Joey Arias Pics

Joey

Arias

71

Average

Fayetteville, North Carolina

White

Portrayal of Joan Crawford in New York productions of Christmas with the Crawfords

American

Female

Born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, he was six when he moved with his family to Los Angeles. After singing with the rock band "Purlie" on Capitol Records and a stint with famed improvisational group the Groundlings, he moved to New York City in the mid-70s and eventually got a job at the Fiorucci designer clothing store. He became friends with alternative icon Klaus Nomi, singing backup and designing sets and costumes. Arias, who is openly gay, gradually became involved in the burgeoning 1980s New York performance art scene, appearing regularly at Club 57 and other downtown venues. During these years he also began crafting a successful career in cabaret, based on his talent for channeling the vocal style and mannerisms of the legendary Billie Holiday. He has since recorded several albums and pursued an international nightclub career. Arias is also notable for his portrayal of Joan Crawford in New York productions of Christmas with the Crawfords, an original holiday spoof of Christina Crawford`s book Mommie Dearest. The San Francisco based production premiered Off-Broadway at the Grove Street Playhouse in 2000 starring Arias as Joan. Arias also starred in a 2001 revival of the play at the Chelsea Playhouse. Film credits include Big Top Pee-wee, Mondo New York, Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, Flawless, and To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar and Wigstock: The Movie. His most recent work was performing in Arias with a Twist, a collaboration with puppeteer Basil Twist, at HERE Arts Center in New York and before that as the Mistress of Seduction in the Las Vegas show Zumanity, an "adult-themed" Cirque du Soleil show running at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino.

joeyarias.com/

Joey Arias is a New York City based performance artist, cabaret singer, and drag artist.