Drag star Cissy Walken brings MAC Award nominated tribute to Amy Winehouse back to life.
Friday, March 8 at The Laurie Beechman Theatre
You've seen Joey Arias channel Billie Holiday, John Kelly inhabit Joni Mitchell and Chad Michaels become Cher. Now get ready as future drag superstar and powerhouse vocalist CISSY WALKEN brings legendary chanteuse AMY WINEHOUSE back from the dead in a jaw-dropping live tribute concert. You wont believe your eyes or ears. Don't say "no, no, no" just go, go, go. In fact, the show has just been nominated for a 2019 MAC Award (in the company of fellow drag stars Chelsea Piers, Paige Turner, Monet X. Change, BenDeLaCreme & Alaska). Directed by Lennie Watts. AMY WINEHOUSE: BACK TO LIFE returns for one night only -- Friday, March 8 at 7pm at The Laurie Beechman Theatre inside West Bank Cafe (407 West 42 Street, just west of Ninth Avenue). Tickets are $22, with a $20 food/drink minimum. A $35 VIP ticket that includes reserved seating and a meet-and-greet are also available. To purchase tickets, call 212-352-3101 or visit www.SpinCycleNYC.com.
As a Jersey girl who’s never done drag in New Jersey, CISSY WALKEN is a singing, cooking drag queen comedian working throughout New York City. On the competition circuit, she was a finalist at Drag Wars All Stars, Iconic, Mama’s Next Big Act, The Next Ice Palace Princess and Polish The Queen. Miss Walken is known for celebrity impersonations which include her award-winning Amy Winehouse, Marge Simpson and Teresa Guidice. Cissy is also a regular cast member at Wepa Wednesdays in Williamsburg. She holds a BA in Musical Theatre Performance from Marymount Manhattan College.
LENNIE WATTS is a 10-time MAC (Manhattan Association of Cabarets), 5 time Backstage Bistro, and 3 time Nightlife Award winner. Recognized as an outstanding vocalist, director, producer, and booking manager, he has been active in the New York cabaret scene for over 20 years. In addition to directing in small cabaret venues, he has directed events at Symphony Space, Town Hall, and BB Kings. He has toured nationally and internationally with productions of "The Music Man" (Marcellus) and "The Wizard Of Oz" (Lion). Other roles: Man in Chair (The Drowsy Chaperone) Psuedelus (A Funny Thing...), Herod (Jesus Christ Superstar), Nicely Nicely Johnson (Guys and Dolls), Jinx (Forever Plaid. He has performed at Town Hall in several concerts, including "Broadway Unplugged" and “Broadway By The Year, 1949”, and can be heard on the cast recordings of both shows. As a theater director, he has directed productions of "Godspell", "Dames at Sea", "Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat", and “Phantom”. Watts is the creator of "cablab" and "Summer In The City", both critically acclaimed professional cabaret performance workshops. He appeared on "The Rosie O'Donnell Show", and released his debut CD "I want... You want..." in 2000. He is currently the President of MAC, and was recently named one of “The 50 Most Influential People in New York Cabaret” by Nightlife Exchange.