the 20-year-old for a 40-year-old woman. So now, I travel back and forth as projects dictate. I own a house with her in London, and I still have my place in Manhattan. I’m a NYLON—I live in both NY and LONdon. What I like about being there is being with my girl and hanging in my house. The dyke scene is barely alive in London, no match for here. When I want to party or find a little girl who needs a daddy, there’s no place like NYC.
2. I credit you with getting lesbians (as opposed to gay men!) into musical theater. How would you describe the audience at a Lea DeLaria show?
My audiences tend to be Christians and conservatives. Fox news and I have the same demographic.
3. If I asked your closest friends how much of you is the real Lea when the spotlight comes on, what would they say?
Remember when Oral Roberts said he saw a 600' Jesus? Well, my onstage persona is like that—it is 100% me. It’s just the economy size portion...